Penguin Island | A Must-Visit Perth Day Trip
When traveling to Perth, Australia, Rottnest Island and Penguin Island are widely regarded as the two ultimate offshore destinations for independent travelers. Penguin Island stands out not only for its easy accessibility, breathtaking landscapes, and pristine beaches, but also because you can meet the world's smallest penguins up close. It has earned a top spot on many travelers' recommendation lists.
In this post, I will share essential transportation options, ferry details, must-see highlights, and personal travel tips to help you plan your Penguin Island adventure seamlessly!
(Did you know Melbourne, Australia also has a famous "Penguin Island"? Much like Phillip Island over east, Western Australia's Penguin Island is an incredibly popular wildlife destination.)
1. How to Get to Penguin Island
To visit Penguin Island, you must first make your way to the Rockingham Wild Encounters jetty. Driving by rental car from downtown Perth takes approximately 45 minutes. Alternatively, you can take public transit: hop on the Mandurah Line train from central Perth to Rockingham Station, transfer to Bus 551 or 552, get off at "Penguin Rd Before Mersey Rd", and walk a short distance to the pier. For a complete overview of regional transit, check out my Perth public transit guide.
Once at the jetty, hop on the ferry—it takes just 5 minutes across the shoal waters to reach Penguin Island! Here are the ticket prices, schedules, and official booking details:
| Return Ferry Fare | Timetable | Booking / Official Site |
| Adult: $35 Senior & Student: $30 Child (ages 3–12): $25 Family (2 Adults + 2 Children): $100 |
Departures: Hourly from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Returns: Hourly from 10:10 AM to 3:10 PM, final ferry at 4:00 PM |
Rockingham Wild Encounters |
| ※ There is no accommodation on the island; only return tickets are sold (no one-way tickets). ※ All ferry tickets include admission to the Penguin Island Discovery Centre and the penguin feeding show (scheduled at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, or 2:30 PM). |
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In addition to standard ferry transport, the operator offers popular tour packages. Package prices already include return ferry transfers, Penguin Island Discovery Centre entry, and the penguin feeding session, as detailed below:
| Tour Package | Times | Price | Details |
| Penguin & Sea Lion Cruise Penguin & Sea Lion Cruise |
10:15 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM |
Adult: $42 Senior & Student: $38 Child (ages 3–12): $33 Infants under 3: Free |
Departs from Penguin Island on a 45-minute glass-bottom boat tour to view wild penguins and sea lions. |
| Dolphin, Penguin & Sea Lion Cruise Dolphin, Penguin & Sea Lion Adventure Cruise |
09:15 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM |
Adult: $85 Senior & Student: $80 Child (ages 3–12): $65 Infants under 3: Free |
Departs from Penguin Island on a 90-minute glass-bottom adventure cruise searching for wild dolphins, penguins, and sea lions. |
Beyond these two popular cruise options, there are longer, more active official excursions such as Swim with Wild Dolphins, Sea Kayak Tour, and Swim with Sea Lions. These typically take around 6 hours or more, so first-time visitors usually opt for shorter cruises to leave ample time for walking around Penguin Island itself. You can find full itineraries on their official website.
If you prefer leaving from central Perth without worrying about public transit transfers or tour bookings, guided options such as Klook's Penguin Island Day Tour or KKday's Penguin Island Day Tour provide hassle-free round-trip transport and packages.
(You can take a train directly from Perth Underground station to Rockingham. The bus interchange sits right outside the station exit, where buses 551 or 552 take you straight near the jetty.)
(Here is the exterior of the Rockingham Wild Encounters ticket office. Inside, you can buy or collect tickets, pick up beach gear, clothing, and souvenirs. There is also a spacious parking lot for self-drive travelers.)
(The café connected to the ticket office is essentially the only dining spot nearby. Keep in mind there are no food vendors or shops on Penguin Island at all, so this is your last chance to grab lunch or takeaway snacks!)
(I chose the "Penguin & Sea Lion Cruise" package, which includes return ferry tickets. The printed boarding pass clearly lists ferry times, tour departure times, return times, and penguin feeding slots.)
(The departure pier sits right beside the ticket office, very easy to spot. Penguin Island lies remarkably close to the mainland—just a quick 5-minute ferry ride across the Shoalwater sandbar. Although the water is shallow enough that people used to wade across, local authorities strongly advise against walking due to unpredictable tides and strong currents.)
(This is the stunning view right after disembarking on the island. The waters are crystalline and the relaxing island vibe hits you immediately!)
2. Top Things to Do on Penguin Island
Now, let's explore all the exciting things to see and do on Penguin Island!
Basically, there are three main activities: attending the little penguin feeding show at the Penguin Island Discovery Centre, taking a glass-bottom boat cruise into Shoalwater Islands Marine Park to see wild sea lions, dolphins, and birds, and completing the scenic island-loop walking trail. Let's take a closer look!
【Penguin Island Discovery Centre】
◎ Address: Penguin Island Discovery Centre, Rockingham WA
◎ Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM
◎ Feeding Show Times: 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:30 PM
◎ Recommended Tours: Penguin Island Tour 1 | Penguin Island Tour 2
◎ Nearby Accommodation: Booking | Agoda | Hotels | Expedia (Compare Rates | Recommended Stays)
(Here is the visitor trail map of Penguin Island. The island features no shops, no hotels, and only one public toilet facility, keeping its environment untouched and pristine. The island is quite compact, taking only around an hour to walk the entire perimeter loop.)
(Once you arrive at Penguin Island, just follow the wooden boardwalk for about a minute to reach the Discovery Centre and a small picnic park.)
(The Discovery Centre is the only facility on the island. It houses an intimate viewing pool where rangers conduct feeding shows while educating visitors on the habitat, biology, and conservation of these fairy penguins—the smallest penguins on earth.)
(Look at these adorable little fairy penguins!)
(If you purchased an official wildlife cruise, you'll return to the island's main jetty at your scheduled departure time. The boat clearly displays the tour name, and rangers will inspect your ticket before boarding.)
(I chose the "Penguin & Sea Lion Cruise", and we were lucky enough to spot wild dolphins right next to our boat! It felt like a complimentary upgrade to the dolphin tour, prompting our guide to joke that we owed them extra fare!)
(Next, the vessel pulled up alongside Seal Island where wild Australian sea lions sunbathe. Visitors do not disembark on Seal Island; observation is conducted respectfully from the boat, strictly honoring Australian wildlife conservation standards.)
(Beyond the headline marine life, the cruise lets you spot numerous seabirds such as pelicans and cormorants nestled among spectacular sea caves and cliffs. I highly recommend taking this boat cruise when visiting Penguin Island!)
(Back on the island, spend the rest of your time walking the scenic coastal trail or snorkeling in the calm bays. Lookout platforms at the north and south ends offer breathtaking 360-degree ocean views—and if you are lucky, you might even spot wild fairy penguins hiding in the shaded undergrowth!)
(The island's western side boasts rugged limestone reefs and wave-carved caves. This compact island surprised me at every turn, making it abundantly clear why so many travelers fall in love with it.)
That wraps up my travel guide, transit instructions, and cruise review for Penguin Island! It left an indelible impression on my Western Australia travels thanks to its azure waters, untouched nature, and vibrant wildlife. I warmly recommend adding it to your Perth itinerary!