Filming and Photography at Penguin Island

Penguin Island and the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park are managed by the WA State Government Department of Environment and Conservation. Prior to any professional filming being undertaken a license must be granted. For more information and to download a filming license application form please see the following link

http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/filming


Our most current Media releases are listed below, please click on the relevant article to download: -

Use of images

We are always happy for trade and journalists to use our images for the promotion of Rockingham, Rockingham Wild Encounters, its associated group of ecotourism companies and the Keep Perth’s Dolphins and Sea Lions Wild Envirofund Project.

Most of our best images are contained within the image galleries of this website. Please explore them for your self and select the images that you are interested in. You will then need to download and submit our Use of Images Form to obtain approval to use the images.

Company and Product Reference Guide

When referring to our companies and tours they are-

Rockingham Wild Encounters is the marketing and administration body that incorporates Rockingham Dolphins and Rockingham Penguins.

Rockingham Dolphins operates the ‘Swim with Wild Dolphins Tour’, the ‘Dolphin Watch Tour’ and the “Dolphin, Penguin & Sea Lion Tour’.

Rockingham Penguins operates ‘The Penguin Express’ ferry service to Penguin Island and ‘The Penguin & Sea Lion Cruise’ which is the 45 minute tour of the E- Class Restricted Zone of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park.

For more background information see the Rockingham Wild Encounters Ecotourism Group and How it All Started pages.

Tour Descriptions

1. Swim with Wild Dolphins Tour
Your adventure begins with cruising Rockingham's sheltered bays and islands in search of any of the 180 local dolphins that your crew have come to know as friends. Before long the first dolphin sighting of the day is marked by the excited shout of 'Found them'  followed by the slowing down of our engines to let the dolphins know we are keen to play!

An excited buzz takes over the boats as the crew ensures you're fully prepared to enter the water. 'Zip your wetsuits up, masks and snorkels on and make your way to the swim deck- it's time to get wet!'  Sleek, silvery grey dorsal fins start breaking the surface of the water within meters of the back of the boat and the skipper gives the command everyone's been waiting for- 'Go!'

Suddenly, you are surrounded by flashing grey torpedoes and the water is filled with whistles, splashes and laughter- both human and dolphin. They don't do tricks and we don't feed them, we simply spend some time enjoying each other's company...it's a wild encounter!

We are dedicated to ensuring the best experience for both visitors and dolphins. We ask you to remember that we are working with wild animals. Please approach each encounter with caution and respect and never assume that we have control over the dolphins' appearance or behaviours. The dolphins approval of our friendship is reflected in our better than 99% success rate. You don't have to be an expert swimmer to join in and no previous snorkelling experience is necessary. Just bring a sense of adventure and be ready for an unforgettable, exhilarating encounter!

2. Dolphin Watch Tour
Join us on a 2 hour eco- adventure through the ruggedly spectacular Shoalwater Islands Marine Park in search of wild dolphins. Our exciting, fast and comfortable boat is ideal for dolphin viewing, we even have an underwater microphone to listen in to the fascinating clicks and whistles of dolphin communication. Our highly trained guides are dolphin enthusiasts - their intimate knowledge will ensure your experience is fun, informative and '100% Wild!'

 3. Dolphin, Penguin & Sea Lion Tour
After the excitement of Dolphin Watch continue the adventure by visiting beautiful Penguin Island! Enjoy free time to explore white sandy beaches and secluded bays perfect for swimming, snorkelling or just soaking up some of the best coastal scenery in Perth. A picnic lunch is served under the trees at Penguin Island before departing on a 45 minute glass bottom boat cruise to explore the Shoalwater Bay sanctuary zone. Highlights are viewing one of the largest pelican rookeries in WA and visiting Seal Island to view a colony or rare sea lions. Cruise returns in time for penguin feeding at the Discovery Centre before the 5 minute ferry transfer to the mainland.

4. The Penguin Express Ferry to Penguin Island
A short ferry ride is all it takes to meet the world's smallest penguins! Your ticket includes entry to the Discovery Centre to see these normally secretive and rarely seen creatures up close. Spend the rest of the day exploring Penguin Island and its abundant wildlife or relax and take advantage of the beautiful swimming beaches and picnic areas. For those who would like to learn more about Penguin Islands fascinating history and ecology, take a guided 'Waddle' around the island with a local ranger. You will get a close up view of Penguin Islands nesting colony of Australian Pelicans, learn all about the latest Penguin and wildlife research and see where the eccentric 'King of Penguin Island' was crowned.

5. The Penguin & Sea Lion Cruise
Enjoy a 45 minute eco-cruise on the crystal clear waters of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. Experience the rugged natural beauty of these spectacular islands on our glass bottom boat and learn all about the local wildlife from our friendly skippers. The highlight of our cruise is visiting the beach at Seal Island to watch the Sea Lions at play before concluding on Penguin Island in time to catch the Little Penguin feeding session at the Discovery Centre.