Local Attractions
The world famous Monkey Mia dolphins are only a 25 minute drive away. It is encouraged that those wanting to watch the feedings (which only take place during the morning) need to be on the boardwalk at Monkey Mia early (around 7.30am) to guarantee to see the dolphins. While at Monkey Mia, you can hire canoes and other craft such as paddle boats to fill in an enjoyable day.
The Ocean Park aquarium is just out of town and well worth visiting, enabling people to see up close many varieties of fish and marine creatures from the local waters. You can also see sharks been fed each hour and enjoy a nice cup of coffee and a snack at the cafe in great surroundings. Ocean Park was a finalist in two categories at the 2015 WA Tourism Awards for Ecotourism and Tourist Attraction. The Park has also won awards as the Trip Advisors Travellers Choice for 2014 and 2015.
A visit to the Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery Centre is a must. Make sure that you have a few hours to spend there and you pass will always allow you to come back on a consecutive day. The Centre is also the Tourist Information Centre, so whilst you are there you can inquire about things to do around the region, book fishing charters, sailing tours at Monkey Mia, four wheel drive tours and bush tucker walks etc. The staff will also assist with sourcing accommodation requirements both in the area and across the state.
At the Centre you can spend hours exploring the region's history and why the it is one of a few world heritage properties in the world that satisfy all four criteria to be eligible for a world heritage listing.
The Rose de Freycinet gallery in the discovery Centre building usually has a travelling exhibition on show. Most of these exhibitions have a gold coin donation as the cost of entry and are well worth a visit.
Along the World Heritage Drive into Denham, there are scenic stops at Hamlin, Nanga, Shell beach as well as Eagle Bluff and the town look out. Sharks and rays can often be seen from the board walk at Eagle bluff.
Little Lagoon is a great place to enjoy a barbecue, to have a swim or to wet a line. Towards Monkey Mia is the turn off to Peron National Park. It is 2 wheel drive access to the homestead where you can visit the walk through information hut and explore the old shearing shed, out buildings and old machinery. When there, you can soak in the hot tub and let the kids run free on the grassed area around the FREE barbecue facilities.
The track to the north is 4WD ONLY and this takes you to the tip of Peron peninsular. Along the way you can visit popular fishing spots at Big Lagoon, Cattle Well, South Gregories, Gregories, Bottle bay and Skipjack Point where the is a canter levered walkway with great views. But remember this is 4WD only and you must let your tyres down to drive on the track. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions have installed a tyre deflation / inflation point at the start of the 4WD portion of the track. Please follow the code of the track and let your tyres down to around 25 psi and engage 4wd before heading up the track.
Adjacent to the town oval are tennis and basketball courts and a skate park. The bowling club welcomes visitors as does the pistol club that shoots every Sunday afternoon. If you are an adventurous golfer, the golf course is on the Monkey Mia road. There is also a Recreation Centre and Gym located on the hill above the town oval.
There are a number of pleasant walks that can be done to help keep fit and fight off the effects of a holiday lifestyle.
Our Community Resource Centre (CRC) has internet facilities, photo printing, copying and laminating services and things like that available. They also have a selection of second hand books and a book swap available for you to relax with and are Department of Human Services agents. There is a conference room available for hire.
On water activities available include a leisurely sail aboard Aristocat 2 at Monkey Mia as well as Diving and Fishing Tours such as Shark Bay Dive and Marine Safaris available from Denham. The tours quite often see dugongs, dolphins, turtles, whales and other marine life. There is one fishing charter currently operating from Denham jetty called Mac Attack Fishing Charters (half and full day tours). All tours are subject however to numbers and the weather. Shark Bay is ideal for wind surfing and kite boarding during the windier seasons from October - March. Wula Guda Nyinda Eco Adventures also do kayak hire and various kayaking tours.
If you want to get a little higher, then a sightseeing flight with Shark Bay Aviation will satisfy your wish to see it all from above. Tours operate out of the Monkey Mia Airport with flight options venturing to Steep Point, Turtle Bay, Big Lagoon, over Denham and the Francis Peron National Park.
If you are in the mood for a romantic evening, then a meal at the unique Old Pearler Restaurant in quiet intimate surroundings is the thing to do. This restaurant is built from shell brick blocks harvested at the Shell Beach mine. Don't forget Shark Bay Bakery or the Woodfired Pizza Shop for their selection foods to eat on site or to sneak away with.
Other worth while eateries include the Heritage Resort/Waterfront Hotel, Shark Bay Hotel/Motel, the Shark Bay Bowling, Sport and Recreation Club (during peak times only), Shark Bay Cafe, Ocean Park as well as the Boughshed Restaurant and Monkey Bar located at Monkey Mia.
Bird watching is one of the quieter activities to pass the time. Over 230 bird species can be found in Shark Bay.
Mini golf is a great attraction for the younger visitors and a lot of laughs even for the bigger kids amongst us. This course is situated at the local Yadgalah Aboriginal Corporation and is a must whilst holidaying in Denham.
If at the end of your stay you have been just plain unlucky and not been able to catch a fish or a squid, you can visit the place of last resort, the fish factory, and take home your catch!