us feeding the dolphin at Monkey Mia
the sunset at shark bay
Fletcher : Today was awesome for me. We woke up at 6.30 to go to the dolphin show, it wasn't along way to get there only about 20 kms. We got there in plenty of time to feed the dolphins. It was a good resort, we bought necklaces after the first round of feeding. In the second round we got an opportunity to feed the dolphins, we were chosen out of hundreds of people. It was so hot that we got to go to the resorts pool. There was everything at the resort, there was a supermarket, restaurant, a pub, a gift store, a massage therapy shop, a museum and also the beach. In the museum there is a real life skeleton of one of the dolphins mum. Happy Birthday to Auntie Kerrie in New Zealand.
Us feeding the dolphin
Well if I can steal Fletchers line - today was AWESOME. We weren't sure if we were going to watch the dolphins but amazingly you can take dogs in as it is a conservation reserve, not a national park. We got up early and had a short drive, there were that many people already waiting in the area and so much more that came before the 8am start. They suggest you get there at 7.45, which we did, you could get there a whole lot earlier and it would still be busy. The people take you down to the waters edge and you can go in to about the kids knees, the dolphins are already swimming in the shallows. The lady gives a talk for about 25mins and the feeding takes about 5mins, as all the dolphins are mothers they only like to have them away from their babies for half an hour. They are swimming past your legs it is unbelievable, they feed 5 out of all the dolphins and all 5 came in for the 1st feed. There is so many more dolphins that both come in to the shallows and wait out a little deeper but the same 5 are fed each day because the staff have researched that these 5 have learnt this ability but also fend for themselves once back out in the ocean. The lady at the caravan park said to wait around as they will come in for another feed, maybe even a 3rd. Daniel had waited with Bentley on the pier the 1st feed so I thought we should wait for the 2nd feed for him to have a look up close. I had secretly hoped that the kids may get a turn at feeding but when you see the amount of people there the chances are slim. I watched from the pier with Bentley and only 2 dolphins came in shallow the next feed and I was so excited to see Fletcher get chosen to feed one of the dolphins and really proud when he took Mackenzie with him. It was Awesome to see the kids & dolphin together. Monkey Mia was on my bucket list so to have it crossed off with the kids doing a feed is one I will never forget. The resort at Monkey Mia is beautiful, Dan said very much like Dunk Island not so much the structure but just the feel and look of the beach & activities. We were sad to see that there is a part for caravans as it would have been truly amazing to wake up there, but we had booked and paid where we are staying so it just wasn't to be. When you pay your entry to the resort $16 family day pass, pretty cheap I think, it covers you for everything, including the use of the resort facilities. We had a laze on the grass in the shade of coconut trees, very clichéd but we had to do it- if not just to be able to write it on here to look back on. The kids met another little girl, from England this time named Sophie who was the most polite gorgeous thing, she must have been about 4, she introduced herself by name, asked to pat the dog, thanked us for letting her and then spent more time with us than her family while we were on the lawn. We decided to get some chips to share on the lawn and when I went to order she said that yes they do chips but not till 11am, to my shock it was only 10am- I shouldn't have been embarrassed we were up early so it felt like lunchtime and after all it was 12oclock in Melbourne! So we waited (not so patiently) till 11 and got our chippies to share with the best gravy I must say. We all got changed for a swim in their amazing pool which over looked the ocean and was half covered with the biggest Bali hut I've ever seen. Considering the size of the resort there was only a handful of people in it. I suppose with such a beautiful ocean right in front of you and the chance a turtle or dolphin may swim past is a much better option. There were pelicans and emus just walking around in amongst it all, the animals we have seen so far although being wild seem so friendly. We got chatting to a conservation officer about the dolphins and she did let us know that the emus take a dislike to small dogs and have been known to give them a going over, not the big dogs just little ones like ours, Bentley wasn't going to let it affect him and proceeded to do his circus dance on his back legs every time one came over to him. We ate the snacks we took around the pool area and decided to start heading back to our park. We stopped at Little Lagoon on the way back which is straight off a postcard, so nice, we got to drive the car on the beach but without a 2nd vehicle we decide not to go too far in case of our bad luck kicking in at the wrong moment. We went back to the van and although I haven't mentioned it yet- it was hot! and even the van air con tried hard to make a difference. The kids wrote in their diaries and I downloaded all our photos from the dolphins. What did we do before digital cameras, we took so many photos to try to get a great shot, such a luxury compared to the past. We decided to get take away for tea - get this - as Daniel likes to support the locals, huh, more like we love take away and Daniel wanted Pizza! (Dan does proof read every post so is totally aware I tease him and will often remind me of situations I have forgotten too) The shops in the small towns are so well equipped but understandably cost a lot more than a big supermarket, so what we try to do is come prepared and buy a few little things in the town to support them. Tonight it was going to be cheaper to get a $20 pizza with some left over for breakfast or lunch than do a shop for everything to make up a dinner. Any one who comes to Denham has to try Big Buddha Woodfired pizza it was yum and unusual, we got like a meat lovers but it had shredded coconut and tzatziki dip on it, all fresh produce, nothing processed, Denham Cyclone it was called. We went and watched the sunset and the kids were a bit thrown that it disappeared into the water, it was spectacular, people were down the beach on deck chairs and rugs watching, some drinking champagne, others eating tea, it was just great to see. It was an amazing day and yes it was Auntie Kerrie's Birthday who would have loved to do this, after she worked for many years down the peninsula swimming with the dolphins - tough job hey, I did have a chance one day to go out with her and it was an amazing experience, so Happy Birthday Kez, hope you had a great day xx
the amount of people on the beach to watch the dolphins is amazing
the kids after feeding the dolphin
Wonderful photo's,it looks just beautiful,very resort and relaxing.Love you xx
ReplyDeleteIt looks really nice up there - Mia
ReplyDeleteIt looks really fun swimming in that pool - Sam
Was it morning or arvo when you fed the dolphins? Ash
Did you see any Sharks - Loui
I've always wanted to see a real live dolphin! Isobel
I wish I could be up there with you - Zali
Hi kids, Mackenzie will reply tomorrow, she is loving getting messages from you all. We are glad you are back from school holidays we missed you on here :)
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