We set off nice and early, all packed up and hitched up by 0830hrs. Needed to get an early start as had a big drive ahead of us. First big drive in a long while, around 400km to Monkey Mia. Girls were very excited to be heading there to see the dolphins in the wild.
Made good time, only having to stop a few times for toilet stops and lunch. Arrived at Monkey Mia by 2pm, had to pay a $32 entry fee for a holiday pass for the two days we were going to be at the resort then a further $70 per night for our site at Monkey Mia Resort. Total bloody rip off!!! Cant believe they sting you to enter the National Park and then charge you to stay at the resort on top of that, should be all inclusive if your camping at the resort! Grudgingly l payed the entry fee, was treated to some emu's have a forridge in the bush across the road. We headed into the resort which Marty and l thought looked like a bush camp rather than a resort. Now let me just tell you that this $70 per night fee only included power, we couldnt hook up to water as they used bore water and were told to only use the drinking water sparingly. At that cost l thought we would have had sparkling water supplied! Amanda and Mark had booked a beach front site so pulled up just up from us. Their site was an $85 per night, and really all they got was a small glimpse of water for an extra $15 per night. The park was set out so we felt like boxed in sardines, all crammed in with narrow driveways. At least we were close to the amenities. After hooking up, we headed down to the beach as the weather was nice and sunny. The kids were all on the lookout for dolphins, which we spotted frolicking around in the near horizon. We took a stroll up the beach to the jetty, so nice to have nothing else to do but enjoy the beach. Everyone was on a high, finally it felt like the tension had eased between us for a little. Had some beers on the beach, the water was heaven being all nice and calm water. The water was quite chilly but that didnt stop the kids from getting in their bathers and taking a dip. By the time Amanda and l had finished four cidars, we were done and ready for bed. Just a couple of sorry cases who cant hold their liquor anymore!!!
Woke to a rainy and overcast morning. So we had to brave the cold weather in our raincoats down at the dolphin feeding area near the jetty. Felt a bit ironic to be holding an umbrella whilst we had our legs in the freezing water waiting for the dolphins to arrive. Finally they started to swim in, so graceful and playful. Aparently the dolphins have been coming in for a feedings for over 40 years. They had to start policing it and the rangers took over the feedings due to baby calves dying from their mothers being away from too long due to being near to shore feeding. Also l think they didnt want the dolphins to become too reliant on mankind, plus their was money to be made!!! The ranger taking the talk was nice but was hard to hear thru all the people and the rain. About 15 dolphins turned up, gliding up and down past us, some very playful. Boo and Charlotte Woods got picked to feed the dolphins. Boo was totally fascinated with them. She was so excited, but moment passed so quickly l was lucky to get a happy snap. After the first feeding we left to head back to the van as the rain was getting pretty heavy and l was so cold. We got back and dried off, tackled some school work and warmed up with a few cuppas. In the arvo we all headed down to check out the resort. A few emu's were taking a walk thru the park, poor Meg got a fright when one of the emu's was walking towards her and she thought it was going to chase her. Next thing you know she's screaming her head off running towards us with a bloody emu crapping itself running off in zigzag motion. Think it crapped itself good and proper. Theres not much to the resort, kids loved the outside big chess board which amused them for a while. We checked out the store, got a Monkey Mia memento coin made and Marty collected his usual souvenir pin (has gone away from stickers now and moved to collecting pins). We headed to the musuem to check it out. Kids very fascinated with dolphins, girls are obsessed with them. They have collected some info on the local dolphins, Boo falling in love with 'Surprise', which was the one she fed. She now has the family tree of Surprise written out and knows all the facts such as she was born in 1979 and she got her name due to her having a tendency to suddenly appear at the researchers boats for a bow ride. Meg chose 'Nikki' to embrace, because it has the same name as her Aunty Ninny and she found out the she didnt have a point on her fin because it was cut off by a boat propellor. Meg always the nuturer and carer, was sad when she found out she had been hurt. The girls also learnt some interesting facts about the dolphins such as the underbellies of the dolphins turn pink when they are feeling happy, if the fish is too big to chew they swim to the bottom of the ocean and smash the fish up to smaller pieces that they can chew and that every dolphin has a different dorsal fin- no two are the same, like our fingerprints.
Since it was still raining we decided to have a quite beer at the local, which was full of all the other guests, nowhere to sit due to two sets of tables and chairs all wet. So we downed our drinks quick standing in the middle of the pub while the kids fiddled on the pinnie machines. After heading back to the van to warm up, Marty cheekily filled the vans water tanks up, all done in the rain of course. For $70 per night, l don't care how precious their water is. We warmed up with a hot meal and headed to bed having decided that since the weather was forecasted to be crap for the next week we had to hide out somewhere until it passed.
Next morning, hello hello, it was drizzling rain again. Girls wanted to go down to the dolphin feeding again, so we headed down while Marty hooked the van up. The ranger guy who lead the feeding was excellent. Because we got their early and probably due to the wet weather, there wasnt too many people around. We had a good chat and he was so passionate about the dolphins, the girls were totally captivated by what he was sharing with us. He was so good with the kids. Again, Boo got picked to feed the dolphins, l had tried earlier to suck up to the volunteers by having a long chat with them, hoping they would pick me. But no, they pick Amanda who was standing right next to me!!! Can you believe it, she only said a few words to them. Maybe l talked too much? Amanda was very generous and said l could have her feed, but l thought it was only fair that she got picked, she hadnt had a turn yet either. Still, it was abnormally nice of her, lol!! Marty eventually made his way down having packed the van up and you could totally tell that he was eager to get going. There seemed to be more dolphins today, and they got so close to us too. We are forbidden to touch them which you have to constantly remind yourself because it felt so natural to sweep you hand over their backs. After the feeding had finished, we all loaded into the car, slightly damp, heading to Denham to check it out on our way to Nanga Bay for a few nights till this weather passes thru.
Overall, Monkey Mia was great for the girls but l reckon it was too commercialised and a total rip off. If l had my way again l would stay at one of the free camps overnight, do the dolphin feeding and head off. But having said that, we did get crappy weather, maybe that dictated the experience a little. Anyway, another tourist hotspot completed, now off for further adventures.....
Bell Xxx