Tim Winton on the challenges of making ABC's documentary, Ningaloo Nyinggulu, when Mother Nature doesn't stick to the script

Tim Winton is one of the fiercest defenders of Ningaloo Reef, which has World Heritage protection. (Supplied: Artemis Media)

Making a natural history documentary is a test of patience and endurance, and on this particular day of filming on Ningaloo Reef Tim Winton had finally run out of both.

One of Australia's greatest authors, Winton has been captivated by Ningaloo on WA's north-west coast for more than 30 years. He's spearheaded campaigns to preserve it and now was working with a film crew to capture its wild beauty for an ABC documentary series, Ningaloo Nyinggulu.