Whale Watching Cruise from Hillarys Boat Harbour Perth

Hillarys Boat Harbour, Perth's lively northern marina

Hillarys Boat Harbour sits on the Indian Ocean coast about half an hour's drive north of central Perth, and it is one of the busiest waterfronts in Western Australia. A long breakwater shelters a calm lagoon with a small sandy swimming beach, while the boardwalk around Sorrento Quay is lined with cafes, ice-cream shops and family restaurants. The Aquarium of Western Australia sits right beside the marina, so many visitors make a half-day of it.

Your whale watching cruise leaves from the ferry terminal on Southside Drive, where the crew checks you in before boarding. If you choose the option without transfers, plan to arrive a little early: there is parking around the harbour and the boardwalk is an easy place to wait. With the transfer option, our bus brings you straight to the jetty, so you do not need to work out how to get to Hillarys Boat Harbour on your own.

Humpback whales on the Western Australian migration

Every winter, humpback whales travel north from their Antarctic feeding grounds to the warm waters of the Kimberley coast, where they give birth and raise their calves. From late August they begin the long journey south again, and they pass close to the Perth coast on the way. This southern migration is the reason the season off Hillarys runs from late August to the end of November, and it is the time when mothers and young calves are most often seen.

Adult humpbacks can reach around 15 metres and are famous for their acrobatics: full breaches out of the water, tail slaps, flipper waves and curious spy-hops when a whale lifts its head to look around. The best time to go whale watching in Perth is usually September and October, when numbers peak. Sightings cannot be guaranteed with wild animals, which is why the cruise lets you travel again at no extra cost if none are seen.

Marmion Marine Park and the coast north of Perth

The harbour opens straight onto Marmion Marine Park, Western Australia's first marine park, which protects the limestone reefs, seagrass meadows and small islands along the northern Perth coast. As the catamaran heads out, you see the long white beaches of the northern suburbs stretch away to the horizon, with the low reef line breaking the swell offshore. Sea birds work the water, and dolphins are sometimes spotted riding the bow.

Beyond the reefs the water quickly turns a deep Indian Ocean blue, and this is where the skipper starts to search for blows on the horizon. The ride can be lively on windy days, so anyone prone to seasickness should take a tablet before boarding. On calm spring mornings, though, the sea is often glassy and the light is beautiful for photographs of the coast and the whales.

On board: the catamaran and the marine biologist

The vessel is a fast, air-conditioned catamaran, which means less time travelling and more time with the whales. Inside there is comfortable seating with large windows, and outside you can choose between three viewing areas, including a large open-air deck that is ideal for photography. Snacks and soft drinks can be bought on board, so you do not need to bring much more than a jacket and a camera.

What makes this Perth whale watching tour stand out is the commentary from a certified marine biologist. You learn how to read whale behaviour, why humpbacks sing, how calves are raised and how scientists identify individual whales from the markings under their tails. Questions are welcome throughout, and children especially enjoy having an expert explain each sighting as it happens.