We’ve just returned from 9 nights out at Steep Point, and 6 in Denham itself. Organising the trip was a fair bit of work to ensure we had enough fuel, water, food and firewood and that the 3 trailers made it out there without any damage, but the effort was well and truly rewarded. Here’s what we got up to:

After fueling up at the Overlander, we entered the Shark Bay World Heritage Area

First nights stop; Hamelin Station Stay. After an uneventful 9 hour drive from Perth we were happy to have arrived

Heading out to Steep Point the following morning on Useless Loop Road

The first of a few issues with vehicles; replacing fan belts on the 80 series.

After setting up camp, we headed out in the tinny for a quick troll. An hour later we had a Shark Mackerel and Spaniard.

The next mornings sunrise. We caught plenty of these due to young Oliver waking early. We left both boats in the water each night.

Our camper trailer and Land Cruiser set up with Ocean views. The solar panels did very well again.

Lots of amazing stars when you are away from the light pollution

Relaxing around the fire. We had enough wood for a fire every night, except the first

The back of our 80 Series Land Cruiser

Living the camping dream

Our Camp site at Shelter Bay. The largest site, furthest west and called Wellard

Trolling the back of Dirk Hartog Island in our Tinny

Two Spanish Mackerel I picked up just out of Shelter Bay

Kyle’s Ford Ranger soaking up the stars

Fan belts flicked off and turned upside down on the Land Cruiser

A cold and misty morning at Shelter Bay

Another evening spent around the fire

After many failed attempts at a long exposure we landed a couple of great shots

Clayton’s 17kg Cobia from trolling

A stonker fish caught on a Gold Halco lure

1420mm long; trolling is full of highs and lows!

Early morning walks with Oliver

My custom 4WD boat trailer used for getting access to places like Steep Point

The Western most point of Australia

A little snake that struck Sarah’s ugg boot. Any idea what it is?

The Oven, Steep Point

Smoking some Mackerel. The most delicious way to eat fish

We saw heaps of Sharks just a few hundred metres from Shelter Bay

Some were about the same size as our boat (3.75m)

Another morning in paradise

On the way out the front left wheel bearing failed spectacularly and destroyed the spindle

With no way of limping it into town a tow truck was called

Checking out the Denham foreshore

Eagle Bluff, 19km from Denham

Eagle Bluff boardwalk

Lots of little Welcome Swallows

We called in for a visit to the Shark Bay Aquarium

A Coral trout that has turned black in captivity

A Stonefish. Step on this and you will be in a world of pain. You need to be very careful of these

Heading out to Francois Peron National Park for the day

Crossing the salt pan

Skip jack point. It was blowing a gale, otherwise this is a great spot to see marine life

The most incredible orange sand

Daniel replacing some flogged shock absorber bushes

Oliver having a shoulder ride from Granddad

Skip jack point lookout

Oliver learning to walk

Cape Peron. There are worse places to spend an afternoon!

An Emu with 4 chicks

The Artesian hot springs that were extremely hot!

A little Hawk on the way back into Denham

One final sunset at Denham
We live in the most amazing country in the world; with so much to see you’ve just got to plan it and go. I’ll put up more posts in the future covering each location, but I’d love to hear from you below.
Great spots Aaron.
The Skipjack lookout pic is a beaut.
Peron NP is on my to-do list.
BTW the little Hawk looks like a Nankeen Kestrel to me.
Awesome Job & Great Photography; Shark Bay is truly a world heritage area. We are so lucky to have it on our back door step.
I was in this area for 10 nights last month.
Cheers Ziggy,
You’ll love the National Park – so amazing and easy to get to as well. Thanks for the tip on the bird. I was going to put bird of prey, but figured that would look silly
Aaron
Thanks Trev,
Awesome to hear and yep, a truly magnificent spot. We will be back!
Aaron
Um, 4000 kms for me 🙁
We really are lucky, there can’t be too many places in the world where you can enjoy this kind of lifestyle. Little Oliver looks pretty happy too. Love the night photography (and the underwater shots too).
Yep, totally agree. Such an amazing country.
Cheers!
Aaron