Rottnest Island Day Trip: The Ultimate Day Local’s Guide — The Boutique Adventurer

10 min readFeb 9, 2020

A Rottnest Island day trip was one of my favourite recent travel experiences. Lovely little Rottnest Island is just 18kms from the centre of Perth. The island is loved by locals as much as tourists.

There are no cars on Rottnest Island and it has 20 bays, 63 beaches and 45 kilometres of cycling paths. Artefacts pre-dating 6,500 years have been found on Rottnest Island so it appears that the Aboriginals were also big fans!

I don’t live in perth but my oldest dearest friend does — and her husband grew up there. She and her 14 and 10-year-old sons (frequent Rottnest visitors) came with me on my Rottnest Island Day Trip and filled me in on how to have the best possible day on this stunning island, a must on any Perth Itinerary!

There are two options for a Rottnest day trip. Join an organised tour or organise the trip yourself. Once you are on Rottnest Island you can choose to join a tour or to explore the island on your own.

The best option for you depends on your circumstances. If you are short on time or there are a few of you then an organised tour can be a great idea.

Personally, I would rather explore independently but I think that is because I am both impatient and I want to stop whenever I feel like it for a photo!!!

Rottnest Island Day Trip: Organised Tour Options

⇒ It is very easy to travel to and around Rottnest Island independently but it does involve multiple bookings of ferry tickets and bike hire, figuring out ferry schedules and where and when to eat etc.

⇒ Planning your trip to Perth? Don’t miss my Perth Itinerary which has 3, 5 and 7 day Itinerary options for Western Australia’s Capital!

Rottnest Island Day Trip: Travelling Independently

How to get to Rottnest Island

There are quite a few options for how to get to Rottnest Island and it can be a little confusing. Three different Rottnest ferry companies service Rottnest Island — Rottnest Express, Sealink and Rottnest Fast Ferries — and there are multiple ferry stops in Freemantle, Perth and Hillarys.

The Rottnest ferry arrives into and leaves from Thomson Bay and the Rottnest Island Visitor Centre is just a short walk away. Grab a map and ask the friendly staff about everything from hiring a bike to booking a tour. The Visitor Centre is open 7 days a week from 730am and only closes 30 minutes after the last ferry has left.

Things to do on Rottnest Island

1. Hire a Bike

There are multiple options in terms of cycling paths depending on how long you are happy to ride. We covered about half of the Rottnest Island cycling path (details below) but if I had of had more time I definitely would have headed down to Cape Vlamingh (this is a 22km or 3–5 hour trip). I found the most deserted parts of Rottnest Island to be the most beautiful.

Set off from Thomson Bay and your first stop will be the Basin. The Basin is just stunning with blue-green waters. a great spot for snorkelling and photos.

Cycle along to Georgie Bay and Parakeet Bay. Then it depends on how much time you have — and how much time you want to spend cycling rather than lying on the beach or eating!

For the shorter loop turn left at Parakeet Bay and head down to the stunning Salmon Bay. The southern coastline was my favourite as the colours were jaw-dropping.

Head down to Little Salmon Bay and Parker Point and then back to Thomson Bay via Porpoise Bay. The longer route involves going straight ahead at Parakeet Bay and then turning left at Strickland Bay.

And if you want to be beyond thorough don’t turn left at Stricklan Bay and continue all the way to Cape Vlamingh. Whilst there aren’t loads of hills on Rottnest there are still a few so do take into account your cycling fitness!

2. Swim and Sunbathe

Rottnest Island has 63 beaches and 20 bays! And pretty much all of them are ready for swimmers and sunbathers! The beaches in the North tend to be a bit more sheltered whereas some of those in the south are beautiful but quite rugged.

Pinky’s Beach and the Basin are two of the most popular beaches. They are both lovely and nice and close to Thomson Bay!

I highly recommend the beautiful Little Salmon Bay. It is a bit farther away from Thomson Bay so not as busy and it is also a great spot for snorkelling. Geordie Bay and Parakeet Bay are also spectacular.

Do note that swimming and snorkelling are not allowed at Cathedral Rocks or and the West End and look out for danger signs.

3. Get a Quokka Selfie

The Quokka looks like a little kangaroo and is native to Rottnest Island. The first recorded European visitor to Rottnest Island, William de Vlamingn, gave the island its name Rotte Nest (meaning rat’s nest) after he mistook the quokkas for rats. It is no wonder that Quokkas are known as the world’s happiest animals — they live on Rottnest Island!

The quokkas roam free across Rottnest Island but seem to like spending a lot of time around the bakery and then the Rottnest Hotel from late afternoon. Rottnest Island is highly encouraging of the Quokka selfie phenomenon, even providing full details of how to get the best Quokka selfie!

However, the Quokkas are wild animals so don’t touch them and don’t feed them (all very Gremlins like!!). It is best to sit and wait and let them come to you. They are friendly little fellows and there are loads of them (between 10,000 and 12,000) so as long as you have a bit of time you are unlikely to be unsuccessful when it comes to acquiring a Quokka selfie!

4. Snorkelling

5. See the Wildlife (other than the Quokkas!)

The Quokkas are, of course, the poster boys for Rottnest Island. But Rottnest is also home to quite a few other kinds of wildlife. If you’re into watching birds head west to the West End Boardwalk near Cathedral Rocks. Nearby Fish Hook Bay is home to many Osprey nests.

