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Hire a sailing boatFrancois Peron National ParkShark Bay sunsetPage 56 | australiascoralcoast.comLittle LagoonFive kilometres from Denham towardsMonkey Mia is Little Lagoon. Thispristine waterway is a natural nursery forwhiting. Beach and barbecue facilitiesprovide for a peaceful day swimming,sun bathing, feasting on a picnic orenjoying the sunset.Project EdenProject Eden is a nationally signifi cantproject working to conserve the threatenedand endangered species that inhabit thePeron Peninsular. The project removesintroduced species in the area and as aresult, there has been vast increase inthe number of local fauna. Bilbies, malleefowl and woylies have been successfullyreintroduced to the region as a result ofthis project. Learn more about ProjectEden at the Shark Bay World HeritageDiscovery and Visitor Centre.Shark Bay PearlsAround the same time as the fi rstpastoralists settled in Shark Bay, pearlersalso arrived in the region in the 1850s. AnAmerican whaler fi rst noticed oysters inthe area and shortly after pearlers couldbe seen walking the sand banks in searchof pearls. A working pearling station nowoperates off the coast of Monkey Miaand is one of the industries Shark Bay isknown for. Tours to the farm provide aninsight into how pearls are cultivated andyou may even get the opportunity to tastepearl meat. Pearls can be purchased atthe pearling station or in Denham.Indigenous tour at Monkey MiaFrancois Peron National ParkFrancois Peron National Park lies justnorth of Denham, adjacent to the SharkBay Marine Park. The park covers 52,500hectares of arid shrublands, rollingsandplains and spectacular coastalscenery. Here, striking rust red sanddunes give way to brilliant white beachesand crystal blue ocean. The diversityof vegetation also provides a colourfulspectacle in winter. The Wanamalu Trailstretches for 1.5 kilometres along the cliffedge between Cape Peron and SkipjackPoint and is a 45 minute (one way) walkthat provides excellent views of thecoastline. Interpretive signs along the trailprovide an introduction to the features ofthe area and two viewing platforms atSkipjack Point provide striking coastalviews and the opportunity to view SharkBay’s abundant marine life. Vehicleaccess to Francois Peron Park is from theMonkey Mia road, about four kilometreseast of Denham. The road to the PeronHomestead is accessible for twowheeldrive vehicles but high clearancefour wheel drives are essential for travelfurther north into the park. Designatedbasic campsites at Big Lagoon, BottleBay, Herald Bight Gregories and SouthGregories lead to fi shing spots along thecoastline. Gas barbecues are supplied,wood fi res are not permitted and visitorsneed to bring water supplies whenvisiting the park. The park was namedafter the French zoologist, FrancoisPeron, who arrived in Shark Bay in 1801on the vessel Geographe, under CaptainBaudin. Peron’s observations proved tobe of great importance to the naturalhistory of the region.