Penguins, Sea Lions and Wildlife!
Penguin  and Seal Islands lie in the crystal clear waters of Rockingham less than 42 kilometres south of Perth. The islands and their surrounding waters form part of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park established by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) in 1987 to ensure the long term conservation of this unique destination and its wildlife. The breathtaking coastal scenery provides a spectacular natural backdrop for a vast array of recreational pursuits that draws both locals and visitors from all over the world.
The star attraction of the islands is its abundant wildlife. Penguin Island is home to Western Australia's largest colony of Little Penguins (the smallest penguins in the world!). Approximately 600 pairs nest on the island but spend most of their day feeding in the waters of the marine park. These fascinating little birds are very shy and rarely seen in the wild but you can get up close and learn all about them with the CALM experts at The Penguin Experience Discovery Centre. There are three feeding sessions a day at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm.

The Australian Sea Lion is another popular resident of the islands. Seal Island is a haul out zone for male sea lions where they bask in the sun and regain their condition after swimming hundreds of kilometers south from breeding islands. Access to Seal Island is not permitted but you can enjoy the entertaining antics of the Sea Lions onboard The Penguin and Sea Lion Cruise.

The islands are designated bird sanctuaries. Species you are likely to sight include cormorants, darters, terns, fairy terns, noddies, silver gulls, oystercatchers, ruddy turnstones, bar tailed godwit (all the way from Siberia!), Artic Skua, Little Eagles, Ospreys and Sea Eagles. The Islands are also breeding and nesting sites for colonies of Australian Pelicans. There are networks of boardwalks that allow you to explore the island- please remember to stick to the boardwalks to ensure nesting sites are not disturbed.

What to Do
Visitors come to Penguin Island for a variety of activities. The breathtaking coastal scenery, shaded picnic area and safe, sheltered swimming beaches make it the ideal location for a family picnic. Others come to view the wildlife or just to explore and enjoy the beauty of the island. The Penguin Experience Discovery Centre, touch table, interpretive signage and friendly rangers offer a range of educational and interpretive experiences for both children and adults.
Many people come for the water based pursuits. The calm clear waters of the marine park offers some of the best sea kayaking in Perth and snorkelling is also popular with lots of colourful limestone reefs and shipwrecks to explore. The crew from Rockingham Penguins will be happy to point out all the best spots for you. Fishing and Boogie boarding at the back of the island has been a favourite past time of the locals for years and the afternoon sea breeze fills the bay with the colourful sails of windsurfers and kite boarders racing between Mersey Point and Penguin Island.

When to Visit
Penguin Island is open daily from mid September through to the Foundation Day long weekend in June. It is closed over the winter months to ensure the penguins are not disturbed during their nesting time.

Getting to the Island
The Penguin Express Ferry departs daily from the Mersey Point Jetty. Ferries to the island depart hourly from 9am to 3pm. Return ferries to the mainland depart hourly from 10am to 4pm.
The Penguin and Sea Lion Cruise departs daily from Penguin Island at 10.15am, 11.15am and 1.15pm. (* Please allow yourself enough time to catch the ferry to the island prior to your cruise). This is a 45 minute eco cruise onboard our glass bottom boat which takes in the highlights of the Marine Park including the Sea Lions before concluding on Penguin Island. Your ticket includes a return ferry transfer to the mainland which you can catch at your leisure.

Rockingham Dolphins new and exciting eco- adventure boat '100% Wild' now departs from Mersey Point Jetty and returns to Penguin Island. If you would like to see the dolphins and enjoy Penguin Island check out our Dolphins, Penguins & Sea Lions tour.

Purchasing Tickets
Tickets for the Ferry and Penguin & Sea Lion Cruise can only be purchased on the day. We recommend you allow 30 minutes to purchase your tickets prior to your desired cruise time. Weekends and public holidays can be busy and extra ferry and glass bottom boat cruises are often scheduled to meet demand.  See our friendly staff at the Wild Encounters Gift Shop (behind Pengos Café) at Mersey Point. Our office is open at 8.30am till 4.30pm.

Facilities
On Penguin Island

• Penguin Experience Discovery Centre (First Aid Post)
• Shaded, grassed picnic area
• Drinking fountain
• Environmentally friendly composting toilets
• Timber boardwalks allow disabled access around the island.
• Sheltered swimming beaches
• Please be aware there are no kiosk or restaurant facilities on Penguin Island- you are welcome to bring eskies and picnic baskets on our boats
• There is no public access on Seal Island or any of the other Islands of the marine park- they are reserved as conservation zones.

On the Mainland

• Wild Encounters Gift Store for cruise tickets, souvenirs and gifts.
• Pengos Kiosk and Café for takeaway and dine in food and drinks.

Island History
Penguin Island and the waters of Shoalwater Bay have always been regarded as a special place to visit by the people of Perth and has attracted some interesting characters over the years.

Penguin Island was probably first used by the Aboriginal people who have believed to have been in the area up to 12,000 years ago. A local aboriginal legend tells the story of Singing Rock located just to the north of Penguin Island. Apparently a local girl who ran off with her lover against tribal law was chased and caught. Her lover was speared to death while her punishment was to be imprisoned inside the rock. Legend has it that you can still hear the girl singing out to her lover today!

The first person to have lived on the Island was an eccentric New Zealander by the name of Seaforth McKenzie. He was described as a 'bearded man with gallant manners and a twinkling eye' and first squatted on the island in 1914. In 1918 McKenzie was granted an annual lease by the WA government and he set about establishing a holiday resort on the island. Several of the limestone caves on the eastern side of the island were hollowed out and crudely furnished for use as accommodation, a library and a small store where visitors could manage their own account as long as you left a fair amount of money or something of equal value. McKenzie also excavated a 'grand ballroom' known as the palace where he was crowned the 'King of Penguin Island' at a grand ceremony. He was a lover of literature and visitors were invited to his 'library cave' for lamp lit poetry readings. By all accounts visitors greatly admired and respected Seaforth McKenzie despite his eccentricities. McKenzie left the island in 1926 and returned home to his wife Sarah and six children in New Zealand after an absence of 45 years! Apparently he left home to go to work one day and failed to return- his explanation being that he had only just regained his memory of his family!

Today the shifting sands of the island have changed much of McKenzies caves, but there are still some nails in the cave walls, his old well and some gnarled fig trees to remind us of the 'King of Penguin Island'
Over the years several private enterprises have leased parts of the island for budget style holiday shacks and carnival style entertainment. The lease for the island was bought out by the Department of Conservation and Land management in 1987 and is still currently managed by the Department as a Conservation Park. The shacks have been removed and in their place are the Penguin Experience Discovery Centre, the Western Mining Research and Management Centre and improved recreation facilities. The dedication of DEC and the staff who manage the islands will ensure that the spectacular natural beauty and wildlife of Penguin Island and the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park will be preserved for generations to come.