SHARK BAY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Shark Bay in Western Australia is well-known for its exceptional beauty, rugged landscape and diverse wildlife. In fact, it’s home for more than 300 species of marine animals. Shark Bay is not called in such a way for no reason. At least 29 types of shark have been seen in this area. Don’t panic… it’s perfectly safe to swim here. Do you prefer to stay on dry land? No worries at all. I’m sure you won’t be bored. In this blog post, I’m going to share with you some of the best things to do in Shark Bay in Western Australia. Let’s get started!

FRANCOIS PERON NATIONAL PARK

Breathtaking colours, abundance of wildlife, and off-road driving. This is the quintessential Francois Peron National Park. A perfect place for those who love the raw beauty of Australia, and seek some adventures. Soak up the view of striking red cliffs, white sand and turquoise water. Feel the rush taking a soft sand track in a 4WD vehicle. Set up a tent in a beautiful scenery and spend the night under the stars. Are you ready for this ride? Learn more how to prepare for visiting Francois Peron National Park in a separate blog post.

MONKEY MIA

Monkey Mia is a place where you can interact with dolphins that come to the shore every morning. The first dolphin experience starts at 7:45 am, followed by two more sessions that are usually over by 9:00 am. If you are lucky, you may get the chance to assist in feeding the dolphins. Rangers chose 3 – 4 people per session to feed the dolphins under their supervision. These are usually children, but don’t lose faith! Smile and try to catch the rangers’ attention. This will help you a lot. Entry fee for this experience is AUD 15 for an adult.

EAGLE BLUFF

Eagle Bluff is a viewpoint located no more than 20 km from Denham. It’s a great spot to drop by in the evening and watch the sunset. The elevated boardwalk offers amazing coastal views. If you get lucky, you will also spot some wildlife from here. Keep your eyes peeled for marine creatures such as dolphins, dugongs, turtles and sharks. Not too far from the promenade, there is a basic campground where you can spend the night under the starry sky. Find out more about campsites in Shark Bay in the section below.

SHELL BEACH

Shell Beach remains one of the most iconic attractions of Shark Bay in Western Australia. This beautiful beach is over 60 metres long and made up solely of tiny shells up to 10 metres deep. There is no sand at all! Only teeny tiny shells. How cool is that? Not too far from Shell Beach, there are three campsites with basically no facilities, Eagle Bluff, Fowlers Camp and Whalebone Bay. The camping fee is AUD 15 per night per vehicle for up to 4 people. To pay for your stay, call or contact Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery & Visitor Centre in person. The campsites are accessible with a 2WD vehicle via unsealed roads. Have fun!

HAMELIN POOL

Hamelin Pool is another interesting place to visit in Shark Bay in Western Australia. You will find here stromatolites, one of the oldest evidence of life on Earth, date back 3,5 billion years old. Stromatolites are also called “living fossils”. It’s been assessed that they grow at a maximum of 0,3 mm per year. A boardwalk at Hamelin Pool gives you the opportunity to see the formations from a short distance. Stromatolites are extremely rare so make sure to add this place to your itinerary and drop by on your way to Exmouth.

LITTLE LAGOON

Little Lagoon is located only 5 km from Denham. It’s a smaller, and more accessible version of Big Lagoon situated in Francois Peron National Park. You can get there by car or on foot from Denham. If you are keen to take a casual stroll, just follow the Nicholson Point Walk Trail. It shouldn’t take you more than 2 hours (both ways). Little Lagoon is a great place to visit is you have some spare time left in Denham. This spot is ideal for swimming, fishing, paddle boarding, and also watching rare birdlife, native to this region.

OTHER PLACES

• Dirk Hartog Island (access for 4WD cars)
• Steep Point (access for 4WD cars)

These are the best things to do in Shark Bay in Western Australia. Where will you go first? Let me know by leaving a comment below!

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Hey, it’s Karolina, the author of this blog. If you find my content valuable and helpful, I would be more than grateful, if you could support my work, and buy me a coffee. I do love writing my blog, and creating content for you guys. Thank you!