On the boat, it’s important that you are adequately dressed because it can be cold, even in summer. A warm weatherproof jacket is essential. Gloves, scarves & beanies for the colder days are a good idea.

For Penguin Island, wear comfortable footwear. Most visitors wear thongs or sandals. Hats, sunscreen and a long sleeve or UV-resistant shirt are recommended for sun protection. Bring swimmers and towels if you are planning water activities. A warm weatherproof jacket is recommended even in summer as the afternoon sea breeze can be cold.

We visit the wildlife sanctuary zone of the marine park which has the best viewing opportunities including the Australian Sea Lion! There can be up to 30 sea lions ‘hauling out’ on the beach at Seal Island but numbers vary especially during the breeding season. There are lots of sea birds and we typically see pelicans, ospreys, terns and cormorants most days. We also set out to see our friendly local wild dolphins in the bay! Please note, due to the nature of wild animals, wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.

Beneath the surface Shoalwater Bay has an interesting diversity of marine habitats including seagrass meadows, limestone reefs and sandy sea beds that are home to plenty of fish, crabs, stingrays, rock lobster, octopus and more. The guides will endeavour to share the best underwater viewing on every cruise, however, visitors should not expect brightly coloured tropical reef and fish that they may have experienced on other glass-bottom boats. The colours here are more subdued as we’re operating in temperate waters and we also don’t feed the fish to attract them under the glass (it’s bad for their health and the environment!). Viewing Shoalwater’s underwater world is just one component of our Penguin and Sea Lion cruise and some days limited visibility can make it difficult. Most of the local wildlife and scenic highlights are above the water so this is where our guides will focus your attention.

If you would just like to experience the guided wildlife walk, then you can do this and be back at the mainland in just over an hour, however we recommend you allow a minimum of 2 hours so you can at least explore a little bit. Many visitors choose to spend half or the full day here relaxing on the beach, swimming or just soaking up the relaxed island atmosphere.

Getting back to the mainland is easy, no prior booking is required.

Return ferries depart hourly from Penguin Island at 10.10am, 11.10am, 12.10pm, 1.10pm, 2.10pm, 3.10pm & 4pm sharp, just walk down to the jetty a few minutes before hand and show your ticket to the skipper prior to boarding. On busy days the operator keeps running the ferry until everyone is off the island.

Please note Penguin Island closes to the public at 4pm so please be waiting on the jetty by this time.