Penguin Island Tour with Dolphin and Sea Lion Cruise

Make your own way to Shoalwater, located about a 45-minute drive from central Perth, to meet your boat for the 90-minute cruise through Shoalwater Island Marine Park.

As your boat sets out, your guide locates some of the 200 bottlenose dolphins that live in these waters. Many are known to your guides and given names such as Logo, Boomerang and Blizzard. Learn fascinating facts about dolphins such as how they use cooperative hunting methods to catch their food. You may see mothers looking after newborn calves or witness the acrobatic mammals jumping next to the boat and riding in the wake. Your boat is equipped with an underwater microphone that also allows you to hear the dolphins’ clicks and whistles.

After enjoying the dolphins, take in scenic highlights of Shoalwater Bay as you cruise by Seal Island to see Australian sea lions up close and seabirds such as pelicans, ospreys, cormorants and terns that nest on the rugged islands.

Your cruise ends at beautiful Penguin Island, a nature reserve that is home to Western Australia’s largest colony of little penguins. Arrive at the island just in time to see the pint-size penguins feeding at the Discovery Centre. A park ranger leads a feeding presentation that lasts about 20 minutes and answers visitor questions about the center, which provides care for injured wild penguins or those deemed unfit for release. You can watch the little penguins swimming and waddling in a habitat that resembles their natural home.

The rest of your day is up to you. Enjoy free time to explore the nature reserve, take an easy 45-minute hike along the nature trail, swim, snorkel, picnic or simply relax. When you're ready, make your way to the jetty to catch the ferry for the 5-minute ride back to the mainland.