6th May 2002: Kalbarri – Monkey Mia
We make our way north in the rain to Shark Bay camping at the Monkey Mia Resort (sardine city); we are packed in on a lawn with plenty of other campers. Having said it is packed like a tourist city, the surrounds are excellent.
We go down to the beach at 7.45am to catch the first feeding for the day. The dolphins were already there and quite a crowd was gathered for the feeding at around 8.20am. Only the adult females are fed (3 when we visit) and they receive around a quarter of their requirements over the 3 feeds between 8am and 1pm.
Standing in knee deep of water you are quite close to the magnificent creatures – Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins (about 120kg). Other species can get to 400kg. While Monkey Mia is quite touristy, it was a great experience to get up close to the dolphins.
During our stay we also visit Francois Peron National Park . Lots of sandy tracks requiring 4WD and low tyre pressures down to 26 psi. The park consists of red sand dunes and sandstone cliffs plunging into the blue waters… a spectacular contrast.
9th May 2002: Monkey Mia – Gladstone
On our way out of the area we stop for a look at Eagle Bluff and Shell Beach. Shell Beach is just that; little bi-valves (millions & millions of them) – amazing! We also stop for lunch at Hamelin Pool, where the stromalolites exist – probably not many of these thing in other parts of the world. They are accredited with providing the world with enough oxygen for lifeforms to grow some 3 billion years ago.
Back at the coastal highway we drive north for about 60kms, then west along a dirt road to the old Gladstone site. There is only basic camping here now but is still a nice spot overlooking Shark Bay. We camp in the hiking tent and sit out to watch a lovely sunset over the water.
