A wonderland of world-class natural attractions, the Shark Bay World Heritage Area was the first location in Western Australia to receive UNESCO status in 1991.
Please note: The Hamelin Pool Stromatolites boardwalk is currently closed due to the aftermath of Cyclone Seroja. For further information on the impact of Cyclone Seroja and potential disruptions to travel plans, please refer to this page.
The area meets four of the ten required natural criteria and remains one of only a handful of places in the world to achieve this high criteria status level. The colourful and diverse landscapes, rare flora and fauna and world-class examples of Earth’s ecological processes all contribute to the region's World Heritage listing. The area contains plant species that are unique and considered new to science, five of Australia's 26 species of endangered Australian mammals, as well as 35% of all of Australia's bird species.
The 12 species of seagrass found in Shark Bay cover over 4,000 square kilometres (approximately the size of the Perth metropolitan area), and support a high diversity of fauna such as dolphins, fish, turtles and crustaceans. This seagrass is a vital food source for one of the most stable dugong populations in the world, with over 10,000 dugongs inhabiting the Shark Bay region.
Did you know: Shark Bay is Australia’s largest bay! It boasts over 1,000 kilometres of pristine beach and calm, inviting waters.
Shark Bay is approximately 8 hours, 30 minutes' drive north of Perth (to Denham), or a two-hour flight with Regional Express Airlines.
