Our trip to Western Australia’s Coral Coast delivered an abundance of wildlife sightings, none more so than on the Perfect Nature Cruise at Monkey Mia. When we boarded the 18 metre sailing catamaran we hoped to see dolphins, but we thought the chance of seeing a dugong was probably as likely as seeing a mermaid. How wrong we were! Aside from the wildlife sightings, the best part of the day was learning that the boat was designed and built to offer wheelchair access making it an extra special sailing.
Perfect Nature Cruises Monkey Mia review
Aristocrat 2 is a spectacular sailing catamaran which offers a comfortable cruising experience while exploring Shark Bay. Perfect Nature Cruises are the only cruise operator licensed to interact with marine life in the exclusion zone which means the crew can stop at any time and take full advantage of marine life sightings.
Throughout the cruise it was clear that our skipper Liam had an absolute passion for the conservation of the marine life and a desire to pass that on to his guests. We learned so much during our 2.5 hour cruise.
It was a real joy for Braeden to be able to join us at the key vantage points around the boat so he could easily see the marine life and share in the excitement as we spotted dolphins, turtles and birdlife.
Pods of dolphins entertained us before we’d sailed far and continued to pop up throughout the cruise. I’m a positive can-do kind of gal, but even I thought the chances of seeing a dugong would be slim. Even so, our skipper was on a mission to show us the dugongs that graze on the seagrass and he delivered.
Not only did we spot single dugongs swimming but we also spied a mother and her calf. What a special treat.
Dugong season is August to May but it should be remembered that wildlife sightings vary and are not guaranteed even if you travel within the season.
Unlike dolphins, dugongs just go about their business, not particularly fussed or entertained by the thought of interacting with others. Our skipper was incredible at ensuring the boat stayed a respectful distance but was in a good vantage point so everyone on board could get a good view of the dugongs.
If my review is not proof enough there’s something extraordinary about this region, an international team of scientists has been documenting the Monkey Mia and Shark Bay dolphins since 1982. The Bottlenose dolphin species found in the Shark Bay region are considered to be extra special. According to those studying the dolphins they exhibit social behaviours more complex than those studied elsewhere. Some of Monkey Mia’s dolphins use a hunting skill which includes a technique not seen anywhere else. Many use sea sponges held in their beaks to dig in the seabed. We were lucky enough to see a dolphin (see photo above) with the sea sponge in its beak before it dived down again to continue the task at hand. It’s moments like this that made our cruise like no other dolphin watch tour we have done before.
Perfect Nature Cruises accessibility
As with all wharves and boat experiences the steepness of the gangway is affected by the tides. Liam was helpful in assisting Hubby to get Braeden and his chair on the boat before the other passengers.
Ramps lead to the bow on both sides of the boat and there’s a passageway and seating area at the rear of the boat with good circulation space. It is important to contact Perfect Nature Cruises to ensure your wheelchair can be accommodated as there are some width restrictions around the gangway and ramp access.
A step-free enlarged accessible toilet cubicle is available on the boat.
It cannot be underestimated how much accessibility means to our family. It’s an absolute thrill to be able to share experiences like the Perfect Nature Cruises together. These shared adventures bond us as a family and are so much more than a day out. 
We are grateful and delighted that the team at Perfect Nature Cruises invested in the accessibility of the Aristocrat 2 so Braeden, and other visitors with a disability, are able to get a front row seat to the marine life that calls Monkey Mia and Shark Bay home.
If you’d like more information on this cruise, check out the Perfect Nature Cruises website.
We were hosted for our cruise on Perfect Nature Cruises but we had the most incredible trip it’s easy to write a glowing review.
Want to know where we stayed at Monkey Mia? We stayed at RACV Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort in an accessible two bedroom beachfront villa. An accommodation review with all the accessibility details can be found in this blog.
