04 Feb Exploring Shark Bay and Monkey Mia

DISTANCE FROM PERTH:  862kms / approx 9hrs Driving to Monkey Mia.

Exploring Shark Bay and Monkey Mia is a long road trip, there is no denying it. Trust me when I say its worth it though, exploring Western Australia travel is full of lengthy road trips. Exploring the area and all it has to offer is an experience you don’t want to miss.

Shark Bay is classed as a World Heritage area and offers an amazing coastline to explore. Its beaches are teaming with wildlife, calm bays and 100% worth the journey. The road trip to Monkey Mia and Shark Bay is all part of the fun. Be prepared with your snacks and entertainment, download an audiobook or a few podcasts to pass the time.  

Along the drive into Shark Bay there are the Stromatolites in Hamelin Bay and Shell Beach that can help break up the journey. 

Monkey Mia / 25.7944° S, 113.7179° E

Monkey Mia is definitely a trek off the main hwy, but it is totally worth the trip. Shark bay has plenty to offer. Especially if you like beaches, fishing, water sports, beach days and relaxing. We personally stayed in Monkey Mia RAC Caravan Park for convenience as we wanted to explore the area. We needed an easy camp spot as a base.

Personally we are not huge fan’s of caravan parks because it usually means lots of people. We prefer a more chilled vibe like beach camping off the grid for some privacy. Or, some distance between you and your neighbour’s. However, this caravan park was a pleasant surprise. It is honestly a mini resort. It has a tennis court, 2 swimming pools, x2 sunset bar’s and a restaurant. Not to forget the really nice clean facilities (toilets, showers and state of the art camp kitchen).

The camp kitchens we amazing and we kind of enjoyed the facilities and the patrons. Simon even managed to stream the footy on one of the camp kitchen tv’s and drew a 10ppl crowd to enjoy a winning game.

If you are traveling with a family or want a touch more camping luxe / luxury this is a great spot to stay. The caravan park also have luxury villas, cheaper (yet still lovely) chalet style rooms and even back packing style dorms if you are not equipped for camping. Powered caravan sites, unpowered sites and grassed areas for tents if you are doing a road trip on the cheap.

Monkey Mia is “all about the dolphins” and it truly is a cool experience, even as an adult I absolutely love seeing them. The resort offers feeding each day at certain times but you don’t need to be there for those “feeding times” or pay for the experience. We went out stand up paddling early in the morning off the shore and they are just there. We were also just randomly fishing off the beach 50m from the main jetty and they are just there feeding, playing in the shallows. Even sitting at the bar watching the sunset you can see them in distance feeding.

Make time to explore the area because there is lots of wildlife, go for a long walk along the coast, hire a kayak or SUP and get out on the water.

Camping Warning… It can get windy in shark bay, but the weather can also be amazing too. So keep an eye on the weather when you go, when the wind comes in, it usually sets in for a few days. According to the Denham locals. We had 2 amazing calm days and about 4 days of the tent flapping which was rather annoying. Especially when, all there is to do is relaxing on the beach and beach activities. There are still beach activities to enjoy but the sup and kayaking are a bit tricky if its too windy. 

Francois Peron NP / 25.8204° S, 113.5500° E

If you want secluded beach camping where you are fully self sufficient or looking for some 4wd’ing adventure then definitely stay in the national park. There are a heap of camping options but you will need enough water and food for your stay. There are long drop toilets there but no showers.

Exploring the national park is 4wd access only and an absolute ball exploring the beaches and bays. The landscape is very unique and quite amazing. You can just go for a day trip to explore the national park but definitely allow a full day, take your time to enjoy the sights.

If you don’t have a 4wd you can go for a day trip with a guide, you can find these companies online or book at RAC Caravan Park or the Visitors Centre in Denham Town.

Francois Peron NP is very raw Australian rugged outback, the red dirt meeting the white sand, meeting the turquoise ocean is a sight to be seen. Its a very different National Park experience to the South West Forests of Pemberton or the coastal scrub of Cape Le Grand, Esperance.

Each bay is so unique with its landscape changing from bay to bay but it is worth the day trip to experience and enjoy this amazing National Park. You can drive along the beach at Bottle Bay. Shark Bay whiting is plentiful. However, we were unprepared with no bait but people were catching fish off the beach.

After exploring all the bays in the National Park, Gregory’s and Sth Gregory’s Bay look like amazing camping spots. Keep in mind, they are quite a way into the national park. Read more about our camping experience in Francois Peron HERE.

IF you do camp here allow at least a good hour or an hour and a half from the entrance of the park, to get to your camp spot. 

We really wanted to stay in the NP but you can’t book in advance so it is a bit of a gamble traveling all that way without a booking. I can’t imagine it would even be 100% fully booked out but that is definitely something to consider going all that way and not being able to get a spot.  Luckily the Monkey Mia usually always have availability so there are backups. That’s why we didn’t camp there and why we booked the RAC caravan park, so we could explore what bays would be good to stay next time we go.

AND there will be a next time… François Peron is a bloody ripper place. I can’t wait to camp, wake up, explore and have a stroll along the beaches there in Shark Bay.

WHERE WE STAYED

• Monkey Mia RAC Resort
• Where we will stay next time South Gregories Bay in Francois Peron NP

OTHER PLACES TO STAY

• Denham caravan park.
• Air bnb’s in Denham town
• Hamelin Pool Caravan Park
• Hamelin Outback Station
• Nanga Bay Caravan Park. 

OFF THE GRID CAMPING.

• Francois Peron National Park camping
• Whale bone bay (on the rd into Denham)

Share the Love