The grand ocean scenery and sweeping ocean beaches of this part of Western Australia, combined with the wildlife and gorgeous National Parks make for a great destination for both Australians and overseas visitors.
Shark Bay World Heritage and Marine Park
Dolphins abound in the Shark Bay World Heritage and Marine Park, as well as dugongs. This park, declared a World Heritage Area in 1991 is eminently suited for families, has large sand dunes that meet the ocean, while the many islands and bays thrive with marine life of all kinds, including turtles, whales, sharks and tropical fish.
The seagrass bed in the park is the largest known in the world, supporting the largest biodiversity of life in one spot found anywhere on our planet.
There are cruises available to spot dolphins, turtles, stingrays and dugongs. For the more adventerous, go snorkelling or scuba diving on the reef for colourful displays of the many thousands of fish in the clear waters of this wonderful World Heritage and Marine Park.
Monkey Mia
Monkey Mia, also in the Shark Bay Marine Park, has dolphins that visit the beach. There is a strictly controlled opportunity to see them up close and feed these mammals, the 8 o’clock in the morning, with up to two more later in the day till 1pm. It originally began in the 1960s. A fisherman’s would feed the dolphins as they followed the fishing boat to the shore.
There is a strictly controlled opportunity to see them up close and feed these mammals, the 8 o’clock in the morning, with up to two more later in the day till 1pm.
On the way to Monkey Mia, try and stop off at the Shell Beach. Some 60 kms long, 10 metres deep of cockle shells line the seashore. At Hamelin Pool, there are stromalites, ancient lifeforms that have survived eons, right to the beginning of life itself on earth.
Francios Peron National Park
Francios Peron National Park has great scenery, red rust sandy dunes meet the brilliant white sandy beaches, while the coastal waters shimmer with ocean blues and sunlight. Just a short drive from Denham, there are rare and endangered species, stunning ocean vistas and a serious effort to conserve and to protect the native animals here.
Although you need a 4WD to access the coastal region, the effort is well worth it. Besides glorious ocean sunsets, you can spot dolphins, dugongs, turtles and manta rays.
Other endangered species will be re-introduced into the area gradually. Woylies, bilbies and malleefowl have already been released. Other residents of the park include wallabies and the thorny devil, a small fierce looking lizard and a multitude of birdlife.
The aim is to make the Shark Bay World Heritage Area and the Francios Peron National Park, already stunning areas in their own right, a natural wonder of the world for the preservation of native species.
Dick Hartog Island
1616: The first European recorded to land in Australia was Dick Hartog, a Dutch captain working for the Dutch East India Company (VOC - Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie). Landing on the island, he left a pewter plate nailed to a tree behind.
1696: This plate was later recovered by another Dutch mariner, Willem de Vlamingh, who took the time to chart the Western Australia coastline.
Monkey Mia Tourist Information
You can get more tourist information about Shark Bay and its many natural wonders from the Carnarvon Tourist Bureau located in Robinson Street, Carnarvon. Phone +061 8 9941 1146. You can also contact the Kalbarri Tourist Bureau, located further south in Kalbarri, Phone +061 8 9937 1104.
