Monkey Mia, WA: where red desert meets the sea

On one side is rugged outback, on the other a marine wonderland, and in the middle… Monkey Mia , where the red desert meets the sea

Western Australia’s Shark Bay region is a special part of the world. With its year-round warm weather, blue skies and turquoise waters, it is an untouched wilderness brimming with stunning natural wonders. It is home to one of the world’s best dolphin encounters, but that is just the beginning.

Disappear for a few days and you can embark on a voyage of discovery to a place where you will find the oldest living fossils in the world, see dugongs and humpback whales, walk on a cockle shell beach, or scuba dive from the westernmost tip of Australia.

With Monkey Mia 850 kilometres north of Perth, the drive can be done in a day, or it’s less than two hours by plane with Rex (Regional Express), which has recently introduced new affordable airfares.

Those driving can take a more leisurely approach if they have some time on their hands and factor in an overnight stopover in Geraldton, which sits 420 kilometres from Perth of WA’s Coral Coast.

Refreshed after a night’s sleep, take the time to visit the revitalised waterfront, or swim at one of the town’s many beaches. The cafe scene here is also flourishing so grab a takeaway coffee to launch yourself on the five-hour drive to your final destination.

Pastoral land and red desert slowly transform into white sandy beaches as you enter Western Australia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site – Shark Bay. Here, the desert meets the sea, and the marine life in this thriving natural haven is as diverse as the rugged Australian landscape.

Monkey Mia and Shell Beach — The gorgeous WA coast line

New Look RAC Resort

Monkey Mia is world famous for the dolphin interactions that take place on the doorstep of the RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort , which has recently undergone an amazing transformation: brand new beachfront luxury villas, 120 caravan and camping sites, hotel-style rooms and accommodation options to suit all budgets and tastes.

The resort redevelopment also includes new camp kitchens, recreation room and ablutions, as well as a general store and gift shop. A second swimming pool and additional children’s pool complete the facelift for this renowned beachfront resort.

After a long day’s drive, there’s no better experience than standing on the deck of a beachfront villa watching the setting sun drench the ocean in hues of orange and pink. As the night sky fills with stars, guests can relax with a drink (or two) at the Monkey Bar, before dining at the beachfront Boughshed Restaurant.

Monkey Mia, Western Australia — Camp next to the ocean, wake up to the sea breeze

Paddling with the locals

With the waters of Shark Bay always invitingly warm, most visitors wade the shallow waters for an encounter with the wild dolphins, but there are other options that allow for a slightly different interaction.

Hire a stand-up paddleboard and immerse yourself within the abundant marine life that calls this extraordinary place home, and within moments there are sure to be curious dolphins swimming close by. Take a set of goggles with you and swim alongside fish, sting rays and the occasional turtle in the crystal-clear waters.

Exploring natural wonders

The charming township of Denham is less than 30 minutes away, and it’s here that you can learn about the area’s natural and historical treasures at the Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery Centre.

A quick trip south to Ocean Park yields turtles, sea snakes, stingrays and endless fish species, hourly shark feedings and snorkelling in the lagoon; if you’re feeling adventurous, you can even dive with the sharks.

To explore the coastline, charter a boat for a day trip to Dirk Hartog Island to visit the 1616 landing site of Captain Dirk Hartog, or dive marine sanctuary zones, brimming with coral gardens.

Just south of Monkey Mia, Hamelin Pool is one of only two places in the world where living marine stromatolites exist; the world’s oldest organisms date back 3.5 billion years.

South-east of Denham, Shell Beach is a dazzling 45-kilometre stretch of white beach coastline, one of only two beaches in the world made entirely of cockle shells. And at Francois Peron National Park, a former sheep station that blends dusty red desert and spectacular coastal scenery, take a dip in the hot artesian waters.

It’s wild, it’s remote, and it’s beckoning.

Monkey Mia WA — Monkey Mia has world class beaches

Monkey Mia TOP 5

1. Dolphin encounters at Monkey Mia

2. Stroll along Shell beach

3. Hire a paddleboard or kayak and explore the bay

5. Explore Dirk Hartog Island

6. Indigenous tour through Francois Peron National Park

For more information or to book a stay, visit parksandresorts.rac.com.au/monkey-mia

This remote corner of Australia is one of the world’s last frontiers. This is how to see it properly.

Vast, rugged and deeply spiritual, the Kimberley coast in Australia’s North West feels a world away from everyday Australia – and there are countless ways to explore it. But if you want to reach ancient rock art, hidden gorges and lonely waterfalls, it has to be by boat. Whether you’re aboard a nimble expedition vessel or a luxury yacht with all the trimmings, exploring by the water brings exclusive experiences, shows unique views and makes travel easier than any other mode. And that’s just the beginning of Australia’s North West cruises.

The True North Adventure Cruise in between sandstone cliffs. — Adventure starts where the road ends.

