In less than a four and a half hour drive from Kalbarri, you’ll find yourself at the gateway to the diverse landscapes, flora and fauna of World Heritage listed Shark Bay. There are no cafes or shops until you reach Denham, so be sure to pick up food, water and fuel at the Overlander Roadhouse, between Geraldton and Carnarvon. Make your next stop at the Hamelin Pool Stromatolites, where the oldest living marine fossils in the world give you an idea of life on Earth over 3,500 million years ago. Just one hour’s drive from here is another extraordinary phenomenon, Shell Beach. This long white beach is made of billions of tiny shells and is one of only two of its kind in the world. Another hour and ten minutes will bring you to the shores of Monkey Mia, one of the best and most reliable places in the world for close encounters with wild bottlenose dolphins. Dolphins have been visiting the shoreline here to interact with visitors for over 40 years, although they tend to visit more frequently in the mornings. To the north of Monkey Mia you’ll find even more reasons why Shark Bay has World Heritage status in Francois Peron National Park - a haven for rare and endangered native flora and fauna. The Peron Homestead and its visitor centre can be accessed by two-wheel-drive. Follow the self-guided station walk trail, enjoy a picnic in the grounds and take a soak in the ‘hot tub’ – a rustic outback bath filled from a natural hot spring. Look out for wattles, hakeas, grevilleas, dampiera, purple peas and Shark Bay daisies. If you have a high-clearance four-wheel-drive, you can access the wilderness areas and outback camping grounds to the north where striking pindan cliffs contrast with pristine white sands and clear turquoise waters.