2 Hour Whale-Watching Cruise from Hillarys Boat Harbour
4.5

2 Hour Whale-Watching Cruise from Hillarys Boat Harbour

By Rottnest Fast Ferries - Day Tours
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Ages 0-99, max of 80 per group
Duration: 2h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option selected)
  • Transport by air-conditioned coach (if option selected)
  • 2-hour whale-watching cruise
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks
  • Additional activities at Hillarys


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
  • 56 Southside Dr, Hillarys WA 6025, Australia
    Free parking is available if self-driving. From Perth CBD head north on Mitchell Freeway then exit left when you reach Hepburn Avenue. Continue to the end and enter the harbour through the main roundabout. Turn left onto Southside Drive and follow the signs to 'ferry terminal'.
Pickup details
  • Your specific pickup time will be confirmed with you by our reservations team. If taking the cruise only option, you must check-in at the Rottnest Fast Ferries office on the south side of Hillarys Boat Harbour, next to the Harbour Resort Apartments by 12pm
Hotel pickup offered
During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
    Port pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included ports.
    • Rottnest Fast Ferries, Shop/56 Southside Dr, Hillarys WA 6025, Australia
    End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

      • Wheelchair accessible
      • Pushchair accessible
      • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
      If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5676WHALE

      • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
      • It is recommended that you bring a swimsuit and other appropriate swimming needs if you wish to take advantage of Hillarys' additional attractions such as the waterslides or beach (own expense)
      • Most travellers can participate
      • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
      • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
      • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 80 travellers

      • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

      If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5676WHALE

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      About the operator
      Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
      • Rottnest Fast Ferries - Day Tours
        464
        Australia
        Joined in October 2013
      • wendygP4092WE
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Perth Hash Harriettes
        We Booked a Group Booking for 30 ladies for 4 nights From the time we Booked, ferry journey and travel we had the best experience ever . The staff were amazing.
        Written 11 February 2025
      • J4836QWkevine
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Another excellent trip
        Time table option that suits needs. On time, very efficient. Smooth ride. Great staff and very well-equipped boats. What more can you ask for.
        Written 5 February 2025
      • Claire F
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Absolutely Wonderful day on the Island and definitely stay next time.
        Been to Australia 3 times and always meant to go to the island. Boat was on time and apart from I get sea sick all was good. After settling down once arrived we got a map and made a plan. Went to the bus pick up stop and impressed to see the guy cleaning the bus for us to get on. Boiling day so air conditioned bus much appreciated. Half way round the island our bus broke down! The guy was brilliant, he said if you want you can walk a little way to a gorgeous beach, have a swim and I will give come and give you a call when get going or another bus. The sea was inviting and beach empty, just perfect. As promised the guy came and gave us a shout that getting going again, we decided to stay where we were. He told us where to walk to the next bus pick up and it had shade to wait under just wonderful. Later in the early evening we took the bus trip again and learnt so much from this same guy by chance, he was a credit to the company don't loose him. Loved the island and hope one day back in Australia to visit again. Very late in reviewing this trip but better late than never. Really wish we could remember drivers name.
        Written 29 January 2025
      • jules21893
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Smooth Sailing
        Have never had a problem with this company, this trip we took my 84 year old father to Rottnest for his first ever visit. The crew were very attentive as he was in a wheelchair and were quick to ask if we needed any assistance. They also recognised us on our return trip and asked how his day day gone. Would highly recommend.
        Written 29 January 2025
      • amanda s
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Outstanding service
        I hadn't considered visiting Rottnest Island until my granddaughter asked to go for the day. The staff were outstanding, explaining that if I joined the children's club, my granddaughter could travel for free. We booked our tickets and hired bicycles, and were pleased to find that our booking could be transferred with just an hour's notice. The staff were incredibly polite and knowledgeable, making the whole transaction extremely simple. We even took advantage of the flexibility to change our times and catch the last ferry back after having such a great time. Thank you to the staff for their excellent service.
        Written 25 January 2025
      • 771marcusn
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great company to travel to Rottnest with. Easy free parking
        Positive: Fast and efficient. Friendly staff. Bikes are comfortable. Could be better: snorkelling masks old and cheap and one was broken
        Written 22 January 2025
      • MeganK1757
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Rottnest via the fast ferries
        Excellent trip! Rottnest is awesome - a great destination for everyone. Plenty of quokkas to see. Stunning beaches and great facilities. And even with huge amounts of tourists everything was relaxed and we didn’t have wait for anything really. Big call-out to Terry who did our evening drop off to our hotel after the tour. We were super lucky getting a late transfer home which they don’t always run. Terry was also a tour guide in a previous life so we were able to get some awesome travel advice! He was very patient with our 400 questions!! Really enjoyed the trip. Great staff (Ben the island bus driver was also a gem, very friendly, patient and gave plenty of information), great food options, great beaches, great weather to name a few!
        Written 29 December 2024
      • Rob F
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Tour of Rottnest Island
        We had the best guide/driver to teach us and drive us through the island. Glenn was very informative, witty and very pleasant. We recommend highly this tour and hopefully you will get to meet Glenn !
        Written 22 December 2024
      • bruceh97
        0 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Well arranged tour.
        Well organised tour. Very comprehensive. The only negative was not visiting the lighthouse. I would have liked to seen it up close and possibly climbed it. We could only look from afar due to time constraints. I would suggest this is included in the future as we visited 437 different bays which all see the same after awhile.
        Written 11 December 2024
      • MarionWAPerth
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        It might be the only one from Hillarys but it's the best!
        Booking process, luggage, costs and available discounts makes it a great holiday. New catamaran ferry along with boarding and disembarking is easy.
        Written 9 December 2024
      • ewilsonxx
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Easy and professional. Our trip to the island and back was seamless. The need to remove battery from bike was a hassle.
        Easy and professional. Our trip to the island and back was seamless. The need to remove battery from bike was a hassle. But they are unable to ensure no damage. Our bike as it was got quite knocked around with a lot of rental bikes leaning against it. I feel if you take your own bike it needs to be treated a bit better than the rentals. Apart from that both trips were fine.
        Written 20 November 2024
      • JonathanP400
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Super tour of a beautiful island
        The bayseeker tour includes the ferry to and from the island from Hillary's Boat Harbour. The ferry ride takes about 45 minutes each way and we were lucky enough to see whales on the way across and back. This tour gave us about 3 hours free time on the island, plus a 90 minutes bus tour. Glenn our driver was a mine of information about the island, local life and times and made us laugh out loud several times. A super tour of a beautiful island.
        Written 19 November 2024
      • jerneja98
        0 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Beautiful island and a must see while in Perth
        In my opinion Rottnest Island is a must see when in Perth. The little quakkas and beautiful beaches are stunning so having a full day here is a must. This tour offers the ferry (and pick up from Perth city) as well as a bike rental. And while I loved the ferry and the island, I didn’t necessarily enjoy the biking as it was a very hot day. So if I’d go again I would pick to take the hop-on hop-off bus around the island and I would rather take my time on the beaches.
        Written 17 November 2024
      • carol72022
        0 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great trip but check out start point
        Check out a better way to start your journey than courtesy coach. Re confirmed 48 hrs B4 is a pain. Very long bus journey. Pick up in street nearby not at our hotel.Dont use Hillary's boat yard if like us you are 15 mins from Perth ferry terminals. Rest of trip was well worth it. Views. History. Guide. Quokkas. Even bumpy ferry ride. Loading those bikes was an art form. Signage on island is not plentiful so don't lose the map.
        Written 15 November 2024
      • sydneysider48
        0 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        A good look at a beautiful island.
        Rottnest Island is surprisingly large and the bus trip around the island showed off the beauty of the place and its many pretty beaches and clear, turquoise waters.
        Written 6 November 2024
      See all 464 reviews
      These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

      Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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      4.5
      4.5 of 5 bubbles9 reviews
      Excellent
      7
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      0
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      1
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      0

      Mike G
      Perth, Australia30 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Sept 2020
      First day of the whale watching season and we extremely excited to find a mother and female calf, only about a month old according the very informative and entertaining biologist onboard. The Indian Ocean was fairly choppy but this promotes breaching activity according to the specialist and we witnessed an hour long display by mum and her calf. Very spectacular and mesmerizing.

      There weren't many onboard so plenty of space for viewing on the bow of the vessel, although I would think on a full ship cruise this could be a little problematic.

      The staff are very competent, ably led by Captain Geezer and their friendly and caring nature was gratefully received by those who stomachs weren't quite up to the task .

      Highly recommend this trip but do remember there are no guarantees of finding these beautiful creatures in all that ocean.
      Written 5 September 2020
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Dear Mike G Thank you so much for your review, it is very much appreciated and has been shared with our team. We look forward to welcoming you back onboard some time soon Kind Regards Phil Richards - Director of Sales and Marketing
      Written 7 January 2021
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Jim H
      Canterbury, UK114 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Oct 2022
      Courtesy taxi from our Perth hotel was excellent. We pre booked from UK. Staff warned us on the day it’d be very rough and offered to change our day. I asked if it was a good day for whales. Answer, yes. We went and very glad we did. Two close whales tail slapping near the boat. Lots of distant breaches. Very good value. Excellent boat and staff.
      Written 14 November 2022
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Hi Jim H, Thank you for your great review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the whale watching experience, especially with the close-up tail slapping and distant breaches. It’s fantastic to hear our staff helped make your trip memorable. We look forward to welcoming you again! Thanks, from the team at Rottnest Fast Ferries.
      Written 12 December 2024
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Emily M
      3 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Oct 2023 • Family
      Several whales were located, but the boat was so overcrowded we only managed to get brief glimpses of them in-between the backs of other peoples heads and shoulders. The outdoor areas of the boat were only small so it was a fight to get an unobstructed view. I think the boat is maybe more appropriate for ‘people carrying’ and transport rather than whale watching. It’s a shame but I probably wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re tall and happy to fight for a good view.
      Written 8 October 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Hi emilymD7482EU, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that the experience didn't meet your expectations. We understand how important it is to have a clear view when whale watching. We hope you'll give us another chance in the future for a more enjoyable outing. Thanks, from the team at Rottnest Fast Ferries.
      Written 12 December 2024
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Linda
      154 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nov 2019
      Well organised trip but sadly due to submarine activity right where we were looking we didn’t see any whales which was disappointing. We were offered another trip but were leaving the next day. I’d book again if we are visiting Perth again.
      Written 19 November 2019
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Hello Linda S, Thanks for taking the time to review our whale watching cruise. So sorry we didn't get to see whales.... we have a 95% strike rate normally. Look forward to seeing you again when you are back in Perth Kind Regards Phil Richards- Director of Sales and Marketing
      Written 3 December 2019
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Michael C
      Perth, Australia3 contributions
      2.0 of 5 bubbles
      Sept 2019 • Family
      Our weather conditions (perfect), on board biologist (informative amd engaging) and luck spotting whales (mother calf displaying interesting behaviour) could not disguise how badly set up this boat is for wildlifr viewing. There is very limited viewing at the front of the boat which is only accessible once the boat stops. As a result, only the fastest get to the front, obscuring the view for others. The deck is a single level, so no option for those at back to get higher.

