Rottnest Island, Western Australia: All the information you need!

Ahhh Rottnest Island. The land that’s surrounded by crystal clear water & home to thousands of the cute little mammals called QUOKKAS. Come explore Rottnest Island for a day trip or make a holiday out of it!

Rottnest lies 19km off the coast of Perth in Western Australia and is a 30-minute ferry ride from Fremantle. The ferries run regularly, making it a very accessible island and the tickets cost $50 each, return. Rottnest Island isn’t one of the cheapest experiences you could have while in Western Australia but below I’ll share a few tips on making your stay slightly more cost-effective.

Lawrence and I spent three nights on Rottnest at the end of September for our wedding anniversary. Three nights and four days was the perfect amount of time to see it all, as well as have plenty of time to relax, snorkel and sunbake. It’s a true paradise. 

Rottnest Accommodation

When we began planning where we wanted to go for our anniversary, we had a list of possible destinations (including Rottnest) but what made our final decision was an email from Luxury Escapes advertising a deal for Rottnest Island. The deal was for accommodation at Discovery Rottnest Island, including breakfast & ferry transfers.

Discovery is an eco-friendly resort and a reasonably new property. Also, it’s located right on Pinky beach. It’s a glamping style setup, with a camping feel but much more luxurious. 

We booked one of the deluxe tents and it was perfect. And, the room had everything we needed, including a balcony with ocean views and a BBQ. Apart from them stuffing up our breakfast order a couple of times, I really can’t fault this property, plus all the staff were very nice.

It was so easy to reach our accommodation from the ferry because it was only a 10-15 minute walk and you pass through town on the way. 

Getting Around Rottnest Island

The island is a car-free zone (except for essential services) and this was one of the things I loved most about it. No cars added to the simplicity of the island and kept the focus on the untouched landscape. 

So I definitely think the best way to get around is by hiring a bike. The bike hire from Pedal and Flipper was $30 for one day or $45 for two days. This cost included a helmet & lock (and they also have baby seats and trailers for hire).

Oh and lastly, make sure you grab yourself a map too! Not that the roads are complicated, but it’ll ensure you never waste any time backtracking. And, the map will also point out attractions & recommended snorkeling areas.

We had the bikes for two days and it was awesome! Freedom to go where we wanted and with no time restraints. We covered the whole island and stopped at most sights and beaches. It was the perfect amount of time & I left feeling like we’d seen it all.  

Apart from essential services the only other motor vehicle, you’ll see on the road is the tourist bus. Tickets cost around $20 per person and it’s basically a hop-on hop-off bus and stops at all the main sites.

Although we didn’t use the bus, it always looked very busy and this would be a great option if the weather wasn’t any good.

Things to do on Rottnest Island

The beaches on Rottnest really are stunning and the color of the water is absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, even though we had beautiful sunny days the water was still freezing.

So we were only brave enough to snorkel once and that was at Little Armstrong Bay. It was a beautiful spot, a very safe, protected area, and plenty of fish to see. 

Best Beaches on Rottnest Island

Pinky Beach, 
Salmon Bay,
Ricey Beach,
Little Armstrong Bay,
Parakeet Bay.

And, if you’re interested in spotting some wildlife off the coast, head to the western end of the island. We saw heaps of whales, dolphins and there’s also a colony of New Zealand fur seals. 

Rottnest Island has 63 beaches & 20 bays to choose from so I’m sure you’ll find one perfect for you. It would depend on the day too. I’m always looking for a beach with the least amount of people haha 

Get a Selfie with a Quokka

Beaches aside, the biggest goal I had for my stay on Rottnest was getting a selfie with a Quokka!!! And I’m happy to say I succeeded. OMG, they are so cute. 

So for those of you who don’t know what a Quokka is, they are kind of like mini Kangaroos. Nocturnal mammals that are native to Rottnest and there are estimated to be 10-12 thousand of them living on the island.

They’re also said to be the happiest animal on earth because they have no predators on the island. Plus, we were so lucky because we saw so many babies! The babies grow inside the mother’s pouch from March and start to come out in September. Also, as they are nocturnal, you’ll have a much better chance of getting a photo with them in the morning or late afternoon. 

(Please note; As cute as the Quokkas are you can’t touch or feed them. This is in their best interest and if you’re seen breaking these rules you could get an on-the-spot fine of $150) 

Learn About Rottnest Island History

Rottnest Island also has a large military history that played a role in both world wars. There’re a number of guided tours you can take. We took a 1-hour tour visiting the site of the Oliver Hill Gun. We got to see this ginormous gun that was used to fire at boats trying to invade Australia during the second world war and go inside the underground tunnels & see where soldiers worked. 

And at the end of each day make sure you grab a seat and watch the sunset over the ocean. This is one of my favorite things to do in Western Australia.

What to take with you to Rottnest Island

Most things you could need on Rottnest are available there, so don’t panic if you forget anything.

The main town is small but still has a supermarket, bakery, clothing store, ATMs & a few restaurants (including the pub and sports bar). Although, when you leave the town there really isn’t much around, well I should say ‘nothing’ around. If you plan on exploring for a full day, I’d highly recommend taking a packed lunch and water. 

We took our snorkeling gear but Pedal and Flipper do have everything for hire and our accommodation provided us with beach towels. 

And also if you’re looking to not overspend during your stay, I would recommend taking over what you have. There’s no point in spending money to hire what you already have at home. General groceries and toiletries will also be slightly more expensive on the island compared with the mainland. 

Could I go to Rottnest Island for a day trip?

Yes, absolutely! Most people do just visit for the day and if that’s all the time you have, it would still be worth going. 

Book a Rottnest Island day trip here with GET YOUR GUIDE.

On our first day, we rode around the whole island, stopping a lot but this took us about 6 hours. If you aren’t a keen biker, the bus did look like a great option for those looking to see a lot in a smaller amount of time. 

The ferry times change depending on the season but during October the first one leaves Fremantle at 9 am and the last ferry back was in the late afternoon.