Penguin Island (Western Australia)

Penguin Island (coord|32|18|19|S|115|41|28|E|type:isle|region:AU) is a 12.5 ha island off the coast near Perth Western Australia, 700m from Rockingham. It is home to a colony of Little Penguins, the largest population of the birds in Western Australia. The waters surrounding the island make up the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. (Download a map from here.) [http://www.naturebase.net/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,10/Itemid,755/]

Regular ferries carry tourists to and from the island and other marine-park sights. Access is also available by private boat. People can also swim, and even walk to Penguin Island at low tide; though unpredictable tide rises can be hazardous. Visitors should take their own supply of food and drink, since none can be purchased on Penguin Island, though there is a picnic area with seating. Waterless composting toilets are in use there.

Visitors are strictly prohibited from being on the island except during specified daylight hours from mid-September to early June. This means that only a small population of captive penguins can be viewed. However, there are many other sights including nesting seabirds and a 500-strong colony of pelicans. Neighbouring Seal Island, also viewable from a ferry, is a habitat of sea lions. It is also one of the few places to spot a quokka.

Penguin Island has many geographical features, such as cliffs, sea caves, headlands, beaches, coves, notches and natural bridges. There are also numerous wave-cut platforms.

Significant areas of Penguin Island include North Rock, Pelican Bluff, North Beach, McKenzies Well, South Beach, Abalone Point, and Surfers Beach.

There are numerous lookouts and walkways throughout most of the island. Some areas are fenced off to the public to protect wildlife and lessen dune erosion.

References

* Crane, Kevin, Carolyn Thomson and Peter Dans. "Discovering Penguin Island and the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park". Como, W.A. Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 1995. ISBN 0-7309-6971-1

Image gallery

External links

* [http://www.naturebase.net/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,10/Itemid,755/ Shoalwater Islands Marine Park at the Department of Conservation and Land Management]
* [http://www.penguinisland.com.au/ Rockingham Penguins--Wild Encounters site]