Shark Bay World Heritage Area became Western Australia's first world heritage listed area and one of only 16 Australia wide to fit all four selection criteria.
Shark Bay is testimony to the wonders of the natural world. Famous for its friendly Monkey Mia dolphins, there are few places in the world where you can experience marine wonders as you can in Shark Bay. On any visit you're likely to spot turtles, dolphins, manta rays, whales and dugongs, be it on a boat or from the shore and at the end of it all, just relax amongst Shark Bay's stunning white beaches, crystal clear waters and rust-red sand dunes. The areas wilderness and natural wonders make for a truly unique holiday.
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What to see and do:
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If you love wildlife, you will love Shark Bay. Shark Bay Marine Park is Australia’s largest marine embayment, with more than 1500 kilometres of meandering coastline. Whether on an organised tour or travelling by your own steam, you will be sure to spot the cuddly, the unusual or the endangered.
Discover the whole story of Shark Bay's natural and historical treasures while in Denham at the Shark Bay World Discovery Centre. Its state-of-the art displays, including soundscapes, historic and contemporary film footage, multimedia interactives and objects of rare scientific and historic significance, take you on a journey around Shark Bay. You can also get an indigenous perspective on Shark Bay by taking a walking tour departing from the Monkey Mia Visitor Centre daily.
There are some exciting and facinating places to see in the Shark Bay area. Francois Peron National Park and in particular Bottle Bay boasts stunning scenery as rust red sand dunes give way to brilliant white beaches and crystal blue ocean. Steep Point is the most western point in the country and features the magnificent Zuytdorp Cliffs, towering 170m above sea level. Accessible by 4WD only, visitors must bring all their own supplies and drinking water. For those who like a little seclusion, Dirk Hartog Island offers a peaceful retreat of beautiful scenery and private white sandy beaches. Boat and air tours need to be prebooked.
At Hamelin Pool Marine and Nature Reserve you can view the oldest and largest living fossils in the world, the Stomatolites. At nearby Shell Beach marvel at this beautiful snow-white beach made up of millions of tiny shells up to 10 metres deep and stretching for over 120kms. Little Lagoon, 5km from Denham is a great place for swimming and a barbeque and some 20km south of Denham Eagle Bluff offers a birds eye view of the surrounding.
For more information or to book your visit to the Shark Bay World Heritage area contact the Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery and Visitor Centre on +61 8 9948 1590 or visit their website.
