Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
is A$362 (US$235), cheaper for advance purchase tickets. The Shark Bay Airport
Bus ( & 08/9948 1358 ) meets every flight and transfers you to Monkey Mia Dol-
phin Resort for A$7.70 (US$5) per person one-way.
There is no train to Shark Bay. Greyhound Pioneer ( & 13 20 30 in Aus-
tralia) travels daily from Perth and Broome. These services connect three times
a week at the Overlander Roadhouse at the Shark Bay turnoff on the North West
Coastal Highway. The trip from Perth costs A$136 (US$88) and takes about 15
hours. From Broome it costs A$293 (US$190) and takes about 24 hours
through featureless landscape—not recommended.
Beware of wildlife on the lonely, uninteresting 9- to 10-hour drive from Perth,
and keep the gas tank full. From Perth take the Brand Highway 424km (263
miles) north to Geraldton, then the North West Coastal Highway for 280km (174
miles) to the Overlander Roadhouse. Turn left onto the Denham-Hamelin Road
and follow it for 152km (94 miles) to Monkey Mia, which is 27km (17 miles) past
Denham. If you want to break the journey, the Mercure Inn Geraldton, Brand
Highway, Geraldton, WA 6530 ( & 08/9921 2455 ), has smart, clean motel
rooms. Rates are A$131 (US$85) double; specials are available most nights.
Numerous coach, four-wheel-drive, and aerial tours run from Perth. World
Heritage Tours & Travel ( & 08/9581 5666; book via www.visitwa.com.au)
offers a wide range.
VISITOR INFORMATION Wide-ranging ecological information on Shark
Bay Marine Park, Francois Peron National Park, and Hamelin Pool Marine
Nature Reserve, as well as details on local tours, is available at the Monkey Mia
Visitor Centre ( & 08/9948 1366 ) within Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort (see
“Where to Stay & Dine,” below). Videos run throughout the day, and researchers
(who are mostly from American universities) give free talks and slide shows most
nights. The state Department of Conservation and Land Management runs the
center (www.calm.wa.gov.au). The official information outlet is the Shark Bay
Tourist Bureau at 71 Knight Terrace, Denham, WA 6537 ( & 08/9948 1253;
www.sharkbay.asn.au), open daily from 8am to 5pm (until 6pm in winter),
though you will probably find the Monkey Mia Visitor Centre just as helpful.
GETTING AROUND Shark Bay Car Hire ( & 08/9948 1247 ) delivers cars
and four-wheel-drives to the airport and the resort from its Denham office. Sev-
eral companies run tours to all the main attractions.
FAST FACTS Admission to the Monkey Mia Reserve, in which Monkey Mia
Dolphin Resort is located, is A$6 (US$3.90) per adult, A$2 (US$1.30) per child
7 to 16, and A$12 (US$7.80) per family. If you stay longer than 2 days and a
night, you need a 4-week pass costing A$9 (US$5.85) for adults, A$4
(US$2.60) for kids, and A$22 (US$14.30) for a family.
There's an ATM at The Heritage Resort, 73 Knight Terrace (at Durlacher
St.), Denham ( & 08/9948 1133 ), but banks are nonexistent. A banking agency
is located within the post office in Denham.
MEETING THE DOLPHINS
At 7am guests at Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort are already gathering on the
beach in quiet anticipation of the dolphins' arrival. By 8am three or more dol-
phins usually show, and they come and go until the early afternoon. Because of
the crowds the dolphins attract (about 40 people a session in low season, coach
loads in high season), a park ranger instructs everyone to line up knee-deep in
the water as the playful swimsters cruise by your legs. You may not approach
Search WWH ::




Custom Search