The Peron Peninsula in Shark Bay, on the northwest coast of Western Australia, is well known for its regular dolphin visitations, and a beachside resort at Monkey Mia has grown around the spectacle. But there’s much more to this UNESCO-listed reserve than meeting Flipper and the family, and the sheltered conditions make the Shark Bay area for a sea kayaking adventure.
Paddling in a bay named after the ocean’s deadliest predator may sound as sensible as skinny-dipping in Piranha Creek. Sure, there are tiger sharks out in the depths, but the abundant sea life means they’re fed well enough not to bother you in the shallows. Besides the pleasures of gliding serenely across bottle-green waters and camping beneath paprika-red cliffs on whichever deserted beach takes your fancy, marine-life spotting adds a “sea safari” element to you trip. Don’t be surprised if before long a green turtle passes under your kayak, followed by rays the size of a tablecloth. And where there are rays there are usually sharks, but only frisky babies less than a metre long, maturing in the shallow nurseries before heading out to sea.
Battling the winds around Cape Peron there’s a good chance you’ll encounter dugongs grazing in the sea grass meadows, and as you cruise down the sheltered side of the peninsula flocks of cormorants, terns and pelicans will take to the air. Finally, if you’ve not seen any already, bottlenosed dolphins are a guaranteed sight at Monkey Mia, which is also a great place for a day paddle.
Answer correctly and win
funky points every day!
Q1 = 5 points
Q2 = 10 points
Q3 = 15 points
2011-02-02 00:25:09
