Hillarys puts marine exhibits, on-the-water activities and harbour amenities at the centre of the experience. You can discover Western Australia’s marine life at AQWA, paddle the Little Island Kayak Trail or explore Hillarys Boat Harbour, with its marina facilities and walking paths. Each has a distinct focus: the aquarium offers exhibits and visitor programs, while the kayak trail is a paddling route with opportunities to swim and snorkel.
AQWA: Western Australia’s marine life
AQWA features more than 45 unique exhibits showcasing only the marine life of Western Australia. Daily guided talks, feeding sessions and interactive experiences are included in the admission price. As well as the exhibits, there are hosted activities on the program.
At AQWA’s touch pool, supervised interactive experiences are available during the day. Children must be closely supervised at all times. If you’re travelling with children, plan to supervise them. The Shipwreck Coast area, including the underwater tunnel, is accessible by lift. This information applies specifically to those areas.
A marina, walking paths and a sheltered beach
Hillarys Boat Harbour combines maritime facilities with other amenities: its marina offers boat-launching facilities, as well as berthing and mooring options for recreational and commercial vessels. There are also retail, dining and entertainment options, along with family-friendly activities. Walking paths run through the harbour. Parking, shelters and repair stations are available throughout Hillarys Boat Harbour.
Hillarys Marina Beach is inside the Boat Harbour. The marina shelters the beach from waves, creating calm waters for young children. This is a distinct feature alongside the exhibits at AQWA and the activities on the kayak trail: the beach area is shaped by its sheltered waters. This is especially relevant when planning a visit with young children.
Paddle to Little Island and dive nearby
The Little Island Kayak Trail is an easy, two-kilometre paddle from Hillarys to Little Island, where there are opportunities to swim and snorkel. An accessible kayak launch platform is near the boat ramps inside Hillarys Boat Harbour. The waters around Little Island are designated as a marine sanctuary.
The route offers a different way to engage with the marine environment than a visit to AQWA: rather than exhibits and guided activities, the focus is on paddling and opportunities to get in the water at the island. The two-kilometre kayak trip runs from Hillarys to Little Island.
Nearby, Boyinaboat Reef, close to Hillarys Boat Harbour, is in a protected, or no-take, zone. Its easy access and beauty make it one of Perth’s most popular dive sites. For travellers comparing dive sites with paddling, swimming or snorkelling, it’s another option in the area; however, it is not on the described route to Little Island.
Discover more destinations: Northampton, Rosa Brook, Point Samson, Yeagarup, Treeton, King River, Woodanilling, Clackline.
For the broader travel overview: Western Australia.
