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Perth Wildlife Encounters

Dolphin, Sea Lion & Penguin Island Cruise

  • Available from: October 15 2024 - June 02 2025

From: $55 USD

Duration: 2 hours

Type: Groups, Private Charter, Shared.

Departs: Daily

Experience the enchanting beauty of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park on this captivating wildlife cruise. Departing from Penguin Island, you'll encounter dolphins, sea lions, pelicans, and other marine life frolicking around as you traverse the rugged islands.

  • Enjoy a spectacular 60-minute cruise on a glass-bottom boat, providing a window into the incredible underwater world of limestone reefs, seagrass meadows and the marine creatures that call this region home.

  • Conclude your experience with a 30-minute guided wildlife walk of Penguin Island, providing exclusive insight into the local Little Penguins, the spectacular landscapes and the natural history of the island.

 

About Perth Wildlife Encounters

Perth Wildlife Encounters has been offering the opportunity to swim with wild Bottlenose Dolphins across the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park since 1989. Terry Howson, a native of Rockingham, pursued his childhood dream of swimming with wild dolphins, dedicating a year to study the dolphins. After months of observation and interaction, Terry developed a dolphin swim project that offered a truly wild dolphin encounter, without feeding or disturbing their natural environment. 

Price per person. Pricing is subject to availability and all prices, itineraries and routings are subject to change without notice. Currency fluctuations may affect prices as quotes based on AUD. Prices are current at time of posting (1/6/2024) and may differ when you book your travel.*i

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Itinerary

Tour day-by-day

  • 1 Hour Glass Bottom Cruise and 30 minute Guided Walk

    Enjoy the scenic highlights of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, with a 60 minute glass bottom boat cruise across the spectacular coastlines of Penguin, Seal & Bird Islands.

    Witness the rare sight of Australian Sea-lions lounging on the shores, observe playful wild Dolphins cavorting in the waves, and marvel at nesting pelicans, cormorants, and various seabirds inhabiting these rugged islands. As you glide above the crystalline waters, take in the mesmerizing underwater spectacle including vast seagrass meadows and limestone formations through the glass bottom. 

    The cruise concludes on Penguin Island allowing for a 30 minutes guided wildlife walk, providing exclusive insight into the local penguins, the spectacular landscapes and the natural history of the island. If you have more time, you can enjoy swimming, snorkelling, exploring the nature trails or just absorbing the beautiful nature reserve, before returning on the ferry at your own leisure.

    Tour Pricing in AUD:
    Adult - $85, Children (3-12 years) $65, Family (2 Adults & 2 Children) $260
    Group Size: Maximum of 49 passengers on vessel
    Child Policy: Infants under 3 years complimentary

    Important Departure Information:

    • Cruise departure times: 9:15am, 11:15am, 1:15pm
    • Ferry transfer from Shoalwater (153 Arcadia Drive) to Penguin Island departure times: 9am, 10am, 11am, 12pm and 1pm. Please check-in at the Visitor Centre half an hour before your Ferry transfer.
    • The cruise concludes on Penguin Island with a guided wildlife walk. You can catch the return ferry of your choice, which depart from Penguin Island at 15 minutes past each hour with the last ferry at 4pm sharp. 

    Inclusions: 

    • Seeing rare Australian Sea-lions on the beach at Seal Island
    • Opportunity to see wild Bottlenose Dolphins at play (although sightings are regular, they are not guaranteed as our cruise is restricted to inside Shoalwater Bay)
    • Exploring the rugged islands and viewing nesting pelicans, cormorants and spotting other sea birds that live in the park
    • Drifting over seagrass meadows and limestone reefs spotting fish and other marine life through the glass bottom
    • Viewing the fossilized remnants of ancient tuart forests

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