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

Time your visit to Margaret River just right, and you can spend the ultimate weekend wining, dining and exploring the region with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Wine, world-class produce, surf, sun and beaches: it’s an alluring combination. And the reason so many pin the Margaret River region high on their travel hit-lists. There’s drawcard after drawcard to the southwestern corner of Western Australia, and the Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover food and wine festival showcases the best of it over the course of one weekend in November. It’s never been easier to sip, see and savour the Margaret River region.

In partnership with Pair’d Margaret River Region, Range Rover invites you on a seven-day itinerary of refined adventure, where luxury and exploration go hand in hand. It’s the perfect WA road trip, and there’s no better way to do it than in a Range Rover.

Day 1

the pool at Pullman Bunker Bay — Check into Pullman Bunker Bay.

There’s no more popular West Australian road trip route than that between Perth and the Margaret River Region. It’s an easily digestible, three-hour drive, with worthy pit stops along the way.

Make the first of them one hour and 15 minutes in, at Lake Clifton. Here, find a 2000-year-old living thrombolite reef. Drive for a further 40 minutes and chance meeting some of Bunbury’s dolphin population at Koombana Bay.

Pullman Bunker Bay is the final stop, just over three hours south of Perth. This beachfront, five-star resort is the ultimate base for exploring the Margaret River Wine region.

Day 2

After a leisurely morning breakfast with an ocean view, start your Range Rover and head towards the Dunsborough town centre. Browsing the decidedly coastal-themed goods of the town’s many independent boutiques is a great way to while away the hours, breaking up the sartorial with an artisan gelato snack stop, or some good old-fashioned Australian bakery fare.

Leave room; you’ll need it for the Good Natured Gathering dinner at Wayfinder. Indulge in a four-course feast by chef Felipe Montiel, which uses produce from the winery’s market garden to enhance a selection of sustainably sourced seafood and meat. But food is just the support act. It’s organic wine that’s the star of the show, generously poured and expertly paired to each dish.

Day 3

Settle in for cabernet at Cape Mentelle Winery.

With a grand total of 20 wines from vintage 2022 to try, it’s a good thing Cape Mentelle’s International Cabernet Tasting kicks off early. Make your way to the estate for a 10:00 AM start, where a global selection of wines will be poured blind, before a long lunch by Tiller Dining is served.

Given that the Margaret River is responsible for more than 20 per cent of Australia’s fine wine production, it’s only right to delve into it while in the area.

Continue exploring the region via taste and terroir aboard Alison Maree, a whale-watching catamaran, as you cruise Geographe Bay . Admire the rolling green hills and crisp white beaches of Quindalup in sunset’s golden light, all the while sipping through the Clairault Streicker catalogue and dining on canapes.

For a more substantial dinner, venture into Busselton for a seven-course British x Australian mash-up , courtesy of Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion) and Oliver Kent (Updown Farmhouse, UK). They’ll be putting their rustic yet refined spin on the likes of local marron, wagyu and abalone – championing the simple beauty of the world-class ingredients.

Day 4

Wrap your fingers around a wine glass and wiggle your toes into the sand at Pair’d Beach Club x Range Rover on Meelup Beach. Sit down to an intimate wine session with sommelier Cyndal Petty – or a four-course feast by Aaron Carr of Yarri – and revel in the open-air beach club, bar and restaurant’s laidback coastal vibe. It’s a whole new way to experience one of the region’s most renowned beaches.

Follow up a day in the sun with a casual Italian party at Mr Barvel Wines . Purchase wines –including the elusive, sold-out Nebbia – by the glass and enjoy canapes with the towering Karri forest as a backdrop.

If you’d prefer to keep it local, head to Skigh Wines for the New Wave Gathering , where the region’s independent wine makers and their boundary-pushing wines will be on show. Street-style eats, a DJ and complimentary wine masterclasses complete the experience.

Day 5

pair'd Grand Tasting — Taste your way through Howard Park Wines. (Image: C J Maddock)

Spend the morning at your leisure, driving the winding roads through the Boranup Karri forest in your Range Rover. Soak in the views at Contos Beach, and call into the small cheese, chocolate and preserve producers along the way.

Make your next stop Howard Park Wines for The Grand Tasting presented by Singapore Airlines . Numerous wine labels will be pouring their catalogues over four hours, accompanied by food from chefs Matt Moran and Silvia Colloca, with live opera providing the soundtrack.

Cap off a big weekend with one last hurrah at Busselton Pavilion. Six ‘local legends’ – chefs Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion), Mal Chow (Chow’s Table), Aaron Carr (Yarri), Ben Jacob (Lagoon Yallingup), Corey Rozario (Dahl Daddies) and Laura Koentjoro (Banksia Tavern) – will be preparing a dish each. Dance the night away as vinyl spins and the sun sets on another day.

Day 6

Ngilgi Cave western australia — Head underground. (Image: Tourism WA)

After a busy few days of wining and dining, it’s wise to observe a rest day. There’s no easier task than unwinding in the Margaret River Region, also famous for its high concentration of world-class beaches.

Relax on the grassy knoll as you watch the region’s most experienced surfers braving the World Surf League break at Surfer’s Point, or don your own wetsuit and try out one of Gracetown’s more beginner-friendly waves. Swimmers will find their Eden at Meelup Beach, Eagle Bay, or Point Piquet, where the sand is brilliantly white and the water as still as a backyard swimming pool.

Not into sun, sand, and surf? Head underground at Mammoth Cave, just one of the region’s many stalactite-filled caves.

Day 7

Burnt Ends event at Pair'd — Farewell the Margaret River.

Pack up your Range Rover with new favourite wines and newfound memories, ready for the three-hour journey back to Perth.

Prebook your discovery journey through the south-west corner of Western Australia with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Monkey Mia, where the 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

New Look RAC Resort

Paddling with the locals

Exploring natural wonders

Monkey Mia TOP 5

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The ultimate Margaret River road trip itinerary for food & wine lovers