We leave Gladstone camping early .Rain is threatening and we have been warne that the 6km unsealed road to the highway becomes impassable, particularly for 2wds, after rain.We stop at a lookout a little further and have breakfast over-looking the ocean. The on to Shark Bay another couple of hours away. Shark Bay is a World Heritage-listed site with a unique ecological system of stromatolites, sea grasses and a mix of tropical and temperate marine fauna hich make it the most diverse marine environment in Australia if not the world. Located on the most western point of the continent and protected by two peninsulars, it covers a vast area of 25,000 sq km of prisine bays, lagoons, island and the largest natural harbour between Perth and Broome Denham, the only town in the area, is a small holiday resort that attracts holiday-makers for a range of activities, from fishing and kayaking to 4wd tours, snorkelling and wildlife spotting… and of course the famous wild dolphins of Monkey Mia which come into shore every day to be fed. There is an excellent boardwalk at Eagle Bluff on the way into town which affords a superb view of the coastline as well as the crystal clear azue and deep blue waters of the Indian Ocean below. Apparently it is possible to see sharks and manta rays from the Bluff, but not today.
At another lookout further along the coast we get chatting to three girls travelling in a Wicked camper with the intention of doing the journey up to Darwin in 3 weeks. Bearing in mind that we’ve already spent seven weeks on the road and have about another 800 km, they are going to have their work cut out particularly if they want to stop and see anything!
There is some limited free camping just off the coast road as it approaches Denham, for which a permit is necessary and then it is only possible to camp for one night. So we phone ahead and obtain the permit and find spot just above the dunes with a stunning view of several kilometres of coastline.