Dirk Hertog Island
DIRK HERTOG ISLAND is part of Australia’s west coast’s Gascoyne Region and Shark Bay Marine Park. Once a privately owned sheep farm, it now full belongs to the Australian Government. This elongated, narrow strip of land has an area of 640Km2.
Within the Marine Conservation Area of Shark Bay lie many smaller uninhabited islands and peninsulas part of the F.P. National Parks area as well. Picnic, Boat launch and Camping areas lie at:
On the opposite sides of the Peninsula lie the small town of Denham and on the other, Monkey Mia, a popular Tourist Resort- famous for its ‘Feeding of Bottle Nosed Dolphins’ who have become so tame as to entertain visitors for decades.
On Dirk Hertog Island – the historical 1616 site of the islands namesake and discoverer stands the monument to that event, under the Inscription Point Lighthouse. The Island is promoting ‘Eco-tourism’ for visitors to view the movement and nesting sites of the Loggerhead and Green Turtles and the White Winged Fairy Wren. The Shark Bay area also conserves thousands of Sea Cows (Dugongs), mammal, bird and reptile species as well as being a breeding ground for hundreds of fish varieties and crustaceans.
With its dry warm weather and low rainfall, conditions are perfect for tourists for most of the year.