On the way into Denham, the road passes by the southern end of Shark Bay, at a place called Hamlin Pool. The relatively salty waters here harbour examples of the oldest surviving life forms on Earth. Called Stromatalites, they date from about 3.5 billion years ago (although these specimens are believed to be have been here for only 4,000 years). A sort of alge, they grow like coral - as they react to the light, they grow a calcium carbonate surface. They look just like rocks on the shore (in fact, the early settlers thought they were just that!), but they are alive.
Hamlin Pool is also the site of an old telegraph repeater station, and there is an excellent museum about the stromatalites, and the history of the telegraph at the old station.

The town of Denham is nothing particularly special - but there are some interesting features like buildings made out of compressed and concreted shells from a local beach (see below), and it was the center of a pearling industry at one time.

The main reason for coming out here is to see the dolphins at Monkey Mia. [The name is rather strange, but is named after a sailing boat that called there years ago]. Since the late 1960's (I think), the dolphins have been coming in close to the shore to "meet" humans. They enjoy a small feed of fish, and about half a dozen or so will come in each day - there are several *regulars*, given names by the park rangers. We spent a morning here watching the dolphins (or were they watching us?), and relaxing at the excellent cafe enjoying the view out over Shark Bay. Its an experience not to be missed.