Western Australia is ranked as one of the best places in the world to experience dolphins. If you have always wanted to take the family to swim with dolphins, Perth is a great place to do it. There are a few swim with dolphins experiences both in Perth and just a short drive or flight from Perth.
Joining a tour to get an up close encounter is the best way to enjoy the a wildlife dolphin experience and if you don’t see dolphins they usually have a guarantee that allows you to join another tour for free.
Rockingham
For a swim with dolphins Perth experience, Rockingham Wild Encounters (which operates from Shoalwater) is the best place to book you and your family on a tour. Tours run from mid September to early June each year and leaves from the Rockingham Wild Encounters jetty early in the morning before heading out to the sheltered bays and islands of Rockingham in search of over 200 wild local dolphins.
Your guides are there to provide you and your family with all the equipment, information, instruction and assistance you need to get into the water. Wet suits and snorkelling gear are provided as well as snorkelling instructions and any help required getting equipment on ready to enter the water. Once dolphins are spotted, together with your guide you’ll enter the water and view dolphins from the surface as they initiate interaction by looping and swimming within inches of you.
Lunch and hot & cold drinks are served on board and you can also choose a stay dry option and observe the dolphins only from the boat (at a reduced price) when you book. If you don’t see dolphins you can cruise again on a different day free.
Bunbury
This swim with dolphins experience is not in Perth, but only a short drive away at the Discovery Centre Bunbury, just over 2 hours drive south of Perth. The tour leaves from the Discovery Centre from November to April. All westsuits and snorkelling equipment are provided as well as snacks and drinks on board.
Dolphin interactions occur in the open waters of Koombana Bay and they also offer a dolphin sighting guarantee with a second tour free if you do not see dolphins. Make sure you leave time to explore the amazing Dolphin Discovery Centre too as part of your experience (you’ll need to purchase this seperately, entry is not included in the Swim with Dolphins tour).
Monkey Mia
This dolphin experience is accessible from Perth with a same day return tour on a Monkey Mia Dolphins & Shark Bay Air Tour . You don’t swim with dolphins on this experience but you will get to wade in the water alongside the Monkey Mia resident dolphins.
One of the Monkey Mia Dolphin Feed Experience Supervisors may even ask you if you would like to feed the dolphins. On this tour you will also enjoy a open air restaurant lunch on the beach, then jump on your low flying trip home along the Shark Bay coastline where you will see Sharks, Dolphins, Dugongs and Rays swimming in the ocean. This is a great way to enjoy a dolphin experience all year round.
Want to explore more of Western Australia with the family? Find more Western Australian family adventure and travel ideas in the Kids Around Perth Travel Western Australia Guide.
Lauren Angove is an adventurous Perth Mum who loves sharing information and inspiration on all things adventure to help mid-lifers (and their families) be Always Adventure Ready . Follow her for adventure inspiration and advice at www.alwaysadventureready.com and on facebook.
Back to Things To do with Kids in Bunbury , Explore Perth
We make every effort to ensure all this information is up to date but should be used as a guide only. Events do get cancelled or changed and venues can close without notice. Always follow the links provided for up to date information on an event or activity. If you know of a change or cancellation we’ve missed then please contact us to let us know.