      Years ago we went with a different operator with far better view points. Although this mob is cheap, it isnt worth the money unless you push to the front.

      I saw elderly people give up and return inside as they couldn't see.

      Disappointing. At least the whales were awe inspiring in the glimpses over heads I got.
      Written 29 September 2019
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Dear Michael C, We are really sorry you didn't get the chance to get a good viewing of the whales on your recent whale watching cruise with us. Our boats has been conducting whale watching for many years and whilst we only have one front deck we do have two decks at the rear, which often allows viewing of the same whales as they move past or around the boat. We make a point of capping our whale watching passengers to a fraction of the vessels capacity to ensure customers have the best possible experience viewing whales on their migration. Rarely do we receive negative comments regarding our whale watching experience and whilst we are pleased that you enjoyed the commentary of our on board marine scientist, are disappointed that you would suggest others to seek other tour providers. We would appreciate the opportunity to speak to you regarding your experience, to receive further information and clarification. We would appreciate if you would email us at Feedback@rottnestfastferries.com.au with the best number to contact you on. Thank you for taking the time to complete the review, as we are sorry you did not enjoy your experience with us. Look forward to hearing from you Regards Phil Richards- Director of Sales and Marketing
      Written 30 September 2019
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Melissa G
      3 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nov 2022 • Family
      We absolutely loved our trip! We had whales breaching, and flapping, and we saw tails. It was a fantastic trip!! Would do it again!
      Written 2 November 2022
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Hi Georgefamilyinaustra, Thank you for your amazing review! We're so thrilled to hear you had such a memorable whale watching experience with us. Seeing whales breaching and tail slapping is truly magical, and we’re glad you enjoyed it. We’d love to have you join us again for another fantastic trip! Thanks, from the team at Rottnest Fast Ferries.
      Written 12 December 2024
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Spanner73
      Perth, Australia98 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nov 2019
      With no guarantees of seeing Whales we managed to not only see Hump Back mum and baby but also the very rare sight of a mum and baby Blue Whale. The crew and Aqwa expert they had on board were very knowledgable and made sure everyone got to see the whales as they breached. Brilliant experience for anyone wanting to see these majestic animals.
      Written 6 November 2019
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Dear Spanner73, I saw the photos of the Blue whales from your cruise... fantastic that you got to see them. Thank you for your comments and endorsement of our Whale Watching Cruise. Kind Regards Phil Richards- Director of Sales and Marketing
      Written 7 November 2019
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Kori2004
      4 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Sept 2018 • Family
      Today we had a great experience with Rottnest Fast Ferries. The staff were really friendly and informative and the boat was clean and tidy. Unfortunately the weather was not in our favour and the sea was a bit rough but everyone was well seen to and they made a solid effort to find some whales. At the end of the trip they advised us that due to the conditions of the day we would be credited with a refund or another trip in the future. Excellent customer service, would recommend to others.
      Written 3 October 2018
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Dear Wanderer257569, Thank you for your feedback, the staff are always disappointed on the odd occasion that we do not see whales. I hope you have the opportunity to come back this season to see the majestic whales on there annual migration. Kind Regards Phil Richards- Director of Sales and Marketing
      Written 7 October 2018
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Baimai
      Perth, Australia24 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Highly recommend Rottnest Fast Ferries to everyone as they have great customer service and the whale watching tour was excellent!

      We saw a lot of whales and the most important we had Marine Biologist Sam from AQWA onboard, she was very informative and lovely!

      Written 16 September 2018
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Dear Maggieyye We are so glad you enjoyed our whale watching cruise and saw the whales on their migration, they are majestic creatures! Our staff are the backbone of everything we do and we pride ourselves on our customer service. It is always pleasing for them to be recognised, so thank you, we will share your review with our team. Kind Regards Phil Richards- Director of Sales and Marketing
      Written 17 September 2018
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
      *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

      2025 2 Hour Whale-Watching Cruise from Hillarys Boat Harbour provided by Rottnest Fast Ferries - Day Tours

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