There’s more to do than just hanging out with kangaroos and kicking back in parks in Western Australia. We’re talking about taking a dip with the world’s largest fish: the whale sharks. Despite the fearsome name, whale sharks don’t pose a threat to us in the least; they’re filter feeders and feed on tiny plants and sea animals. Every year, from March to August, these giant creatures migrate to Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef town, Exmouth (a two-hour flight from Perth), to feed on plankton and krill.
This year, the whale shark season kicks off with a free festival happening from May 21-24. There’ll be movies under the star and live music by Australian rock, soul and funk musician Morgain Bain & The Swoop and folk singer James Abberley.
To swim with whale sharks, tours start from AUD$385 ($410) and includes wetsuits, video footage of your whale shark experience, kayaking equipment, stand up paddle boarding gear, lunch and a glass of bubbly. To book a tour, go here, or if you want to find out more about whale shark season, head here.
