Things to do in Western Australia

Visit Rottnest Island with same-day or extended return ferry tickets departing from Fremantle. Choose from multiple departure times to suit your schedule and maximize your time on the island. Board the ‘Quokka 1’ ferry, the newest and most environment-friendly vessel servicing Rottnest Island. Enjoy the 35-minute fast-ferry crossing in air-conditioned comfort with free WiFi. Kick start your island adventure with a beverage, light snack, and tea or coffee from the fully-stocked bar onboard (food and drinks not included in the ferry price). On arrival at the island, spend your day exploring. Enjoy a wide range of activities including bike riding, snorkeling and guided tours on the island (at your own expense). Purchase food from eateries or general stores or bring along your own packed lunch to savor in the tranquil setting.

Enjoy the scenic highlights of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park during a 1-hour glass bottom boat cruise that explores the ruggedly spectacular coastlines of Penguin, Seal & Bird Islands and takes advantage of the best wildlife spotting opportunities.  Take in the beautiful scenery in the marine park and, through the glass panels, see what goes on beneath the surface. Wild dolphins, rare Australian sea lions, pelican rookeries, and birds of prey are regularly sighted and our friendly crew will get you right amongst the action. Though, please note that no sightings are guaranteed.  The Cruise concludes on Penguin Island to see the penguin feeding and then enjoy some island time before returning on the ferry at your own leisure. Penguin feedings are presented by a Parks & Wildlife Services ranger at 10.30 AM, 12.30 PM, and 2.30 PM and last around 20 minutes, after which the rangers are available to answer any visitor questions.

Ahoy there, matey! Take your seat as you depart from the eastern foreshore and venture through through Mandurah's beautiful inland waterways and canals on a fun-filled pirate cruise. Kids are encouraged to dress up in their favourite pirate costume (not supplied) and pretend they are sailing the seven seas. On this 45-minute adventure, they can steer the pirate wheel, look through the telescopes and take photos with the friendly captain, while adults are entertained with scenic views including a look at the prestigious homes dotted along the canals. Don't forget to bring your camera, Western Australia's largest residential population of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins can be found in the waterways all year round.

Explore the island of Rottnest by bike. Take a ferry from Fremantle and experience the beaches and bays of this car-free environment on two wheels. Catch the ferry to Rottnest Island and collect your pre-booked bike hire to start your journey. Discover Rottnest Island by bicycle and experience over 63 beaches and 20 bays as you explore this unique Class A Reserve renowned for its high conservation and community values. Cycling is an environmentally friendly and fun recreational activity for all ages. As Rottnest Island has essentially no cars, cycling is one of the best ways to get around the island. With a free bike fitting and breakdown service available, this is the perfect way to experience Rottnest. Easily return your bike and catch your return ferry when you are done.

Enjoy this two-hour snorkel & coral viewing which takes place on board the Nhanya-Ku. Visit the pre-arranged meeting point 15-minutes before the tour commences. After a short meet and greet with your friendly and informative guide, you will then be guided to the departure area on the beach. Within a 2 to 3-minute walk from the meeting location, you will reach your custom designed, glass-bottom boat, the Nhanya-Ku. Not only can you see the reef passing by under the glass you will also have the opportunity to snorkel at two beautiful snorkel sites. Immerse yourself amongst hundreds of tropical fish and view magnificent coral gardens, along with other amazing wildlife that calls the World Heritage Ningaloo Reef home. All your snorkeling equipment is provided on board and your friendly and informative guides will be more than happy to assist with how to use the equipment.

Join this 5 to 6 hour Marine Eco Safari aboard the Kurni-Ku, custom built to specifically navigate around the Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef. It is the perfect way to experience one of the few places in the world with a resident population of Manta Rays all year round! Your tour begins at 8:00 AM at the Coral Bay Ecotours office (unless otherwise informed), followed by a short bus transfer to the jetty to board the vessel. Then you will head out for your first reef snorkel experience in Bills Bay, where you may encounter numerous fish, reef sharks, and other marine species and the beautiful coral gardens. After morning tea you will visit the sea turtle sanctuary where you can observe turtles feeding and surfacing for air. You will then head to Bateman’s Bay, where, with the assistance of a spotter plane, there is the opportunity to snorkel with Manta Rays. On the return home, you will stop for an afternoon snorkel.

Enjoy a 3-hour Turtle Tour on a glass-bottomed boat - the best way to view turtles feeding in their natural surroundings. Learn about the most commonly found sea turtle species on the Ningaloo Reef which is the Green Sea Turtle. The experienced crew will share their in-depth knowledge of this amazing turtle species and their behavior.  Take the opportunity to view the amazing coral, feed the fish, and snorkel at 2 specially selected sites. Snorkeling equipment, hot drinks, and snacks will be provided.

Cruise with playful dolphins and explore winding waterways on Western Australia’s best value marine tour. Glide over the water on this scenic tour showcasing top highlights of the coastal haven of Mandurah. Choose to purchase a delicious lunch directly from the activity provider. Hop aboard a comfortable boat and set off on this award-winning, pristine waters which are home to over 100 bottlenose dolphins, the largest residential population in Wester Australia. See these captivating creatures up close in nature with guaranteed sightings. Travel through an area that is surrounded by a giant estuary, twice the size of Sydney Harbor. Journey through a magnificent ocean marina and stunning canals lined with luxury homes. Visit global landmarks and see amazing birdlife. Kids love the nautical fun on deck, with a lifelike engine room, marine controls, a captain’s wheel, and giant binoculars. Order lunch directly from the activity provider and tuck into some famous local fish and chips. Experience Mandurah’s unique wonders of the water, only an hour from Perth with cruises available daily.

Enjoy the best of Rottnest Island with bike rental and same-day return ferry tickets. Get in the saddle and explore this unique island without cars at your own pace. Enjoy a coffee at Hillarys Boat Harbour before boarding. Relax on the 45-minute high-speed ferry crossing. On arrival, enjoy a full day to explore Rottnest Island at your own pace. Add-on a snorkel set at check-out to discover the island’s beautiful marine life. Pedal to Wadjemup Lighthouse or race to the West End. Discover the many different bays and beaches. Be sure to meet a smiling quokka and snap a selfie! Leave Rottnest Island on the 4:30 pm ferry, returning to Hillarys Boat Harbour at 5:15 pm.

Join this 8 to 9-hour whale shark safari aboard Thunder. This vessel has been designed for comfort and has a large area for seating and standing, both downstairs and upstairs, and a 360-degree view from the wheelhouse. It is the perfect way to experience one of the few places in the world where these big beautiful whale sharks choose to visit.  Your tour will begin at 7:30 AM. Take a short bus transfer to the jetty to board the vessel. Then, head out for your first reef snorkeling experience in the beautiful coral gardens. You will encounter numerous fish, reef sharks, and other marine species. After morning tea, your journey to the outer reef will begin. By this time, the spotter plane is already searching for your whale sharks and informing the crew of any other exciting marine life they have spotted along the way. The crew will do their best to allow you to experience as much wildlife as possible during the tour.  Once the spotter plane has found a whale shark, the boat will make its way to it. You will be split into 2 groups of 10 and take turns to swim with the whale shark. To ensure that the whale sharks are not disturbed at their natural habit, you are allowed a maximum of 1 hour of swimming time with them. The boat stops on the return journey for a second reef snorkel at a different site. To finish the day, you can celebrate with a glass of champagne and enjoy a fruit platter.