A Perfect Day Trip to Rottnest Island

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Western Australia is Australia’s largest state made up of mostly arid outback and hence is a perfect destination for road trips. Some of the popular road trips in Western Australia include a road trip from Perth to Kalbarri and Perth to Esperance road trip. A day trip to Rottnest Island is one of the best day trips from Perth you can take.

Rottnest Island or Rotto as we locals call it is a paradise and it’s majorly popular for the cute animals ‘Quokkas’ that are native here and can only be found in a few other locations in the world. People from all over the world come to Perth and visit the Rottnest Island to see these famous quokkas. There are around 10,000-12,000 of them living on the island and you are guaranteed to see one. This guide will help you plan the perfect day trip to Rottnest Island.

Where is Rottnest Island?

For everyone who isn’t aware of where Rottnest Island is, it’s a small island off the coast of Western Australia which is managed by the Rottnest Island Authority. Fremantle is the closest town to the island. Rottnest Island has also served as a penal colony, army barracks, and prisoner of war camp, but is now a popular holiday destination.

How to Get to Rottnest Island?

Located just 19.7 km from Fremantle, getting to Rottnest Island is easy. Just jump on a plane, take a ferry or drive your own boat (a popular choice with locals who owns a boat). Though getting there by air can be an expensive trip, ferries are the most convenient option for most people. Around 30-45 mins of a ferry ride from your desired departure destination & you are straight into heaven.

Mind-Blowing Fact: During the Rottnest Channel Swim event which is an open water long-distance swim, some people actually swim to Rottnest Island.

Ferry to Rottnest Island

Choosing to take a ferry is the best mode of transport and the cheapest way to get to the Rottnest Islands. There are 3 ferry operators that can take you to Rottnest Island:

• Sealink Rottnest
• Rottnest Express
• Rottnest Fast Ferries

Travel Tips to Remember for your day trip to Rottnest Island –

1. Though there are frequent ferries to Rottnest, I highly advise booking the Rottnest Island ferry way in advance or at least a month in advance to get your desired date and time of booking as they fill out really fast.

2. If you have luggage to check-in, reach the ferry terminal in advance. The ferries depart right on time and it’s highly unlikely, they will wait for anyone.

3. If you have your own bike then you can take it with you on the ferry to save money or else you can hire the bike from Pedal and Flippers. It costs $15 AUD to BYO Bike.

4. To save some money and time, I recommend booking a combo of ferry rides and bike hire.

5. If you are prone to seasickness like me, keep your medicine handy as the ferry ride can be bumpy.

Fremantle to Rottnest Island

A day trip to Rottnest Island from Fremantle is the easiest and most convenient as you can take a direct ferry from Fremantle that takes approximately 25 minutes. Take the nearest train station to Fremantle from where you are staying and walk for around 10 mins to reach the ferry terminal.

Fremantle to Rottnest Island ferries leaves from the B-Shed at Victoria Quay or Rous Heads in North Fremantle (North Port). The B-Shed is located behind the Fremantle Train station is the nearest if you are coming to Fremantle via train. If you have your own car and looking to park then the ferry terminal at Rous Head has cheaper parking and a secure car park than B-Shed.

Google Location: B-Shed Terminal and North Port Terminal.

Perth to Rottnest Island

If you are staying in Perth city but don’t want the hassle of taking a train to Fremantle, then the ferry to Rottnest Island from Perth departs only once a day from Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty and takes around 90 mins as it’s a double cruise. The first ferry takes you from Perth to Fremantle cruising along the swan river and the second one takes you to Rottnest. You can also add complimentary hotel transfers to your booking.

Google Location: Barrack Street Jetty

Hillarys to Rottnest Island

If you are planning on doing the Rottnest Island Day Trip from Hillarys, the ferries depart from Hillarys Boat Harbour and take approximately 45 minutes. If you are staying in the northern suburbs of Perth then departing from Hillarys is a good option otherwise it is expensive than departing from Fremantle. Also, the ferries depart only 2-3 times a day from Hillarys Boat Harbour.

