Cancellations
Cancelations or booking amendments must be emailed to info@dolphins.com.au 48hrs or more prior to your scheduled departure time. Perth Wildlife Encounters reserves the right to charge the following fees:

• Cancellations within 48 hours of cruise departure time or failure to attend will not be eligible for a refund. Certain individual circumstances mean you may be eligible for a rebook (a minimum of medical certificate for proof of illness required for rebooking), however this is at the discretion of our Operations Manager.

• Amendments to reschedule your booking within 48 hours will not accepted unless eligible for a rebook as per above.

Please note Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) may restrict access to Penguin Island due to penguin nesting season changes, which usually runs from early June to September 15th. This is to protect the local penguins and ensure there is minimal disturbance during this vulnerable time. Should limited access to the island apply, you will be contacted prior to your cruise.

Conditions

  • All departures are subject to weather and we reserve the right to cancel or vary cruises in the interest of passenger safety. Please note the government guidelines to close Penguin Island when the weather is 35 degrees or over (measured on the island) have been implemented from September 2022. This is to ensure safety and conservation of the little penguin population.

  • All passengers participating in the Swim with Wild Dolphins tour will be required to sign a waiver of liability. View a copy of the waiver of liability here.

  • All passengers participating in the Dolphin, Penguin & Sea Lion Adventure Cruise will be required to sign a waiver of liability. View a copy of the waiver of liability here.

  • The wild dolphin guarantee applies to the Swim with Wild Dolphins Cruises only. In the unlikely event that we are unable to swim with or sight dolphins during these cruises, passengers may rebook free of charge for another date within the current season (September to early June). These seats are non-transferable and subject to availability. Please be aware that not sighting or swimming with dolphins or being unable to rebook for another date does not make you eligible for a refund.

  • In the interest of crew and passenger safety, PWE crew will be wearing electric shark deterrents known as Shark Shields. Shark Shields website advises ‘Direct contact with, or very close proximity to the antenna, may cause twitching of the surface muscles of the skin, in time with the slow pulsing of the signal. The conductive field readily travels through seawater, it being a better conductor than the human body. Thus the field tends to surround the body rather than penetrate it. Scientific tests show that the type of signal generated by the Shark Shield is unable to pass through body tissues, unlike radio waves or microwaves that readily penetrate the body, and therefore it poses no health problems for users. However, anyone with any health condition which could increase their sensitivity to the fields created by the Shark Shield should not use the device. Such conditions include heart disease, a history of heart attack, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, a history of fainting or epilepsy, lung disease, or if the user is on any prescription drugs that are administered for these conditions. People who have pacemakers or are pregnant must not use the Shark Shield and should also avoid swimming near any other person using the Shark Shield.

  • Penguin Island is a Class A nature reserve and visitors are advised to respect the ‘No Touch or Take Flora or Fauna Policy’ in place by ensuring the following:

    • No touching or feeding of wildlife

    • Staying on the timber boardwalks and beaches when making your way around the island

    • Leaving any shells, stones, bones, eggs or feathers in place (all parts of native fauna or flora, dead or alive, are protected under WA Wildlife legislation).

    • Any fishing is conducted as per the WA Department of Fisheries legislation

  • By providing Perth Wildlife Encounters with your email address, you agree to receive emails from Perth Wildlife Encounters (including marketing and promotional offers). Collected information will not be shared with any third party and complies with our stated Privacy Policy.

ALL PENGUIN ISLAND VISITORS PLEASE NOTE:
The State Government has taken immediate steps to protect the vulnerable little penguins at Penguin Island, following a concerning decline in their population. Penguin Island will be closed to the public on the hottest days of the year and during the extended breeding season to protect the population. If the weather is forecast to be 35 degrees or higher (taken from the island not the mainland), Penguin Island will not have visitation to the island on those days. Decisions on this hot weather closure will be made on the day prior. Please be aware of this potential closure due to hot weather when making reservations to avoid any disappointment that this may cause. You can view the Minister’s statement regarding the actionable steps below.