What are the best things to do at Hillarys Boat Harbor in Perth?

Hillary’s Boat Harbour had a controversial start with environmentalists fighting the development of the now popular tourist destination on Perth’s Sunset Coast. Hillary’s Boat Harbour is a boat marina and sheltered operating harbor for yachts and power boats where they setout to popular destinations of the nearby 3 Mile Reef and beyond to Rottnest Island. When thinking of things to do think, beaches, restaurants, Perth’s biggest aquarium, shops, cafes, fishing, boats, and other watersports.

THINGS TO DO AT HILLARYS BOAT HARBOUR

Below is a list of things to do at Hillary’s boat harbour including watersports (such as swimming at Hillary’s Marina Beach, boating, fishing, and sailing) dining at good Perth waterfront restaurants, souvenir shopping, drinking at a bar, attending an event such as a wedding at Hillary’s boat harbour or simply going for a walk to see fish from the boardwalk. Hillary’s Boat Harbour is a popular destination in Perth for locals and tourists. Perthites come out in numbers to soak up the winter sun, dine at restaurants and experience some of the best things to do at Hillary’s Boat Harbour such as restaurant dining over the water, joining in free entertainment, walking underwater in perspect tunnels to see Western Australian sea life, boating, swimming, fishing,etc.

What are good things to do near Hillarys Boat Harbour?

1. SCUBA diving on the MAGNIFICENT 3 Mile Reef when the swell is low causing Indian Ocean water turbidity to be low.
2. Fishing at and by boat from Hillarys Boat Harbour is a hugely popular activity. There is a boat trailer car park on the north side of the harbour and 5 boat ramps.
3. A popular boatie party spot is near Little Island, 3km northwest of Hillarys Boat Harbour. Boaties anchor at Near Little Island. Play loud music, snorkel, sunbake, and watch the sea lions on Little Island. Nowadays it is a marine sanctuary so kayaks and boats are not allowed.
4. Sailing out from Hillarys Boat Harbour.
5. Swimming at Sorrento Beach just south of the southside of Hillarys Boat Harbour.
6. Shopping at nearby Whitfords Shopping Centre.
7. Picnicking at Whitfords Node Park and climbing stairs to the Whitford Nodes Park Viewing Tower for good views over the harbour to the 3 Mile Reef and beyond.
8. Bush walking in the urban bushland of the Hepburn Heights Conservation Area. You will see wild kangaroos, lots of birds and in Spring spectacular Western Australian wildflowers including beautiful orchids. If you don’t see kangaroos in the bush, from the tall telephone towers walk north on bush trails, down into the sheltered from the wind, BEAUTIFUL Pinnaroo Valley where you’ll see hundreds of kangaroos mowing down the lawn amongst the graves.  My ex partner Joan is buried there and near her grave is a memorial headstone of 3 lovely kids I knew who were shot out of the sky by a Russian missile. At sunset, you’ll see many solar powered lights by headstones and many trees start to light up this cemetery.

   

9. If you want to see all sorts of dogs playing, walk 1.5km north from Hillarys Bboat Harbour, either beachside or park side of the sand dunes, to Hillarys Dog Beach. In summer at the Dog Beach public car park there’s a coffee van, camper vans, showers and lots of dog wash bays and music. My dog Oscar always wants to be with me but doesn’t like cold water so he stands on my head while I swim.
10. On the north side of Hillarys Boat Harbour, walk past the Hillarys’ Yacht Club, past the fishing platform where fishers catch squid and up the lighthouse for good views of Hillarys Boat Harbour.
11. Climbing the new stairs, nicknamed Jacob’s Ladder of the North, to the hilltop lookout at Whitfords Node gives a sweeping view over Hillary’s boat harbour and to Little Island.

RESTAURANTS HILLARYS BOAT HARBOUR

There are plenty of choices of quality waterfront restaurants at Hillary’s Boat Harbour. The variety of cuisine and service is good. Hillary Boat Harbor restaurants are some of the best restaurant locations in Perth. I had my wedding reception at a big restaurant at Hillary’s Boat Harbour. My wife likes the chocolatier and Thai restaurant at Hillarys Boat Harbour.

WATER SPORTS RECREATION

Learn to sail courses are conducted by the Hillary’s Yacht Club, as too are Perth sailing regattas.

Protection from the wind, calm water, and white sandy beach at Hillary’s Boat Harbour make it a popular, safe place for families in Perth’s northern suburbs to go to the beach. On the beach is a kid’s play area, shaded in summer. In summer out on the water is a pontoon with a free waterslide. In summer there’s also a pay-for-use floating obstacle course with slides etc.

Fishing from the southside and northside breakwaters is popular. The rock groin on the north side is stained in parts with black squid ink. Here’s a short video of me squid fishing from my kayak near Hillarys Boat Harbour. In the video you’ll see seaweed piled up on the northern beach after winter storms.

Deep sea fishing charter boats depart from Hillary’s boat harbour.

A Sea rescue boat is often based at Hillarys Boat Harbour.