Catalpa Charters launches in Rockingham

By: Natalie Pugh

A new family-run charter business is giving visitors a fresh way to experience Rockingham’s coastline. Launched in December 2025, Catalpa Charters offers small-group ocean tours shaped by generations of life at sea.

Each experience is designed to showcase the region’s rich marine environment while sharing the stories that have shaped its coastal identity, with a focus on connection, storytelling, and conservation.

Having spent years exploring Western Australia as tourists themselves, founders Adrian and Jade now share the everyday magic of their own backyard.

Operating from Rockingham, the charters explore the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park and surrounding waters, where dolphins, seabirds and reef systems form part of the everyday seascape. Each tour offers a closer look at this environment, paired with insights into the area’s maritime history and marine ecology.

A standout experience is the Western Rock Lobster Catch and Keep Tour, where guests step aboard to learn traditional fishing techniques and take part in a hands-on catch experience. Running from September to May, the three-hour tour includes morning refreshments and a share of the catch.

For a slower pace, the Sunset Cruise offers a relaxed journey along the coast, with views across the Sound, Garden Island and the Perth skyline as the sun dips over the Indian Ocean. Guests can enjoy onboard grazing platters and BYO drinks while taking in the changing light.

Other experiences include shorter Adventure Cruises through Rockingham’s coastal waters, as well as private charters for groups and events. From September, the business will also introduce seasonal whale watching tours during migration season.

For more information or to book a tour, head to the Catalpa Charters website.