Dolphin Discovery Centre

Name

Dolphin Discovery Centre

Legal name

Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Inc

Website

https://dolphindiscovery.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Eco-Tourism and Marine Wildlife Experiences

NAICS

Marinas (713930), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whale Watching & Marine Mammal Tours (THAAAIAC), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Guided Diving & Snorkeling Excursions (boat/shore trips) (THAAAIAB)

Keywords

• Wild dolphin tours
• Eco-tourism experiences
• Marine education programs
• Marine conservation services
• Swim with dolphins

Headquarters

HQ city

Bunbury

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Eco-Tourism Tours: Revenue from dolphin eco-cruises, swim with dolphins tours, port and dolphin cruises, and whale watching partnerships. Tour prices range from $35-$220 per person depending on experience type.
2. Marine Discovery Centre Entry: Entry fees to indoor interpretive centre with themed fish tanks, aquariums, and digital dolphinarium. Adult $23, Child $13, Family $62.
3. Annual Passes & Memberships: Unlimited entry annual passes for Marine Discovery Centre: Adult $50, Child $25, Concession $30, Family $100.
4. Cafe & Kiosk Operations: Beachside cafe and kiosk serving breakfast, lunch, snacks and refreshments 7 days 8am-3pm
5. Venue Hire & Corporate Events: Function and conference centre hire including boardroom ($300), function rooms ($550-$1000), and alfresco areas. Also includes catering services and beverage packages.
6. Adoption Programs: Symbolic dolphin and turtle adoption packages including e-adoption ($75), gift pack ($125), and premium adoption ($1000) with VIP experiences.
7. Donations & Environment Fund: Tax-deductible donations ($2+) supporting dolphin rescue, whale stranding response, turtle rehabilitation and conservation programs. Target of $300,000-$450,000 annually.
8. Gift Shop & Retail: Souvenir store selling gifts and merchandise including PHYCO HEALTH seaweed products, plush toys, and marine-themed items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Dolphin Discovery Centre is a non-profit eco-tourism, education and research organisation that sells guided wild dolphin encounters in Koombana Bay, Bunbury. Its core offerings are boat-based Dolphin Eco-Cruises, in-water Swim With The Dolphins Tours (Nov-Apr), a Marine Discovery & Interpretive Centre with aquariums and a Digital Dolphinarium, a free licensed Dolphin Interaction Zone on the beach, and a new Bunbury Port & Dolphin Cruise of the working harbour. Revenue also comes from partnered whale watching, dolphin and turtle adoption packages, annual passes, venue hire, a beachside cafe, school education programs, donations and grants.

Product overview

Dolphin Discovery Centre is a non-profit eco-tourism organisation offering a portfolio of marine wildlife experiences centred on wild Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins in Koombana Bay, Bunbury, Western Australia. The core experience is built on five interconnected offerings: Dolphin Eco-Cruises (boat-based dolphin watching, all year), the Swim With The Dolphins Tour (in-water swimming with wild dolphins, seasonal Nov–Apr), the Marine Discovery & Interpretive Centre (indoor aquariums and educational displays), the free Dolphin Interaction Zone (beach-based wild dolphin viewing), and the new Bunbury Port & Dolphin Cruise (working harbour + dolphin tour, launched 2025). Supplementary products include partnered Whale Watching Tours across three Southwest seasons, adoption programs for dolphins and turtles, a Corporate Function & Conference Centre, Marine Education Programs for schools aligned with the WA Curriculum, and a Beachside Cafe & Kiosk. Annual Passes and Gift Vouchers provide repeat-visit access and gifting options. All purchases fund the Centre's licensed Dolphin Rescue, Turtle Rehabilitation, and marine research programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dolphin Eco-Cruises

