Penguin Island

Last updated October 2026

Little penguin island off Shoalwater with boardwalks, beaches and a kids' scavenger trail; ferry access currently unavailable as of October 2026.

Penguin Island is a small conservation park less than 700m off Mersey Point in Shoalwater, home to a colony of little penguins and managed by the WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Boardwalks, paths and two lookouts lead around the island, and families can swim, snorkel and picnic. There is a free Nature Play WA scavenger hunt trail for primary school children using the Play Trails app. There is no charge to land on the island, and DBCA recommends the privately run ferry from the Penguin Island visitor centre at 153 Arcadia Drive. As of October 2026 the ferry operator says the ferry is currently unavailable because vessels cannot safely reach the island, so check before you go. The island is normally open in daylight hours from 15 October to early June, closed for penguin breeding from June to October, and closed on days forecast at 35 degrees or more. There are no shops, bins or barbecues on the island. Never walk across the sandbar, as people have drowned. The operator's 60-minute wildlife cruises still run daily.

Facts checked against the venue's own website on 17 October 2026.