Dolphin Feeding Tin Can Bay — Attraction in Tin Can Bay

We had high hopes for our visit to the Barnacles Dolphin Centre, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a disappointing experience due to the lack of organization and empathy from the staff, particularly the woman leading the team.

We arrived at 6am, as we had a commitment later in the day and wanted to ensure we could participate in the dolphin feeding. Despite being the first in line, we were met with unhelpful answers from the staff when we asked if we were in the correct location to wait. They told us they didn’t know where the line would form until 8am, which left us and others wandering around aimlessly.

As more people arrived between 7am and 8am, there was no clear direction on where to queue, which caused unnecessary stress for families who had been waiting since early morning. Eventually, the feeding line was formed in the middle of the café area, a decision that was not communicated clearly to anyone. This disorganized process felt chaotic and unfair, especially for those who had waited the longest.

The woman leading the staff displayed a sense of authority that came across as dismissive and lacking in empathy. Simple questions, such as where the feeding would take place so we could position our camera, were met with vague or unhelpful responses. This approach made the experience feel unnecessarily stressful and not at all family-friendly.

When the feeding finally began, the interaction was rushed—just two seconds in the water, hand the fish to the dolphin, and you’re asked to leave immediately. Photos were not accommodated, and staff often blocked the view, making it impossible to capture the moment. It felt like the experience was designed for speed rather than creating a meaningful interaction.

We traveled a long way expecting a special, memorable experience, but instead, it felt disorganized, rigid, and impersonal. While we appreciate the effort to maintain safety and structure, there was a lack of empathy and respect toward families who were there to create lifelong memories. This could have been an incredible experience with better communication, organization, and a more understanding approach...

High reviews are from focusing on the 10 sec spent with the dolphin, which seems to blind people to the rest of the environment.

Its monopolisation of wild dolphins for selfish gain. I dont have a problem with feeding these dolphins a small amount of their daily food intake, the rest they go out and hunt for. Its beautiful to see these creatures up close and learn about them.

What is sad is the waste of an opportunity to really make a difference in marine life care. You are charged $10 to come into the cafe area to see WILD dolphins that you can barely see unless you're right up front anyway. These are wild dolphins in public spaces/water, so why are people being charged to view them from a distance?! I can understand paying a small fee to cover the cost of fish, which at $5 per person would easily cover it with ample left over to be donated to a worthy cause.

You are not allowed to eat the food you purchased from the cafe there on the side near the open public water unless you paid the $10. Banished instead by rude staff to the back side of the cafe where the seats are filthy and the general area needing a good clean.

The volunteers disappointingly go around whispering to each other negatively about the people who have come to see the wild dolphins, some who can see them from a distance outside the cafe area (as they are allowed to!!) Pointing saying "look at them, their not going to get away with that" while snickering.

The end result is a hearded 10 sec interaction with a dolphin surrounded by rude, gossipy volunteers up in the cafe area with all the money going to a boat business not to a worthy cause for dolphins or marine care.

So, a chance situation of a dolphin being beached some years ago being cared and fed by helpers has turned into a greedy and rude grab for money....

The other reviews were a bit confusing and seemingly contradictory, so here a few facts:

We arrived at 6:30. There were already 20ish people waiting outside and a long queue formed quickly. At 7 there were maybe 100 people waiting. This was a Monday during school holidays, so probably busier than usual.

At 7 they opened the gate and sold tickets. 10$ for feeding, 5$ for watching. They are selling 55 feeding tickets per dolphin. Not everybody bought a feeding ticket, so it seemed that all people got in despite there only being one dolphin.

Being inside doesn't mean that the feeding starts. A dolphin was there, but they gave a long introduction first, inviting everybody in groups down to the water, explaining things about the dolphins. That was already quite interesting.

Feeding started at around 8. Everybody was sent away from the dolphins and had to queue again to go down. This is why other reviews complain that others got to feed before them despite having arrived later. But everybody at that point was guaranteed to get to feeding.

Before feeding, after queuing in front of the hut they disinfected your hands an sent you down in small groups. It was a quite private experience.

So, I'd recommend arriving before 7 if you expect the day to be busy. And if you care about feeding first: Stand next to the hut before they start...