Swimming with dolphins in Perth: Tour prices, location & parking
It’s possible to go swimming with dolphins in Perth around the islands near southern suburb Rockingham. Tour prices cost from $150, and there’s free parking near the departure point.
Perth is one of several places in Australia where visitors can go swimming with dolphins. Elsewhere, you can plump for dolphin swimming tours in Adelaide or swim with dolphins on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.
Save your spot by advance-booking your Perth dolphin swimming tour.
But if using Perth as your entry point to Australia, swimming with dolphins is one of the coolest things you can do in the Western Australian capital. Consider the experience up there with a visit to Rottnest Island or a wine-tasting cruise in the Swan Valley.
5 great day trips from Perth – make your visit special
- Rottnest Island ferry transfer – with bike hire and snorkelling gear. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Pinnacles desert – with koalas 🐨 and sandboarding.
- Wave Rock day tour – with wildflowers & Aboriginal culture.
- Margaret River wineries experience 🍷 – with tastings, caves & Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.
- Full day Swan Valley wine tour 🍷– with lunch.
Location of Perth dolphin swimming tours
The experience takes place in Rockingham, one of Perth’s southern suburbs. Here, the Perth Wild Encounters crew has got to know a pod of around 200 dolphins over the years. This means that, while wild, the dolphins aren’t usually spooked in any way by humans getting in the water with them.
The tour takes place in sheltered bays around the islands near Rockingham. This usually makes for relatively calm ocean conditions and easier swimming. Snorkels are provided by the crew, who also provide instructions on how close you’re allowed to get.
The tour meeting point is on Val Street in Rockingham, while there is free all day parking on Harrison Street and Florence Street. It’s a 48km drive from central Perth, which should take about 41 minutes given reasonable traffic conditions.
5 fantastic experiences to book in Rockingham
- Go swimming with wild dolphins in Shoalwater Bay.
- See dolphins, penguins and sea lions – on a Shoalwater Bay islands cruise.
- Get closer to the wildlife – on a kayaking tour.
- Try flying with a jetpack – or flyboarding.
- Take a guided sunset hike to Point Peron – with a glass of sparkling wine as a reward.
Where to stay in Rockingham, WA
The best Rockingham accommodation options are:
- For a quality apartment hotel: Quest Rockingham.
- To be close to the wildlife cruise departure point: Island Villas Accommodation.
- For beachside location: Spinnakers by Rockingham Apartments.
- For a pool: Nautilus by Rockingham Apartments.
Perth dolphin swimming tour prices
Tickets for this swimming with dolphins tour from Perth cost $150 for non-swimmers, and $250 for swimmers. If you want to include a coach transfer from Perth, it’s $190 and $290 respectively.
Prices are correct at time of writing, though obviously subject to change in the future. Bookings should be made online.
The coach leaves from outside the Perth Bell Tower in Barrack Square at 06.30.
Other things to do in Rockingham include swimming at Rockingham Beach, a kayaking tour around Seal Island and Penguin Island, plus a dolphin, sea lion and penguin cruise.
The best places to stay in Perth
You can check out deals on a wide range of Perth accommodation options. But these are some of the best choices.
- The swankiest address in town: COMO The Treasury.
- The cool, fun one in the centre of the action: The Alex.
- For quality apartments next to Kings Park: Quest Kings Park.
- For quality apartments by the beach: Seashells Scarborough.
- On a backpacker budget: Spinners Hostel.
More Western Australia travel
How long is the drive from Dongara to Geraldton?
Watch land-yachters on Lake Lefroy near Kambalda.
How high is the Perth Bell Tower?
Visit Ngigli Cave in Yallingup.
Where to stop on the Kalbarri to Coral Bay drive.
What is the Melbourne to Exmouth flight time.