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A Flippin’ Good Time at the Best Spots to Swim with Sea Lions near Perth!
If you’ve ever seen a photo of a sea lion and thought, ‘Aww, what a cutie,’ just wait til you’re face-to-face with one.
Well, daydream no more. Perth is just a short drive and cruise from coastal locations that teem with sea lion colonies.
We’ll guide you to them, and for good measure, we’re also including a few seal hangouts. They’re pinnipeds like sea lions, just smaller and missing the ear flaps. They belly-wriggle on land instead of rotating hind flippers to walk!
Who’s cuter? We’ll let you decide!
Where to See Sea Lions
Carnac Island
Address: Carnac Island
Distance from the Perth CBD: 1 hr 10 mins (65.9 km)
Tour Providers:
A short 10-km trip from South Freo got us to the 19-hectare Carnac Island where nature is in full swing. In fact, it didn’t take us long to bump into some Australian sea lions, which use the location as a resting hub.
Gawping at them wasn’t enough. We fancied a dip too. It was a dream to do laps with the critters since the water was still. Just a shame the local dolphins didn’t join us.
Beyond that, we encountered sea birds and king skinks freely running around. Heaps of tiger snakes also reside here; luckily, we didn’t come across any. They’re venomous!
Tips:
- Taking a charter boat from Freo is the most convenient method for reaching the island sans a tour provider.
- Pack grub, especially something you can grill. There are no nearby restos, but BBQs are available.
- You can avoid the tiger snakes by not going past the beach.
Shoalwater Islands Marine Park
From ashkarasphotography
Address: 153 Arcadia Dr, Rockingham
Contact Details: +61 8 9591 1333
Distance from the Perth CBD: 1 hr (53.2 km)
Tour Provider: Penguin Island
Website
The 65.4 km² Shoalwater Islands Marine Park is a breeding ground and habitat for Caspian terns, silver gulls, little penguins, and about 200 bottlenose dolphins.
The park’s highlight (for us) is its colonies of rare Australian sea lions, mostly male ones. We found them in the Seal Island section, where they regularly chill, swim, or fish before heading to Jurien Bay in search of females.
Best believe we swam and snorkel with them, too. The latter was a must given the park’s underwater diversity and sights—think molluscs, sea stars, and shipwrecks.
Post-dipping, we downed grazing platters courtesy of the tour provider!
Tips:
- Stick to areas far from kitesurfers.
- Don’t forget your first aid kit.
- Best to use satellite phones. Mobile ones tend to act up here.
- Bring a picnic rug. There are trees nearby that offer ample shade.
- You need to wear a jacket during the cooler months. It gets super nippy here.
Jurien Bay
Fromseanscottphotography
Address: Jurien Bay
Distance from the Perth CBD: 2 hrs 25 mins (221 km)
Tour Providers:
- Jurien Bay Oceanic Experience
- Turquoise Safaris – Sea Lion Tours
- Jurien Bay Adventure Tours
- Sea Lion Charters
Our crew would probably lose some serious cred if we dropped Jurien Bay from this list. Located in the Wheatbelt Region, this coastal town has Australian sea lions galore and panoramic views to boot.
There’s no need to search high and low for the sea lions here. They just lounge on the shoreline, recharging and prepping for their next foraging pursuits.
If staring at the salty pups doesn’t cut it, hop aboard a touring vessel. Most offer swim-along experiences with marine experts, which means you’ll get a proper nature lesson pre or post-swim.
Tips:
- Jurien Bay Tourist Park is a wallet-friendly and convenient choice for those opting for an overnight stay.
- Beyond water shoes, bring footwear for strolls. The bay has scenic walks.
- Hire bikes. Cycling is the go-to method of getting around here.
Where to See Seals
Cape Vlamingh Viewing Platform
From nature_of_jason
Address: Rottnest Island
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 hours
Distance from the Perth CBD: About 1 hr and 30 mins (30.7 km)
The moment we rocked by Cape Vlamingh’s viewing platform, we knew the point belonged to long-nosed fur seals. Fully exposed to the Indian Ocean, colonies of the sea doggos (and dolphins) bobbed and played in the water during our visit.
What’s more, the Humpback Highway passes here. Lucky souls who’ll visit between August and December just might witness migrating 50-tonne humpback whales, breaching and sometimes even singing to their calves.
Another noteworthy feature of the platform is its rare flora. After taking it all in, a stroll will lead you to sea berries and coastal daisies.
Tips:
- Avoid the weekends, especially Saturday, if you’re after a laid-back experience.
- You can reach the platform via the Quokka Coaches Bus Tour.
- Dress for the weather. It gets incredibly windy here.
Cathedral Rocks Viewing Platform
From sealinkrotto
Address: Digby Dr, Rottnest Island
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 hours
Distance from the Perth CBD: About 1 hr and 30 mins (30.7 km)
Website
If you’re gunning for a closer nosey at Rottnest Island’s long-nosed fur seals and their pups, Cathedral Rocks is the place for that. The viewing platform has free binoculars that provide a much better look at the resident colony but still far enough to stay on the seals’ good side.
You won’t be bored, too, as they usually put on a show here rather than merely basking on the rocks. Most of the time you’ll see them flipping and playing with each other while swimming.
There’s a chance you’ll see breaching whales and dolphin pods too. The only drawback is you can’t dive or go on a boating sesh; the water is closed for both activities.
Tips:
- You can avoid parking hassles by taking the Sedona Shuttle.
- Early morning is the prime time to come around, as it’s the least scorching.
- Use an anti-fly face net if you’re traversing via a bike.