There are around 35,000 Humpback and Southern Right whales around Rottnest Island. The best time to see them is between September and December. This is when they are gaining strength and playing with their newborns. The whales can often be seen from the island, particularly around the West End Boardwalk.

⇒ Australia is a great jumping-off point to visit beautiful tropical Samoa! Check out my post on the 9 Best Resorts in Samoa.

The seals of Rottnest Island are mostly clustered around the Cathedral Rocks at the west end of the island. From the viewing platform, it is possible to get quite close to the New Zealand fur seals colony.

6. Walk the Wadjemup Bibi

Wadjemupu Bibi is 45kms of walking trails that take you inland and out to the bays and beaches of Rottnest Island and are a great way to explore the island in-depth. There are five different parts of the trails which vary in length from 5.9km to 10kms.

7. Ramp up the Adrenaline

8. See how many modes of Transport you can use on Rottnest Island

For a small island, Rottnest has a lot of different options for getting around! Not only is there a hop on hop off bus which covers the island, Rottnest even has its own railway. If you’re keen to cycle but worried about the hills grab an e-bike. Or for something different explore the island via a segway.

See Rottnest Island from above on a helicopter ride, joy flight or seaplane. Or see it from the water on a Rottnest Cruise or via a glass-bottom sea-kayak. There is a mode of transport for everyone and every mood on Rottnest Island!

Can you stay on Rottnest Island?

Yes, you can. There is a range of Rottnest accommodation options available — from camping to a youth hostel to dorms. Thank goodness there are now some more upmarket options available — the best of which is the fabulous Discovery Glamping Resort which opened in March 2019.

The tents are made from sustainable materials and were designed to keep cool so there is no air conditioning. Discovery Resort Rottnest Island is adjacent to popular Pink beach and it has a beach club and guests only pool.

And Hotel Rottnest will be re-opening with upgraded rooms and facilities in 2020.

Where to Eat on Rottnest Island

The majority of places to eat on Rottnest Island are clustered around the main village which is at the ferry station. There are lots of food options across a range of prices.

What to Pack for Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island is VERY relaxed and casual! Dress for comfort and protection from the sun and easy access to your swimsuit! I recommend taking a day pack with bathers, sunscreen, a towel, cap or sun hat and a water bottle. There are a few water fountains across the island but not loads so make sure your water bottle is full when you leave the visitor’s centre area.

When to visit Rottnest Island

Like Perth, the weather on Rottnest Island is pretty good all year round. Summers tend to be dry and Rottnest tends to be a couple of degrees cooler than Perth.

Winters are mild and rainy. Summers hit 30 degrees and above and winter is seldom cooler than 9 degrees celsius. However, like Perth, it can get windy so do check ferry schedules the day before you head to Rottnest Island. Rottnest will be busiest during Perth’s school holiday periods.

However, I visited early January, one of the busiest times, and it still didn’t feel full and there were loads of beaches that were quite empty.

⇒ Heading to Melbourne? Check out my posts on the best place to stay in Melbourne and the best Brunch Places Melbourne. Melbourne has some great weekends away — if you love going to a spa read my post on a and for wine and beachesThings to do M

Things to know before you go to Rottnest Island

⇒ Prebook your bike hire. It is possible to prebook both your bike hire and ferry tickets together or hire an e-bike. Or you can pre-book your bike hire with Pedal and Flipper and just pick it up when you arrive (Pedal and Flipper is about a 5-minute walk from where the ferry drops you on Rottnest Island).

⇒ The waves between Fremantle and Rottnest can get high and it can be a bumpy trip. If you’re nervous about being on a boat and/or prone to seasickness have a bag with you and sit inside and focus on the horizon. Even on a mild day, this can be a bumpy ride.

How to get to Perth and get around

Perth is located on the southwest coast of Western Australia on the Swan River. Do remember that Australia is big and a flight from sydney to Perth takes five hours (although it is usually much faster on the way back due to winds). Perth is an international airport and most major airlines fly to Perth after a stopover in Asia.

⇒ If there was ever a time to fly business class it is when you fly to Australia! Check out my reviews on these airlines which fly to Australia: Qatar Airway Business Class Review, Air France a380 Business Class Review, Thai Airways Business Class Review and Malaysia Airlines Business Class Review.

⇒ Heading to Sydney? Check out my posts on the best Barangaroo Restaurants, the , a day trip to Watsons Bay Sydney and the best weekend getaways from Sydney.

Boutique Hotels in Perth

Perth has some fantastic boutique hotels! Indeed, it is hard to choose amongst all of the great options — and they also tend to be very good value for accommodation of this standard.

It has 48 guest rooms, one of the hottest restaurants in Perth (Wildflower, a glassed-in building on the rooftop featuring a traditional Aboriginal style seasonal menu), a Como Shambhala spa and connected bars which allow you to take your glass of wine all through the hotel! And it is located literally in the heart of the city.

This stylish and quirky hotel offers wine and cheese tastings every evening as well as tea and toast in the morning — from the fantastic Bread in Common bakery in Fremantle.

⇒If you’re heading to Queensland check out my posts on the best Brisbane Boutique Hotels and my Gold Coast Itinerary.

Who Paid for What in this Post

I covered all of the costs associated with this post. The post does contain affiliate links. This means if you click through on some of the links and end up making a purchase I will receive a small commission. This will not affect the price that you pay. I just wanted to make sure that you knew this.

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