Take the Kwinana Freeway south from Perth, setting off early and allowing at least 45 minutes for the journey, so you arrive in time for your dolphin swim or watching tour from Rockingham jetty. Tours depart daily between September and early June, with a duration of three to six hours, depending on dolphin activity and sightings on the day. A light lunch and refreshments are included. Lunch or afternoon tea is just a short stroll from the jetty – with a string of cafes and restaurants lining Rockingham’s waterfront. If you still have time and energy for more marine encounters, it’s worth taking the short drive south to Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. Ferries and wildlife cruises to Penguin Island operate daily between 10am and 3pm (September to June), introducing you to Western Australia’s largest colony of little penguins, as well as rare Australian sea lions and a variety of seabirds. From here, you have an easy one-and-a-half-hour drive to the port town of Bunbury, where you can dine overlooking the calm waters of Koombana Bay – the playground of more than 100 wild bottlenose dolphins. Overnight in Bunbury.