Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef

Wow Wow wow, loved Sal Salis, loved the glamping, the staff, the luxury, the communal living. Everything was on point. Loved you could not logon to internet and people actually chatted over sunset drinks. The tents are set among the sand dunes - with the reef literally 10m off shore - you couldn't wish for a better location than this. If only it was deeper and warmer, then it would have been perfection. The staff are relaxed and easy-going, passionate and professional its wonderful to see such young people with so much knowledge. We loved the daily tours - from awe-inspiring sunrise walks along Mandu Mandu Gorge or Yardie Creek (yes, they are worth the early wake-up!), Ackerley and Phil were passionate, knowledgeable and beyond amazing! Even helping us oldies up the hill at Yardie creek. (just a warning this is not an easy walk, unfortunately none of our group was quite prepared for how tough it was) but we copnquered it. Just a tip, if your there during Whale, Whale shark time, dont miss out on a snorkelling adventure, its well worth it, hard work but one you will never foregt. Sal Salis is in our hearts and highly recommended, we loved this adventure.

If you need to disconnect and reset, Sal Salis is the place for you. We had arranged a Sal Salis pick up from Learmonth airport and we were warmly welcomed by Leah, who offered to stop in town if we needed anything. On arrival at the resort, another friendly welcome from Lawrence, who had a cool drink waiting and explained where everything was and meal times etc. We were in tent 5, which was very comfortable and had a great view. The toilet and shower area, separated by zipped canvas at the back of the tent, is 'open air' which would be great in summer, but a little chilly in winter if you were to shower after dinner or early morning! Water limits were not stipulated, but we were mindful of conserving and had plentiful water for hot showers. The toilet is 'drop' style, but there was never any smell. Amenities included ocean friendly shampoo, conditioner and body wash, as well as moisturiser. The bed was incredibly comfortable and perfectly positioned for watching whales breaching while enjoying a morning latte - the bathrobes came in handy for early morning coffee trips to the dining area. A jug of water is provided in the tent, but you will need to bring your own water bottle if you want to take water with you to the beach etc. as there are none provided, or for sale in the resort shop. Each tent is provided with a torch for walking back from dinner - although not particularly dark, the path is uneven in places. There is plenty of lighting - a table lamp, very bright reading lights on either side of the bed, and a light in the bathroom. Flies are fewer than in summer, but still around in winter (no mosquitoes), we kept our screens zipped, so no issues. It was extremely windy for a couple of nights and the canvas/timber combination got extremely noisy once the wind really picked up after 11pm, but ear plugs are supplied. There is a USB A port in the tent, however I suggest bringing a type A to C adaptor for charging newer devices. Alternatively, there is power in the main area if you need to plug in to charge. Most people just left their charger there for the duration of their stay, and I left my Apple watch to charge each morning, security is not an issue in the resort. During our stay, we didn't see wallabies, the only wildlife we encountered were the cheeky corellas - they perch above the dining area at meal time, and will land nearby to try to steal food off your plate. In the main area, the resort provides beach towels, binoculars, board games, books, insect repellent, ocean friendly sunscreen, wetsuits, rashies and snorkel gear. There is a selection of clothing and Sal Salis merchandise available at very reasonable prices. There are two scheduled activities each day, depending on weather conditions and tides. In the morning, a sunrise hike to Mandu Mandu (the more difficult of the two) or Yardie Gorge, and/or snorkelling. The afternoon tour is a snorkelling tour e.g Oyster Stacks, Osprey Bay, Lakeside Sanctuary. All tours are scheduled around meal times so you never feel rushed. One morning we did the Yardie Gorge sunrise walk then had breakfast before heading to Osprey Bay for a snorkel tour. It is easier to already have your wetsuit on before you leave for these tours and just take something warm to change into when you get out of the water. We had booked a whale shark tour (recommend Live Ningaloo, reviewed separately), which meant that we were away for most of the day and missed out on the Mandu Mandu hike. However, if you stay for three or four nights, you should have an opportunity to do tours to each of the snorkel locations. The Yardie Gorge walk at sunrise was well worth the 5.45am start. We were fortunate to have Phil as one of our guides - sharing his exceptional knowledge and passion for nature and local history, as well as an astronomy talk while the stars were still quite vivid. Most of the walk is along a flat path however there is some walking over uneven rocky surfaces towards the top (rated moderately difficult). We saw quite a few black-footed rock wallabies and several ospreys... and the colour of the gorge as the sun rises is spectacular. It was quite windy at times at the top of the gorge so ensure you wear layers to keep warm. If you need to connect with the outside world, (Telstra) wifi worked at Tantabiddi boat ramp and Yardie Gorge. Each night before dinner staff will run through activities for the following day including timings etc. There is a blackboard in the main area with names of people who are booked on day tours as well as a booking sheet for those wishing to join morning or afternoon resort tours. There were no night activities e.g. stargazing, scheduled during our stay and with dinner finishing by around 8:30 pm, most people were in bed fairly early. At breakfast there is a selection of cereals available as well as an à la carte menu, served from 7am-9am - eggs cooked your way with sides including bacon, mushrooms, spinach, etc., avocado on toast and açai bowls. Breakfast is scheduled earlier for those going on day tours. Lunch was an a la carte blackboard menu served between 12pm - 1pm. Canapes are served at 6pm each evening, with dinner at 7pm. With wine pairings, the three course set dinner menus include lamb rack, pork belly, duck, eye fillet and fish. The dining area is covered, but otherwise open and can get very cold when windy, however there are blankets provided. Outside of meal times there were snacks available, including savoury bar mix and muesli bar slice, as well as a bean-to-cup coffee machine. The open bar included a good selection of spirits and mixers, lemon and lime slices, wine, beer, cider, soft drinks and bottled juices. Dress code I would say is resort casual: if it needs to be ironed, best leave it at home. The resort has kayaks and stand-up paddle boards, as well as cool cabanas if you want to set up on the beach for the day. Consider checking tide times for the dates you plan to travel - late morning high tides will give you plenty of opportunity to snorkel out front of the resort in between the morning and afternoon activities. The resort's beachfront area is relatively private, however hikers and people staying at the nearby campground also walk along the beach. The large shaded lounge pods are super comfortable and I found it very easy to spend a few hours relaxing with a book and watching whales breaching. Our flight home was at 3pm, so we had an early lunch at the resort and left around 12pm. We enjoyed our trip back to Learmonth with Erin, who took us up to Ningaloo lighthouse on the way and offered to stop in town if we needed. Overall, a wonderful experience in a truly spectacular part of Australia.

