Exmouth

Picture the alternative to elbowing through mobs of selfie stick tourists at Australia's east-coast reefs: a flight west, to Ningaloo Marine Park, a hidden jewel perched on the rugged fringe of North West Cape. Here, at one of the planet's largest fringing reefs, you can swim alongside whale sharks-majestic, bus-sized creatures that seem utterly indifferent to your presence, like aristocrats gliding serenely past the riffraff. Aim for mornings between March and August, when encounters with these plankton-hoovering giants are most likely, and book at least a month ahead to ensure your chance of leaping into the briny blue beside them. Bring sunscreen strong enough to deflect nuclear radiation, a waterproof camera to prove you're not spinning tall tales, and budget around AUD $400-$500-steep, yes, yet far cheaper than therapy. Trust me, drifting beside a gentle 20-ton behemoth (with a mouth wide enough to swallow your existential dread whole) is worth every penny, if only to smugly recount at bars for decades afterward.

Sliding into the azure embrace of Turquoise Bay is the aquatic equivalent of stepping into a James Bond movie-minus the sharks with lasers, of course. Nestled along Australia's ruggedly remote North West Cape, this snorkeling haven offers a gentle drift current so effortless you could practically nap your way through Nemo's neighborhood. Aim to show up mid-morning; after the crack-of-dawn zealots and before the sun fries your shoulders to a color matching the reef's flamboyant residents. Plan probably a month or two ahead if peak-season flaunting of swimwear and snorkel gear isn't your jam, and don't be a cheapskate-budget around fifty Aussie bucks for park entry fees and the obligatory fish & chips afterward. By all means pack sunscreen, water, and a mask that doesn't fog up every two minutes-because swearing underwater only amuses the fish. Why bother floating around wearing awkward foot fins while dodging tourists photographing their GoPros? Because when you surface, salty and grinning, you'll have a story worth retelling-even if it includes that awkward moment a sea turtle casually judged your swimming technique.