1 / 3Dolphin Discovery Centre
📍 Bunbury, WA
Non-profit marine centre at Koombana Bay offering free beach dolphin interactions with volunteer guides, seasonal swim-with-dolphins tours, and an aquarium with turtles, octopus, and hands-on displays for children.
Magical. Koombana Bay, where the Centre is located, became my morning sanctuary during a holiday in Bunbury. I'd walk to the beach and sit on the sand from around 7am, and guaranteed each morning, a dolphin or two would show up. Mostly it was Cracker, a frequent visitor to the Centre where she would swim in close proximity to the visitors, under the supervision of the Centre's lovely volunteers. They swim very close to you. It's incredible. The Centre itself is very well designed and laid out, with interesting installations and aquariums, and educational resources. The shop is well stocked and the cafe is lovely too. If you're in the area, it's a no-brainer to stop by, but also worth travelling from further afield, for a truly unique experience while also supporting a project that is crucial for marine life and environmental stewardship. I'm travelling back to Bunbury soon, and I'll be heading back to Koombana Bay first chance I get!
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with children who respond to genuine wildlife encounters rather than captive displays. The free morning beach interactions deliver close contact with wild dolphins at no cost. The swim tour is the deepest experience for older children and adults who are comfortable in open water.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →2,506 Google reviews
Jay Doyle
3 weeks ago
“Magical. Koombana Bay, where the Centre is located, became my morning sanctuary during a holiday in Bunbury. I'd walk to the beach and sit on the sand from around 7am, and guaranteed each morning, a dolphin or two would show up. Mostly it was Cracker, a frequent visitor to the Centre where she would swim in close proximity to the visitors, under the supervision of the Centre's lovely volunteers. They swim very close to you. It's incredible. The Centre itself is very well designed and laid out, with interesting installations and aquariums, and educational resources. The shop is well stocked and the cafe is lovely too. If you're in the area, it's a no-brainer to stop by, but also worth travelling from further afield, for a truly unique experience while also supporting a project that is crucial for marine life and environmental stewardship. I'm travelling back to Bunbury soon, and I'll be heading back to Koombana Bay first chance I get!”
Natalie Adams
2 months ago
“Swim with the Dolphins tour was absolutely amazing. Yvette and her wonderful team of volunteers gave us a life experience we could only dream of. The whole morning worked like clockwork. Yvette was very knowledgeable and knew just when we should enter and exit the water with the dolphins. The dolphins were all around us, below us and looking at us. The volunteers were also amazing and kept us safe and well looked after throughout the whole experience. We had well over an hour in the water with the dolphins very close to us. All equipment was provided and of a high-quality. This is a trip I can highly recommend.”
Rebekah B
a month ago
“Incredible!!! So happy I got to see cracker the dolphin so close at shore! Arrive at 8am out the front of the centre where volunteers guide you for the free interaction. The discovery centre also is informative with fish tanks with turtles, octopus, and some hands on displays for the kids. There is also a cafe. A great experience highly recomend.”
Allyson Munro
a month ago
“Honestly one of the best experiences I’ve been to in WA. It’s been so good I went with a friend then brought my mum and partner along about a month after! Noodles was my guide on both tours and he’s a great asset to your team he is really knowledgeable and friendly. Would recommend this to anyone of all ages!”
Reviews from Google
Overview
The Dolphin Discovery Centre operates at Koombana Bay in Bunbury, where wild bottlenose dolphins including a regular named visitor called Cracker come to the beach voluntarily. Volunteer guides lead free morning interaction sessions from the shore. Swim-with-dolphins tours run seasonally and last over an hour with all equipment provided. The discovery centre aquarium features turtles, octopus, reef fish, and hands-on displays. Port and dolphin eco-cruises run from the adjacent harbour.
