Top-rated campgrounds
Top-rated campgrounds
Stories from the community
The best camping in Shark Bay guide
Where to go
Denham & Monkey Mia
Most visitors to Shark Bay end up using Denham or Monkey Mia as a base and exploring from there. A quaint and quirky tourist town, Denham has a handful of caravan parks and campsites, while Monkey Mia—known for its friendly dolphins—offers a more relaxing, resort-like getaway on the edge of Francois Peron National Park and activities like watersports like snorkelling, canoeing, and kayaking. South of Denham, you’ll find waterfront camping at Nanga Bay, as well as a handful of first-come, first-serve 2WD-accessible campsites on the coast (permits required).
Francois Peron National Park & Dirk Hartog Island
For a more remote slice of paradise, you can’t get much better than Francois Peron National Park—which spans both arms of Shark Bay’s U-shaped peninsula. North of Denham, you’ll find great camping areas at Big Lagoon (four-wheel drive only), while on the other side of the peninsula, Dirk Hartog Island is also the site of the first-known European landing on the Australian continent, over 400 years ago. Home to one of Western Australia’s most remote eco-lodges, access to the island requires a barge trip from Steep Point (also only accessible via 4WD.
Hamelin Pool, Gladstone Bay & Wooramel Station
While many of Shark Bay’s attractions lie on the peninsula itself, the stromatolites at Hamelin Pool only require a quick detour onto Shark Bay Road, just past the Overlander Roadhouse off the Northwest Coastal Highway. There are a handful of pet-friendly station stays and campsites nearby with powered and unpowered sites, fully kitted-out camp kitchens, boat ramps, golf courses, and even geothermal baths.
When to go
The most popular time to visit Shark Bay World Heritage Area is during the summer when the warm, dry weather—and the school holidays—bring visitors galore. However, it can be a little on the windy side. If you’re after optimum conditions for snorkelling, kayaking, and camping, then the best time to visit is actually between April and May. Winter can be a little wet, while early spring (August and September) are prime time for whale-watching and wildflower spotting.