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 150 dolphins rescued since 1989
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• South West Development CommissioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional government development body supporting economic growth in Southwest WA. Displays logo as partner/sponsor on DDC website, indicating marketing and promotional support for tourism initiatives.
• Murdoch UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded South West Marine Research Program (SWMRP) in 2007. Partnership enables high-quality research outcomes, PhD programs, and scientific baseline understanding of local dolphin population. Research collaborations have produced six completed or ongoing PhDs.
• Naturaliste CharterscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremier whale watching operator providing tours from Dunsborough and Busselton during southward migration (Aug-Nov), northward migration from Augusta (May-Aug), and Killer Whale expeditions from Bremer Bay (Dec-Apr). DDC markets their tours as preferred partner.
• All Sea CharterscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWhale watching tour operator partner providing tours from Busselton, Dunsborough, and Augusta. Tours promoted through DDC booking platform with 'Whales Guaranteed' offering.
• JBSGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness entity displayed as sponsor logo on DDC website partner section.
• RetravisionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRetail electronics chain displayed as sponsor logo on DDC website partner section.
• WIN TVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional television network displayed as media sponsor partner.
• Southern Cross AustereominorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Australian media company displayed as radio/media sponsor partner.
• TronoxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMining/minerals company displayed as sponsor logo on DDC website.
• Parks and Wildlife Service WA (DBCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department providing licensing for dolphin Interaction Zone, Marine Turtle Rescue facility, and swim tour operations. DDC works closely with DBCA on wildlife interventions and conservation programs.
• Perth ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterinary partnership for turtle rehabilitation. Turtles requiring higher levels of care are referred to Perth Zoo vets for examination and treatment.
• South West Artificial Reef CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommittee planning artificial reef installations in Southwest WA. DDC participates in coral propagation and reef seeding projects as part of this initiative.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Whale Watch Kaikoura: Iconic New Zealand whale watching tour operator. Directly comparable whale/marine wildlife tour model but operating across the Tasman in a different regulatory and tourism market.
• Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari: New Zealand eco-tour operator running marine wildlife safaris from Auckland. Comparable vessel-based dolphin and whale watching tour product but operating across the Tasman.

Direct peers

• Tangalooma Island Resort: Moreton Island, QLD resort famous for its wild dolphin feeding program and eco-tours. Comparable as an Australian tourism operator monetising wild dolphin encounters with conservation messaging.
• Mon Repos Turtle Centre: Queensland government-run marine turtle conservation and viewing facility. Comparable as a turtle-focused eco-tourism and education experience with strong research and visitor engagement program.
• Dolphin Marine Conservation Park: Coffs Harbour, NSW facility offering interactive wild dolphin experiences combined with marine conservation, rescue and education. Closest Australian analogue to DDC's licensed wild dolphin Interaction Zone model.
• Jervis Bay Wild: NSW-based eco-tour operator running dolphin and whale watching cruises plus marine education. Comparable small-scale eco-tourism business with similar boat-based wildlife experience focus.

Emerging players

• Phillip Island Nature Parks: Victoria-based wildlife eco-tourism operator (penguins, koalas, seals) with strong conservation, education and volunteer programs. Comparable model as a regional nature-based tourism non-profit with conservation mission alignment.

Broad incumbents

• Taronga Zoo Sydney: Major Australian zoo with marine exhibits, aquariums and conservation education programs. Larger incumbent with overlapping marine education and conservation positioning but a much broader species and experience portfolio.
• Sea World Gold Coast: Major Australian marine theme park offering dolphin encounters, aquariums, and education. Broader and larger-scale incumbent with overlapping dolphin/aquarium products but a captive-animal rather than wild-interaction model.

Others

• SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium: Large Sydney-based marine aquarium offering immersive marine displays and education. Comparable indoor interpretive centre experience but as part of a global aquarium chain rather than a regional non-profit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/DolphinDiscoveryCentreTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/dolphindiscoverycentre
• Instagraminstagram.com/dolphindiscoverycentre
• Xx.com/DolphinDiscover

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dolphin Discovery Centre