Spring is a popular time for the drive north from Perth to Kalbarri and Shark Bay, and travellers planning a trip this month are asking whether it's worth pushing on to Monkey Mia to see the famous dolphins, and the emus that stroll along the shore.
Dolphins: likely, but never guaranteed
The wild bottlenose dolphins at Monkey Mia have been visiting the beach for decades. Parks and Wildlife runs the dolphin experience in the mornings, generally between 7.45am and midday, but there are no set times because it depends on whether the dolphins choose to come in. The experience is included in the Monkey Mia Conservation Park day pass, which you can buy through Parks and Wildlife's booking site. Arrive early to give yourself the best chance.
The emus are regulars too, but they are wild animals, so there's no guarantee you'll see both on the same morning.
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Photo: Dinkum via Wikimedia Commons (CC0).
Not everyone thinks the extra drive is worth it. One Perth local warned that tourists still crowd the beach in November. They suggested stopping at the aquarium in Shark Bay, or seeing dolphins much closer to home in Bunbury.
Bringing the dog?
A road trip north is doable with a dog if you plan around the national parks. Dogs aren't allowed in Kalbarri National Park or Nambung National Park, home of the Pinnacles, and they're not permitted in the Monkey Mia dolphin experience area.
Locals who have done the trip with a dog suggested stops with off-lead beaches along the way, including Lancelin, Jurien Bay, Cervantes and Dongara. Check each shire's current dog rules before you let your dog off the lead.
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Photo: Findlay Osborn via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). The Murchison River gorge and Kalbarri Skywalk.
For park passes and conditions, see Explore Parks WA, or call the Monkey Mia dolphin experience on (08) 9948 1366.
Sources: Parks and Wildlife Service WA; Explore Parks WA; comments from Perth locals.
Hero photo: Calistemon via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). An emu on the beach at Monkey Mia.
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