My wife and I will be taking a driving vacation of WA this fall (spring?), well in November. We plan on driving around southwest WA. We were thinking of going to see the dolphins at Monkey Mia. Now I read and heard (second hand) that Monkey Mia is a total rip-off. I’ve heard that you pay a fee and a ranger hands you a dead fish and you wade out and feed a dolphin. Then you wade back to shore and the next tourist does the same thing. Not a very pleasant experience. Has anyone been to Monkey Mia in the last couple of years (the way I understand this was not the case many years ago when things were a bit more “natural”) and can help enlighten me.
Also, I’ve heard that there was another location north of Sharks Bay that one can feed the dolphins in a much nicer and less touristy situation but I don’t know the name or location of the place. Anyone?
MonkeyMia is pretty dopey. We went there last spring (fall in Oz). They have trained a couple of wild dophins to basically come up to the shore and be hand fed. No charge if they pick you but it was kind of stupid. Hundreds of people watching 3 maybe four dolphins getting fed all the while the “rangers” are pontificating about how they are not interfering with the dolphin habitat. And it’s in the middle of nowhere.
Glad to hear that you are trying some thing different to the same old Sydney, Gold Coast thing everyone else does. WA is a brilliant place to go. I lived there twice, and a part of me still calls it home. I don’t know how long you have but I reccommed you start just North of Perth and go down the coast til you hit Albany. I took 8 days to do, I cold have taken longer, though it can be done in about 2 days if you don’t sightsee. See Freemantle, Scarbrough (?)oh hell see it all. A great state hugely underrated! When you go North expect bush and country. Around Geralton is nice and the people are so layed back and friendly. Life is slightly slower placed over there, so don’t go in there being a loud-mouthed tourist (not saying you are ) but go to relax and see where God goes when he’s on holidays.
Superstar, thanks for your reply. This is our second trip to WA. The first one we did the area south of Perth (like you recommended) and love it. This time we thought we would try the north area. We have the rental car for 11 days so we will be taking our time and going at a slow pace. Thanks again for your input.
Perth is my home. (Well, I move to London on Monday, but WA is always home. :))
Heading up north in the spring time is ideal. It won’t be too unbearably hot (or cyclonic), but it’ll be warmer and sunnier than in the south-west. Driving is also the best way to enjoy yourself and meet the locals (and holidayers from Perth), instead of being packed into a bus with a bunch of tourists.
For most people, the attraction of the north coast lies in the natural features rather than the towns. Most north-west towns are fairly small and bland (I’m think Geraldton, Carnarvon and Exmouth), but the ocean is absolutely stunning and mostly unspoilt. I’d stop at Moore River (tiny yet popular holiday spot where the river breaks into the ocean), head north to Kalbarri and explore the beach and gorges, then further up to Coral Bay. The north coast is ideal for diving and fishing–I’m not sure if you enjoy either–but there’s plenty to see inland. Check out the Pinnacles (mind the buses of tourists) and Nature’s Window.
If you scuba dive, by the way, I can provide a whole heap of places to visit off the coast. There’s several wrecks, plus the reefs (Ningaloo Reef is the most well-known) are spectacular.
I’m not sure where that could be. Dolphins are fairly common–heck, we get them swimming in the river in the middle of Perth!–but no dolphin feeding place other than Monkey Mia springs to mind.
Many thanks for your ideas and tips. Sounds like it will be just wonderful. Any thoughts on things to check out in and around Sharks Bay (since I think we will avoid Monkey Mia)?
Monkey Mia is located in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. There is no need to avoid it. The reason for the rangers heavy influence is that only 4 dolphins and their offspring are allowed to be handfed for ecological reasons. Others come but the rangers can tell the dolphins by their fins and tell the toursits who to feed.
I should point out that I have not been to Monkey Mia but have my information from friends who visit every few years. They stress that it isn’t a tourist resort, it is one of the most significant dolphin research programs in the world, but the scientists let you butt in if you play by their rules.
) but go to relax and see where God goes when he’s on holidays.