There is a fine line between luxury and excess and Sal Salis has nailed it! This place has everything you need - and nothing you don't. Set among the sand dunes - with the reef literally 10m off shore - you couldn't wish for a better location than this. The Safari Tents are beautiful, sturdy and cosy; the food in delicious and varied, but not too fussy; the staff are relaxed and easy-going, but passionate and professional - and kids are happily catered for. The best part for us were the daily tours - and we said 'yes' to every single one that was on offer!! From various snorkelling tours and awe-inspiring sunrise walks along Mandu Mandu Gorge or Yardie Creek (yes, they are worth the early wake-up!), Phil and his team were passionate, knowledgeable and beyond amazing! At the end of 5 days we had seen and experienced so much, it felt as though we had been at Sal Salis for weeks!

Simply amazing in every way - the staff, the tours, the travel advice and the food. Tents are super comfortable. Each day the hotel organized snorkels and walks, with excellent guides. The communal dining makes you feel like you’re dining with family. Food was excellent everyday.

We stayed in the honeymoon tent for 3 nights and it couldn’t have been more perfect. It’s clear that Sal Salis strives for perfection and it delivers on many fronts. The location is unbeatable. There are many camping spots dotted on the same coastline but despite sleeping in “tents” Sal Salis is certainly not camping. Our tent, though basic in that it had a drop toilet, outdoor shower, minimal lighting and no electrical sockets - was comfortable and perfectly located. It’s situated slightly away from the other tents with the verandah looking out over the dunes to the sea. We had private access to a private beach for use only by us. The swing seat on the verandah was perfect for listening to the waves and watching the sunset. The reef is just metres from the shore at Sal Salis so the snorkeling is out of this world. Dining at Sal Salis is awe inspiring. Every meal was superb and we ate there for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. How the chef(s) come up with such amazing menus and well executed food in such a remote location was a wonder to us and all guests we spoke to. Special mention to Lawrence (I hope I spelled that correctly) whose warmth, helpfulness and friendliness really shone through. That’s not to deter from all the other staff - they were all so friendly and helpful and clearly wanting to go the extra mile. I could go on and on about this place but perhaps it’s best summarised by the fact that though it’s described as a once in a lifetime experience, we would love to return one day