Australia’s flag carrier Qantas will open the first direct routes from Melbourne to the Western Australian town of Exmouth in April 2023. Exmouth is Australia’s top small tourism town and home to the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef.
Qantas’ new direct Melbourne-Exmouth route
Qantas has announced the opening of the first direct interstate route between Melbourne and Western Australia’s Coral Coast with a new Melbourne-Exmouth service. This new route will take five hours, cutting travel time by three hours compared to the existing indirect route.
The new route will begin on 30 April 2023, and Qantas will operate two return services a week until 26 October. It will be operated by Boeing 737 aircraft, with over 18,000 seats total across the season.
Qantas will launch the service by putting on sale 2,500 special fares of $399 for one-way trips from Melbourne to Exmouth, offered with the support of the Western Australian government.
Qantas Domestic and International CEO Andrew David said the new service would open up the Coral Coast for new travellers, while also giving the region’s residents direct access to the east coast and international connections.
“Australians have spent the last few years exploring their own backyard more than ever before, and this new route responds to that increased demand, providing our customers with a direct route to one of Australia’s most remote and spectacular destinations,” David said.
“These flights and discount fares are the perfect excuses for Victorians to escape the winter blues for North West’s Western warmth and laid-back lifestyle during the whale watching season. They’re also great news for tourism operators in the Exmouth region, and we’ll work closely with the Western Australian Government to promote the new flights and all that the region has to offer.”
Australia’s Top Small Tourism Town on the Coral Coast
Exmouth is home to the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, Australia’s only fringing reef where the coral starts right at the water’s edge, and the fish and coral are accessible to all, including small children, thanks to the shallow water. The reef is also known for its unique whale sharks, which visitors can swim with.
Exmouth is also home to the Cape Range National Park, known for its stunning landscapes of rugged limestone ranges and deep canyons, its 50km of beaches, and its abundant variety of native birds, marsupials and flowers.
Exmouth is one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations and was named Australia’s Top Small Tourism Town at the 2022 Australian Tourism Awards.
“The State Government is proud to partner with Qantas to make it easier for visitors from Victoria and the east coast to visit Exmouth – officially Australia’s Top Small Tourism Town,” said Western Australia’s Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister Roger Cook. “We encourage all interstate travellers to Walk On A Dream on Western Australia’s Coral Coast, which will now be more affordable and accessible for visitors to experience the phenomenal Ningaloo Reef, swim with whale sharks, and experience the region’s awesome landscapes.”
Do you think Qantas’ new direct route between Melbourne and the popular tourist destination of Exmouth on the Western Australian Coral Coast is a good idea? Let us know down below!
