This morning we set off on our return journey. After a half hour delay because we couldn't shut the boot of the car, we left Denham and drove to Eagle Bluff. The boardwalk offers a marvellous view over the shallow waters. We saw a shark and three manta rays. The water is crystal clear until a little way from the shore when the water appears dark because of seagrass meadows. This is the favourite food of the dugong and it is thought that 10% of the world dugong population lives in Shark Bay.

Shell Beach was our next stop. Here millions of small white Coquina shells have accumulated over time to create this environment. It is estimated that in places the shells are ten metres deep!

In Hamelin Pool the largest and oldest living fossils dot the shore of the pool in rocky lumps. These are called stromatolites and they are colonies of micro organisms 3000 years old. There is a 200m boardwalk to view these to protect them.

Leaving Shark Bay we then drove the long journey back to Geraldton where we stayed the night.