On the way back we called into Francois Peron National Park to have a look. In the park is the Peron Homestead Precinct which offers a taste of life from the 1950's when the park was a working sheep station. There is a self guided walk around the precinct which explores the history of the area and you can see the shearing shed, shearers quarters and stock yards. It was really interesting to learn how they were able to make a living from the very harsh landscape. There is also a small interpretive centre which has stories of the aborigines, European colonisation and current conservation programs along with a display of stuffed animals including a bilby. There is also a natural hot tub fed from an artesian bore near the homestead. A couple had just got out of the tub when we arrived and when I felt the water it was extremely hot. They said they just got in for the experience but were glad to get out and have a cold shower.
The Bilbly (sorry for the reflection of the glass)
Peter ringing the gong for smoko in the shearing shed
Peron Homestead
Part of the interpretive centre
We also stopped at Little Lagoon which is about 5kms from Denham on the Monkey Mia Road. It is a pristine waterway and a natural nursery for whiting. There are shelters and bbq facilities and you can drive around the edge of the lagoon. It was really beautiful.
Little Lagoon
Another view of Little Lagoon
First stop was Eagle Bluff about 20kms out of Denham. This is a cliff face with a 100 metre walkway along the top of the cliff. You get fantastic views and overlook the shallow waters below where you see sharks, dugongs, rays and large fish. There are vast seagrass meadows (the black areas are seagrass) which are home to the dugongs. We didn't see any dugongs but saw sharks and lots of rays. Peter then did a bit of 4x4 driving around the dirt tracks to get to some of the other beaches in the area. They are spectacular.
View from Eagle Bluff
Another view of the shallow waters at Eagle Bluff
The walkway at Eagle Bluff
Next we went to Shell Beach another 30kms. The beach is not sand but is made up of countless tiny cockle shells layered up to 10 metres deep and stretching for over 120kms. The shells were once quarried and used to build the walls of buildings in the area including the Church at Denham. There were also some blocks in our caravan park that were in retaining walls. The ocean waters are the most amazing colours and the photos doesn't really do them justice.
Shell Beach
All shells, no sand
Another view of Shell Beach
When we got back to the caravan park I went for a swim and Peter had a paddle (he doesn't do swimming or anything much to do with water). The water is lovely and warm.Tomorrow we go to Monkey Mia and I am really looking forward to it.
cheers
Pete and Roz
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