Situated 25 km north east across the peninsula from Denham, Monkey Mia was first established as a pearling settlement, however this did not last long as the shell was slow to replenish. Today Monkey Mia is one of the few places in the world where a recognised group of wild dolphins swim to shore each day to make contact with humans.

Monkey Mia walk trail – 3 km return. This is an easy one hour walk across the coastal dunes to the red sand hills and a lookout over the Bay, historical grave site, a bird hide, Aboriginal shelter cave and a quiet beach.

Facilities include: Visitors Information Centre, Caravan Park and Resort, shop, restaurant, barbecue, toilets, boat ramp and jetty. Fees are payable at the Toll gate upon entry to the reserve except when accessing the boat ramp facility to launch your boat. Information regarding the fee and different passes available can be obtained by phoning the Monkey Mia Visitor’s Centre on (08) 9948 1366 or CALM office on (08) 9948 1208.

Located approximately 20 km south from Denham, this area is named after the osprey or sea eagle which nests on the rock island just offshore. It boasts a boardwalk which extends over the ocean and from this you can see the Useless Loop salt pile and many marine creatures.

Dirk Hartog Island forms the western boundary of the Shark Bay Region and also the World Heritage Area. It is a 15 minute flight from Denham and accommodation is available on the Island.

Cape Inscription is located at the most northern point of the island and it was here that Captain Dirk Hartog landed in 1616. The island is considered to be one of only two major nesting sites for the loggerhead turtles and has a diverse and prolific range of wildlife.

A solar salt operation and gypsum mine have been operating since 1968 at Useless Loop. The salt (sodium chloride-table salt) is produced when ponds are repeatedly flooded with seawater, which is progressively concentrated by evaporation and scooped up when dry. Overseas ships call regularly to collect the product which in fact is the purest grade sea salt in the world.

As it is a closed mining town there are no facilities for tourists.

Heirisson and Bellefin Prongs-Useless Loop

Useless Loop Salt ponds

Steep Point is accessed from Useless Loop Road and is approximately 260 km from Denham. Access is 4WD only. Steep Point is renown for great fishing, terrific scenery and bays and is an excellent spot for four-wheel driving, photography and bush camping.

Steep Point is part of Carrarang Pastoral Station and permission is required to enter the pastoral lease area. Full details are available at www.steeppoint.com.au or by contacting the Ranger.

Fees are payable and will be collected by the Ranger employed by the station owners. In addition an environment levy of $100.00 is payable as a deposit on entry.

Steep Point has a Ranger Station and public phone but fresh water and firewood must be taken into this area. It is always advised to contact the ranger on phone/fax (08) 9948 3993 before heading out to Steep Point for advice on road conditions and camping availability.

The world's best known colony of Stromatolites is at Hamelin Pool, and an informative talk and video is available at the museum.

Hamelin Pool is a landlocked marine basin partially separated from Shark Bay by a shallow barrier bank constructed in the last 5,000 years through the accumulation of skeletons of marine organisms living in seagrass meadows. The algal Stromatolites here are the most abundant and diverse to be found in modern times.

Stromatolites differ from normal fossils (such as shell or bones) because they are formed by the activities of micro-organisms. They result from some combination of trapping, binding and precipitation of sediment. The constructing organisms are mainly bacteria, blue-green algae and various green unicellular algae.

Hamelin Pool Walkway

Hamelin Pool Walkway - Sign 6

Stromatolites