Things to Do at Hillarys Boat Harbour: Whale Watching, Lunch and More
Just twenty minutes north of Perth's CBD, Hillarys Boat Harbour packs a surprising amount into one stretch of coastline. It's where boats leave for open water, where families spend entire afternoons on the sand, and where a stroll along the boardwalk always seems to end with lunch by the marina. Whether you have a couple of hours to spare or a full day up your sleeve, here's how to make the most of a visit.
A morning or afternoon on the water with Whale Watching Perth
Start Your Day on the Water with Whale Watching
There's no better way to begin a day at the harbour than heading out onto the water itself. Whale watching tours depart directly from Hillarys Boat Harbour each morning during the season, taking you out to the 'Humpback Highway' for a look at migrating humpback whales, with a marine biologist on board to talk you through everything you see. Cruises typically run for a couple of hours, so there's still plenty of the day left once you're back on dry land. Whale Watching Perth runs daily departures throughout the season, so it's easy to build one into your visit.
Whale watching at Hillarys Boat Harbour
Grab Lunch Along Sorrento Quay
Once you're back at the harbour, Sorrento Quay is where most visitors head for a meal. The strip is lined with restaurants and cafes overlooking the marina, ranging from relaxed fish and chips to more polished seafood dining, along with plenty of spots for a coffee or gelato if you're after something lighter. Grabbing a table with an ocean view is one of the simplest pleasures of a Hillarys visit, and it works just as well for a quick bite as it does for a long, lazy lunch.
Watching humpback whales in the wild
Meet Marine Life at AQWA
If you want to see what's living beneath the surface without getting wet, AQWA, the Aquarium of Western Australia, sits right at the harbour and is home to sharks, stingrays, turtles and colourful reef fish drawn from across the state's 12,000 kilometres of coastline. Its underwater tunnel is a highlight for kids and adults alike, and it pairs naturally with a whale watching tour if you want a full day themed around marine life.
Good to Know Before You Go
Parking at Hillarys Boat Harbour is free (zoned - please check the signage), and the harbour is well set up for strollers and wheelchairs, with hard surface paths running from the car parks down to the beach and boardwalk. Arrive earlier on weekends and during school holidays, when the harbour fills up quickly.
Relax on the Beach and Boardwalk
The sheltered marina beach is one of the calmest swimming spots on the Perth coastline, making it a favourite for families with younger kids. There's a shaded playground right on the sand, floating pontoons for confident swimmers a little further out, and wide grassy areas that fill with picnic rugs on sunny afternoons. A walk along the boardwalk itself is worthwhile too, taking in the yachts moored in the marina and the open ocean beyond the breakwater.
A marine biologist onboard a Whale Watching Perth tour
More Ways to Spend the Day
Shop the Boutiques
Sorrento Quay is also home to a mix of gift shops and boutiques, good for picking up local chocolates, jewellery or a souvenir to take home.
Book a Fishing Charter
Several deep sea fishing charters operate out of the harbour, offering half and full day trips for anyone keen to try their luck offshore.
Catch the Rottnest Ferry
Hillarys is also a departure point for ferries to Rottnest Island, so it's easy to turn a visit into the start of a bigger day trip.
Try Diving or Snorkelling
Local dive operators run guided trips from the harbour out to nearby reefs and wrecks, suited to both beginners and experienced divers.
A pod of whales on the 'Humpback Highway'
However you choose to spend it, a day at Hillarys Boat Harbour has a way of stretching from a quick visit into an all day outing.
Make Whale Watching Part of Your Day
Tours depart daily from Hillarys Boat Harbour throughout the season. Book your spot and start your visit with an unforgettable encounter on the water.