Bunbury dolphin cruises: Can I see dolphins on Koombana Bay, Western Australia?

The Dolphin Discovery Centre on Koombana Bay offers a dolphin cruise in Bunbury, 170km south of Perth in Western Australia.

The best spot for cast iron sightings of dolphins in Western Australia is arguably the coastal town of Bunbury, 170km south of Perth. The drive from Perth to Bunbury takes around two hours and ten minutes. Or a little longer if you go via Lake Navarino near Waroona or Lane Poole Reserve.

Koombana Bay is north-facing, sheltered and protected from prevailing winds. The waters are also shallow enough to keep major predators out. This makes it an ideal hang-out for the mother dolphins and their young calves.

What to book in Bunbury – 5 fabulous experiences.

Koombana Bay dolphin-watching cruise – the dolphins live in the bay, so you’ll definitely see them.
Geographe region wine tours – explore boutique wineries in the up-and-coming region.
Swimming with dolphins. They’re wild – this is not a dodgy aquarium experience.
Forest, wine and brewery day tours.
Dolphin Discovery Centre entrance tickets.

Since the Dolphin Discovery Centre opened in 1994, it has identified over 450 named dolphins in the area. All are recognisable via the marks on their fins. Going out on a boat to watch them virtually every day has allowed the skippers to learn behavioural patterns too.

Dolphin Discovery Centre cruises in Bunbury

The Dolphin Discovery Centre is well known for its swimming with dolphins experiences. But it also offers a Bunbury dolphin cruise. These 90 minute cruises of Koombana Bay depart at noon each day. This means you can easily do a Bunbury dolphin cruise on the drive from Perth to Margaret River. There would be enough time to do a Meet The Woylies tour from Busselton, or an adventurous evening trip through Giants Cave, after checking in at your accommodation.

dolphin in Koombana Bay, Bunbury, Western Australia — The Dolphin Discovery Centre on Koombana Bay offers a dolphin cruise in Bunbury, Western Australia. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

From behind the wheel of the Dolphin Discovery Centre cruise boat, the skipper informs that dolphins aren’t quite as gentle as they may appear. “They will co-operate, and work in teams to corral the fish together,” he says. “But afterwards, the boys go back into alliances and beat the hell out of each other.”

“The dominant alliance will father most of the calves in the bay,” he adds. “And they virtually abduct the females.”

John steers the boat straight towards the cormorants resting on top of the water’s surface – if the cormorants are feeding, it’s a fairly safe bet that the dolphins will be feeding nearby as well. Sure enough, there’s an alliance of young males there. They surface and dive back under the water at the same time, putting on a rather impressive synchronised swimming show.

Cost of a Bunbury dolphin cruise

The dolphin cruise in Bunbury costs $54. Should you wish to combine the cruise with entry to the Dolphin Discovery Centre, you can get 50% off the $18 ticket price.