We head into the Heritage listed area known by most to be Shark Bay Marine Park.
First stop is the Hamelin Pool Stromatalites & Telegraph Station which is home to the oldest living organisms on the planet. Stromatalites are approx. 3.5 million years old; look like rocks but are composed of bacteria & algae and are extremely slow growing with a max. of 3mm/year. We also pass a shell quarry where early settlers cut shell bricks to make buildings here and at Denham.
After a lunch stop on the foreshore we head for Francois Peron National Park which lies within the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. The Peron Homestead precinct provides an insight into life on a working sheep station where a small interpretive centre depicts stories of Indigenous inhabitants, early European colonisation & current conservation programs.
The entry to this NP quickly reminds you of what the road conditions will be with a self serve tyre pressure station for those not already equipped.
The challenging sandy track and clay birridas takes us to Gregories camp site and it is here that we have spectacular views where striking red dunes give way to brilliant white beaches and crystal blue waters. We try our luck at fishing whilst Claire sketches her wildflowers.
Once again we miss our "Stairway to the Moon" but were rewarded instead with a "Stairway to the Sun".
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