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Western Australia · Australia
The shallow-water bay on the west coast, a World Heritage site, with the Monkey Mia dolphins, the shell beach of Shell Beach and, to the south, the gorges and cliffs of Kalbarri.
In the photo: Nature’s Window, Kalbarri National Park
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Shark Bay is a large shallow bay at Australia’s westernmost tip, about 830 km north of Perth. Formed by peninsulas and red-sand islands surrounded by turquoise-blue sea, it was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1991 for its natural values: it has one of the world’s largest seagrass meadows and a large dugong population.
At Monkey Mia, wild dolphins often come to the shoreline in the mornings, and park rangers explain the animals’ lives. Shell Beach is made entirely of tiny white shells, and the Peron Peninsula in François Peron National Park has red dunes that meet the sea.
The bay also protects the Hamelin Pool stromatolites, structures formed by microorganisms that resemble some of Earth’s oldest life forms. Denham, Australia’s westernmost town, is the base for the area.
On the route from Perth lies Kalbarri, a village at the mouth of the Murchison River with gorges, suspended lookouts and cliffs over the Indian Ocean, commonly combined with Shark Bay on the same trip.
This destination brings together 2 cities: Denham, Kalbarri.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Boundaries: Australian Bureau of Statistics / geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.
✈ Shark Bay Airport (MJK), in Denham · 5 km to Denham
Shark Bay Airport, near Denham, has flights from Perth. By road it’s about 830 km from Perth to Denham, taking one or two days and passing Kalbarri, about 570 km from Perth.
Suggested arrival point: Denham
Town on the Peron Peninsula at the edge of Shark Bay, considered Australia’s westernmost town. It has accommodations, restaurants and the Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery Centre. It’s the base for Monkey Mia and the dolphins, Shell Beach, the Eagle Bluff lookout and François Peron National Park.
Village at the mouth of the Murchison River, about 570 km north of Perth, on the way to Shark Bay. It is the gateway to Kalbarri National Park: inland, red sandstone gorges with the Kalbarri Skywalk and Nature's Window; on the coast, cliffs over 100 meters above the Indian Ocean. From August to October, wildflowers carpet the area.
The local experience
Two suspended platforms that project over the Murchison River gorge in Kalbarri National Park, about 100 meters high.
Beach in Shark Bay where wild dolphins often come to the water’s edge in the mornings; park rangers are present to explain the animals’ lives.
A natural sandstone arch in layers that frames the Murchison River valley in Kalbarri National Park, near the Z Bend lookout.
About 60 km of shoreline made entirely of tiny white shells, with layers several meters deep, in L’Haridon Bight.
A boardwalk over a cliff on the edge of Shark Bay, about 20 km from Denham, where you can see sharks, rays, turtles and sometimes dugongs in the shallow water.
A sequence of lookouts over red sandstone cliffs more than 100 meters high, south of Kalbarri village, including Natural Bridge and Island Rock.
Park at the northern tip of the Peron Peninsula, with red dunes, lagoons, beaches and Cape Peron, accessible only by 4x4 vehicle.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
From May to October, with warm days and cool nights, and especially August to October when wildflowers cover the Kalbarri area. Summer is very hot and windy.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Four or five days: two or three in Shark Bay and one or two in Kalbarri en route.
Denham has hotels, cottages and bayside campgrounds. Monkey Mia has a beachfront resort by the dolphin area. Kalbarri offers hotels, apartments and campsites in the village near the river mouth.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
Four to five days, including Kalbarri, which is on the way.
By plane from Perth to Shark Bay Airport, or by car — about 830 km along the coast.
Yes, to reach Denham to Monkey Mia, Shell Beach and Kalbarri. The Peron Peninsula requires a 4x4 vehicle or a guided tour. In Australia you drive on the left.
Yes, since 1991, for its natural values, including seagrass meadows, dugongs and stromatolites.
Western Australia time, UTC+8, with no daylight saving time.
