Off-road adventure in the Francois Peron National Park

7.11.2018

We want to use Denham as a base for further activities for 2 days. It is the tourist and fishing center of the enormous Shark Bay, which was declared a World Heritage site in 1991. In a large information center in the village, you can get detailed information about this nature and marine reserve. Denham is very manageable, has the most important facilities and a longer waterfront promenade, where our accommodation is located.

Today we have a visit to the national park on the agenda, which is only accessible by 4WD vehicles due to its sand tracks. It offers beautiful scenery and is a refuge for endangered native species. Endless red sand tracks cross the park and on the coast, glowing red sandstone cliffs contrast with white beaches, creating a unique contrast with the turquoise blue ocean.

Actually, we want to drive the full 50 km to the cape at its northern tip on the Peron Peninsula. At the beginning of the track, there is a station for all vehicles to deflate and later inflate the tire air pressure, which is absolutely necessary for the continuation of the journey. After a few kilometers of driving on the track and a few situations of almost getting stuck in the deep sand, we frustratedly change our plans.

Tire pressure station

Our LandCruiser may have the necessary engine and drive, but the wheels and tires are not optimal and have already been patched, so we don't want to provoke any further mishaps... So we turn around and head for the somewhat less challenging track to the 'Big Lagoon'. There we arrive without any difficulties and enjoy a relaxing lunch break at a picnic site.

the Big Lagoon

Picnic site

On the way back to Denham, we also visit the 'Little Lagoon', circular, flat, and very salty, as Gerhard can report after a test swim.

Little Lagoon

Our car didn't really survive the sand track drive. Some warning lights are blinking. Our men are first looking for an auto workshop in town and find one. They have an appointment for tomorrow.

At coffee time, all four of us are back at the holiday home, because it is getting uncomfortable outside due to the strong wind starting again. Luckily, we don't have to leave the house for dinner!

For dinner, Gisela is cooking her special fish soup for all of us today. She already bought all the ingredients after breakfast. While we write in the blog, Gisela and Günther are busy in the kitchen. It already smells very tempting and we're getting hungry. Our eyes are also tearing up from all the spices that are being used.

Of course, it taste excellent, so the day ends with a real highlight.

Visit to the dolphins

8.11.2018

We have to be in Monkey Mia, which is 26 km away, at 7:45 am. It is not a village, but only a tourist resort. The attraction here is the morning feeding of the dolphins. They are fed fish by the rangers on the beach. Numerous tourists want to witness this spectacle. We also don't want to miss it.

Even before the actual feeding, the dolphins swim close to the shore and you can watch them from a platform during their playful antics. Then we are allowed to go to the beach and get close to them. It is a unique opportunity to see these friendly animals up close. The cameras are working hard! After about 20 minutes, it's all over.

We then have our breakfast on the restaurant terrace with a sea view and stroll along the beach. After that, we drive back to Denham.

Gerhard and Günther first visit the auto workshop and the repair is quickly done. Hertz has offered us to pick up a different car in Perth after our damage report. Of course, we won't turn down this offer.

Today is a real day of relaxation - sometimes it has to be. Gisela and Günther take a walk along the beach and we explore the town a bit more. We encounter the shells from Shell Beach again at a restaurant and at the church - this time in the form of brick-like building blocks.

Masonry stone made of shells

In the afternoon, we take an oldytravellers coffee trip to Ocean Park. We sit alone on the terrace, enjoy coffee and cake, and the sea view once again.

By the way, we don't need our fly nets here on the coast anymore. There are significantly fewer flies around!

We end the day with a very good dinner at the Muschelhaus restaurant.