Jul 13 2008
The Miracle of Monkey Mia
No one ever forgets Monkey Mia. The tiny town on the shores of Shark Bay is famous for its dolphins.
Dolphins that swim up to greet you, bump your legs, splash you and, let’s face it, laugh at you. After a day with the dolphins you can easily imagine them trilling, in chorus, ‘so long and thanks for all the fish‘.
For more than forty years the bottleneck dolphins have been visiting and interacting with us, and we still don’t know why. Maybe they just like to play with us, as we do with them.
In the last five years, there are just four days in which the dolphins didn’t come out to play. Perhaps it’s an attraction for them, this lovely untouched place with flawless blue skies and sunshine 320 days of the year.
Monkey Mia is located midway up West Australian Coastline in the heart of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. It’s became a tourist attraction now, and carefully regulated by park staff to prevent distress to the dolphins or damage to their environment.
Accommodation has been built right on the beach so visitors can spend a couple of days exploring this unique area.
Here’s a charming little video from a couple of young travelers. (Lovely shots of the beauty of Shark Bay and the dolphins.) I find the music a touch too dramatic but I appreciate the effort put into an amateur video.
More than dolphins at Monkey Mia
You can take an eco-cruise into the shallow waters of Shark Bay Marine Park where marine wildlife is protected.
The vast seagrass floor of the bay is home to countless species of fish. manta rays, whales, turtles, and dugongs. The Shark Bay area has 10 species of mammals, 98 species of reptiles, over 100 bird species and, with the longest wildflower season in the West, more than 700 species of flowering plants.
This bounty of nature can all be easily seen and enjoyed at Monkey Mia.
Dugongs
Shark Bay is home to the world’s second largest population of these amiable mammals. There are about 15,000 in the marine park.
Tiger Sharks
Striped or spotted tiger sharks up to 4.5 metres long are found in the bay. More than five hundred have been tagged and released in the past five years. During the summer months you can join a cruise to watch the research scientists catch and tag the sharks.
Turtles
Thousands of loggerhead and green turtles live in Shark Bay. Plenty of cruises are available to view them in the wild.
Whales
The Right Whales come to Shark Bay to give birth. Regular visitors are Humpbacks, Minkes, Pilots and Killer Whales. Once again, cruises are available.
Rare Birds
Nowhere else in the world will you find the Dirk Hartog Black and White Fairy Wren. The endangered Thick Billed Grass Wren is happy to make an appearance in the Monkey Mia Vistors Car Park.
Stromatolites
At the Hamelin Pool in the south of the bay, the Stromatolites are among the oldest fossils of life on earth. They were believed to be extinct until someone noticed them in Shark Bay 50 years ago.
Stromatolites created our oxygen atmosphere and began the evolution of life from the water to the land, you can call them our ancestors! These microscopic organisms concentrate and recycle nutrients which combine with sedimentary grains to form mushroom shaped towers.
Shell Beach
After all of the wildlife, you still must find time to visit this 100 kilometre beach made entirely of tiny cockle shells the size of your fingernail.
How to get to Monkey Mia
Drive : Shark Bay is 850 kilometres from Perth, a day’s drive through beautiful wildflower country.
Make sure to leave early, as driving after dark can be hazardous along here. Many roads are unfenced, so watch out for wandering stock and wildlife.
Fly : There are both regular and charter flights from Perth to Denham. The small seaside town of Denham, once thriving in the pearl industry, is now the centre of tourism for Shark Bay. You’ll love the street paved with pearl shell!
Coach : McCafferty’s/Greyhound Perth-Broome-Darwin service stops at the Overlander Roadhouse 150km from Monkey Mia where a shuttle bus runs to Denham and Monkey Mia.
Most Backpacker buses heading up the coast will call in, who could miss Monkey Mia?
Like to shout me a cold beer?
Monkey Mia is one of the places I’ve been interested in going. Now after reading this, I REALLY want to go.
It seems amazing.
It IS amazing. Go now, before Big Business moves in to build 5 star hotels and fences off the bay to keep riff raff like us - the ordinary people - out.
monkey mia seems to be an eco-tourism hot spot, i would love to visit someday. maybe when gas prices go down…