Wild at heart

FRANCOIS PERON NATIONAL PARK

A QUICK OVERVIEW

Located on the Coral Coast, Francois Peron National Park sits within the Shark Bay World Heritage Area and is a study in contrasts; rich-red cliffs and desert sands give way to powder-soft white-sand beaches that melt into startlingly blue ocean waters, creating an arresting natural triptych. Covering 52,000 hectares on the Peron Peninsula, known as Wulyibidi to the local Malgana Aboriginal people, the park encompasses arid shrub lands and sun-bleached sand plains, but the watery wonderland at its edge is the real drawcard.

If you do three things…

1 FOLLOW THE TRAIL

Take the Wanamalu Trail from Cape Peron to Skipjack Point to wonder at the kaleidoscopic colours of Peron Peninsula and Shark Bay. Look down from the dunes at the start of the trail to see cormorants (wanamalu to Malgana people) at the water’s edge, while there’s a good chance of spotting dolphins, dugongs, turtles and manta rays at Skipjack Point Lookout.

2 GO SNORKELLING

The most glorious way to get an insight into just how pristine the waters that lap Francois Peron National Park are is by getting in them: there is amazing snorkelling to be had at Gregories, where at high tide you can easily explore one of the most accessible reef systems within Shark Bay.

3 THROW IN A LINE

Keen anglers and weekend dabblers will relish the chance to throw in a line at various locations such as Recreational Fishing Guide;