A Day Trip | Penguin Island

Remember that TV show about penguins that was on in the UK back in 2010 called 'Penguin Island', well this is where that documentary was shot. Penguin Island, 45 minutes south of Perth and five minute ferry ride across Shoalwater Marine Park in Western, home to WA's largest colony of little penguins - the smallest penguin species in the world.

Last weekend me and Jack took the drive two hours north of Eaton to Rockingham to catch the little ferry across to penguin island. It was beautiful sunny day so we decided to make the most of it and also hop on the glass bottom boat to cruise to Seal Island where, funnily enough, there's a few seals to be seen. Only male ones however as they leave the females on an island up stream to bring up the young. We saw a few seals lying lazily on the beach and another gliding through the perfectly clear water. 

The cruise was brilliant and accompanied by a very informative tour guide which meant I never found myself looking at something and saying 'I wonder..' Lois (I hope that's how you spell it) gave us all the information we could possibly need about the environment, the habitats and all the creatures in it from the sea grass underneath us to the huge seals lying in the sun. 

After our twenty minute-or so cruise we arrived back at Penguin Island. We'd booked to go into the feeding talk so we had ten minutes to have a quick look at the beach. It was beautiful and if it had been a few degrees warmer I'd have gotten in the sea but as it was I decided against that. The beaches are swamped with sea birds of all different varieties, all though mainly sea gulls, and it was fun watching them waddle through the soft sand with their feet sinking.

So after a bit of a wander we headed into the feeding building where we were greeted by seven little penguins stood on a rock ready for their lunch. The whole feeding session was joined by a talk which again was very informative about the penguins and the way they live but also why the ten in the rescue centre are there and why they'll be put back to the wild or why they can't be. You can do Penguin Island without the cruise or the feeding talk but for me they were the best bits as the information we got from both guides was brilliant. Also it's the only way you're guaranteed to see  penguins so for a few extra dollars I think it's worth it. 

The penguins were so cute and you can go into that room at any time for free but if you want the talk you pay a little extra but as I've said, it's definitely worth it. Whilst we were there we figured it would be rude not to have a walk around the whole island, which we did, sticking to the board walk as instructed so as not to disturb any sleeping baby penguins or habitats. We didn't see any penguins on our walk but it was lovely nonetheless and a great way to end our day on penguin island. 

For more information about the island as well as prices, times and all that sort of stuff visit the penguin island website and don't forget to let me know what you think of your visit in comments below, or if you have any other good days out in WA to recommend?  

Book your visit here Picture courtesy of Penguin Island website

P.S Don't forget to check out my madeit.com.au Christmas gift guide it's under a month away now ladies and gents.

Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin | Tumblr | YouTube | Goodreads