Full-Day Penguin Island & Mandurah Canal Cruise
Traveler rating
3.4/5
Based on 5 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Full-Day Penguin Island & Mandurah Canal Cruise worth booking?
Full-Day Penguin Island & Mandurah Canal Cruise is a 11-hour experience in Perth, Australia, from $185 per person. It scores 54 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.4/5 rating across 5 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 54 / 100
- Rating
- 3.4/5 (5)
- Duration
- 11 hours
- From
- $185 per person
Penguin Island is currently CLOSED for the winter Penguin breeding season from the 6th June to 15th September 2022 An enchanting boat cruise to visit WA’s largest colony of “little penguins” on their very own island, an
What you get
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected CBD hotels only)
- Bottled water
- National Park fees
- GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- In-vehicle air conditioning
About this experience
Penguin Island is currently CLOSED for the winter Penguin breeding season from the 6th June to 15th September 2022 An enchanting boat cruise to visit WA’s largest colony of “little penguins” on their very own island, and spirited dolphins and canal front homes of Mandurah. Relax, near the crystal clear waters of Shoalwater Bay, or enjoy a short walk on the island (time permitting). Visit the Penguin Discovery Centre to catch the exciting morning Penguin Feed show where the little fairy penguins are fed fresh fish individually by the islands rangers in their specially built enclosure. After an interesting time on the island, we cruise back to the mainland and head south to the City of Mandurah. Get some souvenir shopping done when you disembark and find your land legs again at the marina. For urgent bookings during the weekend or within 24 hours, call us on +61 08 9221 2400.
What's included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected CBD hotels only)
- Bottled water
- National Park fees
- GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Driver / Guide
- Live commentary on board
Not included
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
- Lunch
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Perth
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Ends at
Perth · Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Wed, Fri, Sun
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Aussie Perth Tours
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Tour is not recommended for people with walking disabilities or requiring a wheelchair
- Exact order of itinerary items may be subject to change as required
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 5 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
3 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
1 mentionReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
1 mentionThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Small groups
1 mentionThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
Traveler reviews
5 verified traveler reviews for Full-Day Penguin Island & Mandurah Canal Cruise. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Unfortunate cancellation.
Sadly I waited at my pick up point for over an hour before calling the local tour operator, to find that my tour had been cancelled due to lack of numbers. I'm aware this can happen however I was disappointed that I did not receive notification of the cancellation.
Response from the operator: Gday Lorraine - Thanks for your comments here. Sad to note that your tour was cancelled due to low numbers. Normally your booking agent would have been informed of non operational tour, but we will endeavour to inform clients directly, if we have their contact numbers, in future. Hope you have a great day
via Viator
2 disappointing place, but tour guide is great
Penguins island is not what we expected, as we only can view the 8 penguins in captivity for recovery and none of them are in the wild, unlike the Melbourne. Wish the opening can be adjusted till late, so that visitors can see the wild penguins, as it is only open in the daytime and they are out fishing. Mandurah are nothing special, just cruising the canal behind rich man's houses and their private jetty. Dolphins are in the wild but we spend only 10mins viewing them, wish we can spend more time with the Dolphins
Response from the operator: Gday Ang -Thanks for your review, much appreciated. Sorry to note your disappointment, but then the Penguin parade in Melbourne is totally a different concept then rangers & staff hand feeding Penguins in Perth. So sadly its like comparing apples to oranges - totally different sightseeing experience .Dolphins are also wild mamals but you had a good time with them on the boat sighting and more time would have been preferred, but you are sighting them in their natural open estuary, not a contained water pool. Thanks for your review
via Tripadvisor
Mrs Rosemary Swan
Mark was our tour guy. Mark was pleasant and friendly and provided lots of information. We had a very enjoyable day. Would highly recommend due to small numbers on tour.
Response from the operator: Gday Rose & thank you very much for a great comment on Trip Advisor Much appreciated. As you rightly note, we do specialise on small group sizes & offer personalised service. If we can assist in any manner, please do let us know. Have a great day & enjoy your time in Perth
via Tripadvisor
Trip was not expected, driver was great
Mark was our tour guide to Penguin Island and Mandurah. He was a great tour guide who was able to give lots of interesting details about the places we drove past, and the places we visited. A wonderful person to have as a tour guide. We were very lucky in this aspect! However, the description of the tour given by Aussie Perth tours on their website did not depict an accurate picture of the tour. Firstly, the timing given was all wrong. The website stated the tour would start from 0830 to 1830, putting it as a full-day tour. In the end, it was a mere half-day tour, ending by 1500. Secondly, the pick-up time was set at 0730. Instead, we got a call at 0730 telling us that the driver was at our hotel already. It turned out the tour company had put another group with us who had a different tour to Fremantle (their tour was to Kings Park and Fremantle, while ours had nothing to do with it). We thus had to go with them and drive around Fremantle before starting our own tour proper to Penguin Island (and dropping the other group off at Fremantle). This was surprising to us, but Mark apologised and was still able to make the impromptu tour of Fremantle for us more interesting. When booking tours with Aussie Perth Tours, be sure to double-check timings for the tours as the website is not accurate at all.
Response from the operator: Hi Ash Purple -Thanks for your comments. As you mention you were informed pickup was at 730 am so you would be expected to be ready before the time. Due to lack of minimum numbers at times we mix people so you actually end up seeing more of the sights than on your normal tour, at no extra cost. Which most people appreciate rather than us cancelling tour and wasting your day here. As you had a great day out, thats the best we could do for you.Have a great day
via Tripadvisor
Mark will mark your day
We were suppose to go to Waverock but it was cancelled since the pax is not at minimum requirement so this trip was our second alternative. Thanks god we got Mark as our tour guide and he made our day a great one. Very informative and friendly guy. 👍
Response from the operator: Gday Ros - Thanks for your lovely comments here. Much appreciated and we sincerely thank you for being flexible to join in an alternative tour, offered to you and which you enjoyed also. This way your time was well spent and you had an enjoyable time also.Do keep in touch and if we can assist in any manner please do let us know. Have a great day
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 11 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Wed, Fri, Sun
- Price range
- $185 to $290
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 2
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Aussie Perth Tours, who run 22 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 46.7.
See everything Aussie Perth Tours runsWhy this scores 54
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Full-Day Penguin Island & Mandurah Canal Cruise: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Perth.
How much does Full-Day Penguin Island & Mandurah Canal Cruise cost?
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Prices start at $185 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Perth usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Full-Day Penguin Island & Mandurah Canal Cruise take?
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Plan for about 11 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Perth is not rushed.
Is Full-Day Penguin Island & Mandurah Canal Cruise worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 54 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.4/5 across 5 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Perth, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Full-Day Penguin Island & Mandurah Canal Cruise?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Full-Day Penguin Island & Mandurah Canal Cruise suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 11-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Full-Day Penguin Island & Mandurah Canal Cruise?
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Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Perth can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Perth and add a light layer if any part of the 11-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Full-Day Penguin Island & Mandurah Canal Cruise start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Perth within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Perth?
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On Outty we rank every Perth experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include The Optus Stadium Tour, Discover Perth Walking Tour: History, Art, Local Insights + More!, Pinnacles Desert Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Perth?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Perth?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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