In review: ‘Bucket list’ experience of visiting Abrolhos Islands proves to be unforgettable family day out

For a long time, I have known about and wanted to visit the Abrolhos Islands.

But I always felt it was the privilege of big boat owners, fishermen or the very wealthy. But with tourism booming in the area and the islands opening up to more tours and excursions, we felt now was the right time to pay them a visit.

We chose Abrolhos Adventures as they came highly recommended, with a good range of options for both tours and dates. The company’s booking process was simple and helpful. We stumped up for the full day tour of the islands.

At just under $1400 for a family of five this was an expensive day out, but I believe every cent was worth it.

This is not an everyday experience, it’s one of those things you save for a special occasion. Perhaps not once-in-a-lifetime, but it’s pretty close.

First and foremost, Abrolhos Adventures cannot do enough for you. Through easy communication, they ensured we had everything needed before we even set foot on deck, with a full itinerary and list of dos and don’ts provided on booking.

We started our day at 7.30am. Boarding was smooth and there was great mixture of people on board. Young and old were mingling as we made our way across to the island group. There was a bit of travel sickness but conditions were good and we were treated with a few whales breaching along the way.

There were some little touches that made the journey itself enjoyable. Free hot drinks, an EFTPOS bar (which was reasonably priced) and plenty of viewing options to take in the ocean. The ferry had ample space to move around and several members of helpful staff that showed nothing but kindness and empathy to the more queasy travellers.

The arrival at the islands was again done in an efficient manner. We were quickly ferried on to land on Long Island in the southern group with activities beginning immediately. Guided walks, paddle boarding, swimming, snorkelling and some wraps for lunch (catered by Soul Food Café) were all on offer.

The islands themselves are nothing short of stunning. Words cannot do the beauty of the flora and fauna any justice. The water is warm and clear and teeming with marine creatures. This is an experience my family and I will not forget.

The activities on offer kept everyone busy for their time on the island. We began with a nice slow, guided walk with a knowledgeable and passionate guide showing us all the interesting things on the island.

Paddle boarding and snorkelling were well catered for. The crew had already placed the mat off the beach for people to swim to and use as a base. Numbers on the boat were capped so there was always a paddleboard or snorkel to hand.

Again it was the little touches that took this experience to the next level. We always felt safe, even with younger kids out snorkelling off the beach. Abrolhos Adventures rotated people round to ensure someone was always monitoring safety and the wellbeing of the people in the water. The launch boat would zip back and forth to bring people in if they were tired or felt a bit out of their depth.

The regular toilet runs were a nice addition, it was reassuring that this was on offer, especially with small kids and elderly relatives.

Although only in operation since 2018, with the ferry arriving in 2020, Abrolhos Adventures is still in its infancy. But even with this lack of experience the crew knew what they were doing and we all felt looked after.

The journey back came all too quickly, but the addition of the slow tour around the southern island group was a nice way to cap the day off. Once again being treated to a display from some energetic humpbacks as we made our way to Geraldton.

As a “bucket list” experience I cannot recommend this trip highly enough and I cannot speak any higher of Abrolhos Adventures. From the initial booking to the arrival of the ferry back at the end of an awesome day, every need was well catered for and nothing we needed every seemed like a burden.

So in these still uncertain travelling times, get yourself out to our very own nirvana, and appreciate the Abrolhos firsthand.