Things to See in Monkey Mia

A superb advertisement for ecotourism, Ocean Park offers visitors the chance to experience shark-feeding up close and to hang out with red kangaroos at dawn and dusk. The park, situated in a World Heritage area, is run with the emphasis firmly on renewable energy. The soon-to-be-opened oceanarium promises to be a worthwhile addition.

A lot of places talk about 'stepping back in time', but here, you really are! Stromatolites are, in essence, living fossils. In fact they're a perfect example of the earliest life on earth (one of only two in the world). The water is twice as saline as seawater, making these rock-like outcroppings (sole) kings of the pool. The best time to visit these mind-boggling microorganisms is between June and October.

Picture a snow-white beach bordered by azure water stretching to the horizon; just don't imagine walking on it barefoot. Billions of coquina bivalve shells have been washed up by the surf to stunning effect. Make sure you have enough memory in your camera because you're going to want to take umpteen pictures. You could even go for the snow effect - tossing up handfuls of shells into the air!