Penguin Island, Australia

Australia  state is nowhere short of stunning locations for a serene, spectacular aquatic holiday. Penguin Island is one of the most beautiful destinations that Western Australia offers. A marine paradise this location is located just about 45 minutes from the state’s capital city  Perth. Set in the charming Shoalwater island experience nature at its pristine best with virgin sandy beaches clear blue waters and wildlife galore.

Penguin  island is about 12.5 hectares in area and houses Western Australia’s largest colony of the smallest species of penguin on the planet. Popular among local and foreign tourists alike, catch a ferry to this island to watch wildlife thrive in its natural habitat, follow nature trails, swim and snorkel in the pristine blue waters or enjoy a quiet little family seaside holiday.

It is believed that Penguin island was first inhabited by the Aborigines about 12,000 years ago. Singing Rock just north of the island is steeped in romanticized legend. The story goes that an aboriginal girl broke tribal law and eloped with her lover. She was caught and her lover was killed with a spear. She was imprisoned inside the rock and it is said that you can still hear her singing out to her lover today.

Seaforth McKenzie a New Zealander was the first man to travel to the island in 1914. He was commissioned by the Western Australian government to  set up a travel resort in the destination. Thus began the hollowing out and furnishing of the region’s limestone caves to provide for shelter a library and a store. McKenzie was crowned King of penguin island at a grand ballroom that he constructed. The literature lover returned home to his family in New Zealand in 1926 after leaving for work 45 years ago and failing to return. Due to the shifting sands and exposure to weather the topography of McKenzie’s island has been altered but catch a glimpse of its glory days in the nailed cave walls.

After about an hour’s drive from Perth you should reach the Rockingham Wild Encounters site where you can park for free. By a ferry ticket from the gift shop and board a ferry from the Mersey Point Jetty.

Penguin Island deliberately has a minimum of facilities to preserve the natural atmosphere of the place. There aren’t any restaurants so it is advised to stock up on your own food.

Visitors are advised to dress comfortably and wear comfortable footwear. Stay sun smart with hats and sunscreen. Besides swimwear, towels, surf boards and fishing rods, you might also want to pack a light jacket as the afternoon sea breeze can get rather chilly even in the summer. Penguin Island is open to visitors daily from September to June.

The island may well be home to the largest colony of little penguins in the country. You’ll have to look pretty hard for them because they spend  the greater part of the day at sea , hunting prey. You will rarely see them on land, which is where they hide from predators.

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