FRANÇOIS PERON NATIONAL PARK

The park is named after the French naturalist who visited Shark Bay in 1801 and 1803 with the Geographe expedition. In his diary, he describes his ecstasy at the local nature and recounts his encounters with the Aborigines. It's a paradise of contrasts, with the blazing red of the rocks, the turquoise blue of the sea and the pure white of the sand! The park is ideal for observing flora and fauna in their natural environment: plants, birds (including many species of migratory birds), snakes, marsupials such as wallabies and bilbies(a particularly endangered species of bandicoot ), as well as emus and thorny devils.

The 52,500-hectare park is only accessible by 4x4, with the exception of the former Peron Homestead, which is open to all and a great place for a picnic. There are several places to camp. Our favorite is Big Lagoon, a must-see. There's a barbecue and toilets. This is the starting point for kayak and canoe trips, which you'll need to hire from Denham, Monkey Mia or Little Lagoon.

North of Cape Peron, you'll find two viewpoints from which to admire the sea and observe the wildlife. You can camp at Bottle Bay, with its magnificent red cliffs, or at Herald Bight, a former pearl farm and fish cannery. Swimming in the north is not recommended due to the two strong currents. Plenty of places to try your luck with your fishing rod!