Novotel Ningaloo Resort Exmouth

The beachfront setting and relaxed feel had us in vacation mode right away, and our room was spacious and comfortable. Daniele and the brunette girl, I think it was Dani?, were friendly and made the stay feel even nicer. The pool is one of the best parts, big and well kept, and lovely for a sunset drink. It was a bit dirty on our last day, though. The restaurant has a pleasant sea view and local seafood on offer, but its menu variety and quality could be a little better. We were also disappointed that room service has a different menu from dining in, so you can’t order something special to enjoy in your room. Even with those small issues, the resort felt like a true paradise.

The setting is lovely, with a beautiful outlook and a laid-back feel that makes you want to linger. The food was fantastic, too. Every meal we had at Manta Rays Restaurant was high quality and cooked just right. The kitchen clearly cares about what it serves. We’d seen earlier comments about there being no vegan options, and the restaurant listened and added vegan dishes. That kind of response says a lot about how they value customers. Great service as well. We’ll definitely be back.

For my 50th birthday, I waited months for close friends to get back from travelling so they could join me at Mantarays. There were eight of us, all long-term locals. The servers were lovely and attentive, and the service was fine. The food, though, was some of the worst I’ve had. My steak was thin and bland, dumped on stale fries that tasted reheated. The focaccia was an untoasted lump of bread with none of the usual accompaniments. Other guests who ordered steak had the same experience, and the rest of the dishes were below par too. I’ve had better presented food at roadhouses on trips to Perth. Locals go to Mantarays for a dining experience, and this felt worse than reheated roadhouse food. I understand the place has changed hands and the chef was asked to use cheaper ingredients. If that’s why our birthday group was served these appalling dishes, with no alternative options for guests with dietary requirements, I demand a full refund for everyone and an apology. No voucher for another visit or other appeasement. Mantarays, get your act together. This was poor form and I’m thoroughly disgusted.

We’ve loved coming here every year, and for years we’ve enjoyed the vegan dishes on the restaurant menu. Now the new owners have taken every plant-based dish off the menu. For a resort of this quality, that’s astonishing and frankly disappointing, especially these days. Veganism is becoming much more mainstream for good reasons, and they need to keep up. Bread and a green salad aren’t an acceptable substitute. Very poor.