Rockingham Wild Encounters | Dolphin Watching

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Located just 45 minutes south of Perth Western Australia is the sea side city of Rockingham. It's calm clear waters and ruggedly spectacular limestone reefs and islands are home to a diversity of marine wildlife including bottlenose dolphins, little penguins, Australian sea lions, pelicans, ospreys, stingrays and more.

Rockingham Wild Encounters was established by Rockingham local Terry Howson. He grew up surfing, sailing and swimming on the waters and beaches of Rockingham. In 1989, at the age of 23, he set out to pursue his dream of swimming with the local wild dolphins. Terry dedicated 12 months to learn as much about the dolphins as he could. Seven days a week, 10 hours a day he followed them on a small boat, observing their habits and behaviours. Many months later his determination finally paid off with his first in water encounter with a curious young female dolphin, who he now knows as Logo. As time went on Terry’s underwater interactions with Logo became more frequent as her trust in his friendship strengthened. Gradually, other dolphins became curious of the new visitor in their world and started to interact on a regular basis.

Terry set out to establish a dolphin swim project, unlike any other in the world. The idea was to offer a truly wild dolphin encounter. To do this he believed the dolphins should never be fed by humans and never taken out of their natural environment to ensure natural behaviours and independence was conserved. He believed learning how to fit into the dolphin’s way of life rather than trying to make them conform to ours was the only way to truly present a wild dolphin experience.

His efforts have been recognized with a series of awards including the 2001, 2002 and 2003 West Australian Ecotourism Awards. In 2004 Rockingham Dolphins was inducted into the West Australian Tourism Hall of Fame and achieved their ultimate goal of winning the Australian Tourism Award for Ecotourism.

Other wildife cruise and tours offered by Rockingham Wild Encounters include:

Penguin Island & Dolphin Watch Adventure Cruise
Penguin Island Ferry Service
Glass Bottom Boat Cruises to see Australian Sea Lions
Sea Kayaking tours to Penguin & Seal Islands
Kite Boarding lessons

Months

January • February • March • April • May • June • September • October • November • December

Duration

Half-day (3-6 hours)

Vessel types

Small boat (0-50 passengers)

Times and prices

The Swim with Wild Dolphins cruise operates daily (subject to bookings and weather) from September 15 to early June each year. Meeting time is 8am at the Cruising Yacht Club Jetty (corner Val St & The Esplanade, Rockingham). A complimentary coach service departsa from Perth at 7am.

Cost is $205 per person and includes wetsuit, snorkel equipment, lunch, teas & coffee, fresh water and everything else you need! Passengers just need to bring swimmers, towels and change of clothes.

Our Penguin Island Ferry & Cruise operation is open September 15- to early June every year (subject to weather). Penguin Island is open 9am- 4pm daily. Catch the ferry from our base in Shoalwater located on the corner of Arcadia Drive & Penguin Rd. Tickets start from $12 per person.

Apart from taking a cruise to see the wildlife Penguin Island has a discovery centre where the rangers feed the penguins daily at 10.30am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm. It also has a network of boardwalks that allow visitors to do a great nature walk where they will see lots of nesting sea birds, a pelican rookery, native lizards, great coastal scenery and sometimes even humpback whales (September to early December). Other great things to do at Penguin island include ralaxing on white sandy beaches, snorkelling or enjoy a picnic under the trees.

About our skippers and naturalist guides

Our skippers and guides undergo extensive inhouse training with regards to operating around the wildlife and within the marine park. They're all water lovers and very passionate about what they do which is reflected in the awesome feedback we get from our customers which you can view on Trip Advisor or on our facebook page.

Facilities

Deck with 360?vision • Disabled access • Naturalist guide(s) as well as skipper • On board video • Onboard research • PA system • Posters / displays / maps • Restrooms / toilets on board • Scenic backdrop to encounters • Snacks / drinks • Support conservation • Swim / snorkel included • Use a code of conduct