12 Stunning Places Where Golden Desert Sands Meet The Sea

6. Ningaloo Coast, Western Australia: Red Earth Meets Turquoise Reef

Along Western Australia's Ningaloo Coast, the arid, red-earth landscape characteristic of the Outback stretches right to the edge of the Indian Ocean's brilliant turquoise waters. This UNESCO World Heritage site protects the Ningaloo Reef, one of the world's largest fringing coral reefs, which lies remarkably close to shore. Visitors can step almost directly from the sparse, desert vegetation onto white sand beaches and snorkel amongst vibrant corals and marine life, including whale sharks. The stark color contrast between the red land and blue sea is visually stunning.