Dolphins
Close to shore.
Halooch — CC BY 3.0 · Dinkum — CC0 · Calistemon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Calistemon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · W. Bulach — CC BY-SA 4.0
Monkey Mia is a popular destination about 900 km north of Perth in Western Australia, within the Shark Bay Marine Park and World Heritage Site, about 23 km northeast of the town of Denham in a straight line. Its main attraction is the bottlenose dolphins that have been coming close to shore for more than fifty years, with rangers from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions carefully supervising the interaction between people and dolphins. «Mia» is a local Aboriginal word for home or shelter, and the «Monkey» part is thought to come from a pearling boat of that name anchored here in the late 19th century, though other origins are also suggested. A calm white sand beach faces shallow, clear turquoise water with a wooden jetty, dolphins moving in the shallows close to shore, and pelicans and emus wandering on the sand. Visitors stand on the beach in the morning to watch the dolphins come in under the rangers' supervision, and swim and walk the sand. The visit pairs well with nearby Shell Beach and Hamelin Pool.
Close to shore.
White sand.
On the sand.
Shark Bay, Western Australia
Usually in the morning.
Shell Beach.