1. Discover Broome, and beyond

Explore your launchpad before you set sail: Broome. Here camels and their riders stride along the 22 kilometres of powdery Cable Beach at sunset. That’s just the start.

At Gantheaume Point, red pindan cliffs plunge into the turquoise sea, whose low tide uncovers fossilised dinosaur footprints. Broome’s pearling history runs deep. Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal divers once worked these waters, and their legacy lives on in boutiques where South Sea pearls still shine.

If the moon’s right, you may catch the Staircase to the Moon over Roebuck Bay. Or simply kick back with a cold beverage and a film under the stars at Sun Pictures , screening since 1916.

Ride a camel along Cable Beach as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean, casting golden light across the sand and sea. — Ride a camel along Cable Beach. (Image: Nick Dunn)

2. Unmatched access to The Kimberley

Once you’re onboard, expect a backstage pass to some of the most isolated places on Earth. No roads. No ports. No phone reception.

At Horizontal Falls/ Garaanngaddim, 10-metre tides surge through twin gorges like a natural waterpark ride that’ll make your palms sweat. Then there’s Montgomery Reef/ Yowjab: a giant living platform of coral and seagrass, where the sea pulls back to reveal waterfalls, sea turtles and ospreys.

Up north, King George Falls/ Oomari rage 80 metres down red cliffs. Zodiac boats often nudge in closer so you can feel the spray on your sun-warmed cheeks. You might even fly in to reach Mitchell Falls/ Punamii-unpuu, a four-tiered cascade where you can swim in freshwater pools above the drop.

Come spring, some itineraries veer west to Rowley Shoals: an atoll chain of white sand and reef walls. Then it’s up the winding Prince Regent River to King Cascade/ Maamboolbadda, tumbling over rock terraces, and into a Zodiac to view the Gwion Gwion rock art, whose slender, ochre-painted figures are older than the pyramids.

A cruise drifts beneath King George Falls, where sheer sandstone cliffs frame the thunderous plunge into turquoise waters. — Get closer to the Kimberley than ever before.

3. Taste the Kimberley with onboard hospitality

You might spend your days clambering over slippery rocks or charging past waterfalls. But when you’re back on the water, it’s a different story. Meals are chef-prepared and regionally inspired: grilled barramundi, pearl meat sashimi, mango tarts, and bush tomato chutney. One night it’s barefoot beach barbecues with your shipmates; the next, alfresco dining on the ship.

Small expedition ships each have their own personality, but many carry just 12 to 36 guests, making being out on the water a whole other experience. You might sink into a spa on the foredeck or sip coffee in a lounge while watching crocodiles cruise by. It’s choose-your-own-relaxation, Kimberley style.

4. Expert-led excursions through the Kimberley

These voyages are led by people who know the Kimberley like the back of their sunburnt hand. Attenborough-esque naturalists might gently tap your shoulder to point out rare birds or tell the story beneath a slab of rock. Historians can explain exactly how that rusted World War II relic came to rest here.

If your ship has a helipad, you might chopper straight to a waterfall-fed swimming hole. If not, you’ll still be hopping ashore for that wet landing at a secret creek.

Then come the evenings: songlines shared by Traditional Owners under the stars, or astronomy sessions that link what’s overhead with what’s underfoot and what’s within.

A small group glides through Kimberley’s rugged coastline by boat, passing ancient cliffs. — Explore with naturalists and historians by your side.

5. Relax in luxurious lodgings

Just because you’re off-grid doesn’t mean you have to rough it. These Kimberley vessels are small in size, but mighty in luxury. True North’s ships come with their own helicopters and a no-sea-days policy, so you’re always in the thick of it. Try the luxurious offerings from Ocean Dream Charters for exploration in style. Kimberley Quest offers a fast boat for easy, off-ship adventures. On the larger end of the scale, Coral Expeditions has open-deck bars and curated wine cellars. And then there’s Ponant’s luxury yachts – sleek and incredibly stylish French sailing yachts.

A helicopter soars above the sea, with a sleek cruise ship gliding in the distance. — See the Kimberley from sky to shore.

6. The adventure continues with pre- and post-cruise experiences

You’ve already come this far – so, why not go further? Broome makes it easy to ease in before you board, or wind down when your voyage ends, and there is no reason to stop there.

Head an hour and a half south to Eco Beach to stay off-grid and off the clock. Join a Yawuru guide for a mangrove walk or ocean forage. Dive even deeper into Broome’s pearling past at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay, where divers and craftspeople still pull the seawater-slicked gems from the deep.

If you’re still craving adventure, it’s time to go further. Soar over the Buccaneer Archipelago, or detour inland with a 4WD trip along the Gibb River Road. Book a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles. Or – because you never know when you’ll be back – do all three.

aerial of people walking on eco beach in the kimberley western australia — Stay off grid at Eco Beach. (Image: Tourism WA)

Find out more about your trip to Australia’s North West at australiasnorthwest.com .

Monkey Mia, where the red desert meets the sea