Google Location: Hillarys Boat Harbour

Air services to Rottnest

Reaching Rottnest by air is an expensive way but it can also be a lifetime experience. Flights are available with Rottnest Air Taxi, Ozwest Aviation, Swan River Seaplanes, and Rotorvation.

How Much Does a Day Trip To Rottnest Island Cost?

The fares and the luggage information are different for each ferry operator so make sure you do your research well in choosing a ferry that is best for you. You can also find some Rottnest Island ferry deals on the respective ferry websites. Here are the ferry options along with the link to see the timetable and do the online bookings.

1. Sealink Rottnest
The earliest ferry of Sealink Rottnest departs at 7:00 am from B-shed Fremantle & the last of their ferry from Rottnest is at around 8:00 pm so make sure you are there on time. Check the ferry ticket to Rottnest Island and the prices here.

2. Rottnest Express
They start their departure from B-shed Fremantle at 7:30 am & from Northport Fremantle at 8:00 am. Their last service is at 18:30 from Rottnest to Northport Fremantle or to B-shed Fremantle. BOOK HERE.

3. Rottnest Fast Ferries
Their service starts at 7:30 am from Hillary’s boat harbor & their last ferry from Rottnest is at 18:15. BOOK HERE.

Overall, I find Sealink Rottnest to be the best in terms of prices. It costs around $70 AUD pp for adults & $32 for kids (infants ride for free) for the ticket fare including the island admission fee and $3 AUD for luggage. It is also worth checking the Telethon saver fares on Rottnest Express as if the deal is running then this will be the cheapest way to get to Rottnest Island.

How to Get Around Rottnest Island?

As the island is a car-free zone so basically there are only 3 options to get around- Cycling, walking on foot, or taking an Island Explorer bus which is like a hop-on/hop-off bus.

Rottnest Island Bike Hire

Upon arrival, the first and foremost thing to do is to hire a bike if you aren’t bringing your own. There is also an option of booking a bike from your ferry operator while booking the ferry but I wouldn’t recommend it as the quality of the bike is usually not good. The other option is to book online through Pedal & Flippers.

Pedals & Flippers is the largest bike hire facility with over 1650 bikes to hire that come with all the necessary pieces of equipment too. The smartest way is to book the bikes online so that you don’t have to waste your time standing in queues. Upon arriving, choose the cycle & helmet from them & be ready to explore.

It costs around 30AUD to hire a bike per day and for multi-day hire, the prices depend on the number of days and time the bike is being hired.

Island Explorer Bus

For those who don’t want to cycle around and want to see more during less time, the Island Explorer bus is a perfect choice. It’s a hop-on-hop-off bus and lets you take breathtaking views of the whole island. The driver will provide all the necessary information about the places and the views that you will be passing by.

The tickets cost Adult $20, concession/child $15, family (2 adults and 2 children) $50, extra child $5. The Island Explorer bus runs daily from 9 am to 3 pm at 45-minute intervals. You can get your tickets online or can purchase them from the Visitor Centre or Main Bus Stop ticket kiosk. Keep the map handy to know where to get off when you take the explorer bus. You can grab your map or guide from the visitor center upon arrival.

Other Bus Tours

There are a few other Bus Tours options but they don’t give you the flexibility to explore at your own pace. You can see and book the other tours from here.

Rottnest Island Day Trip Itinerary

1. Thomson Bay

Take the first ferry to Rottnest Island that will leave you at Thomson Bay which is the main settlement. It’s where you can have your breakfast before picking up your bike or taking the island explorer bus to explore Rottnest Island. You will also find the cutest little marsupials, Quokka’s near Thomson Bay if you want to have that mandatory Quokka selfie. I would also recommend packing the lunch for later.

Some key points (important tips) to remember before taking the Quokka selfie:

✦ Stay away from the Quokkas at a safe distance while you use the selfie stick to click the picture.
✦ The best way is to sit on the ground or to lay on the ground while taking a picture.
✦ Do not touch or feed them in order to make them look at you or into the camera.

2. The Basin

Take your bike and leave for the first scenic spot of the day, the Basin. An Island day without beach hopping is just impossible and with 63 beaches as an option, you are really spoilt for choice. There are many beautiful beaches on Rottnest Island and the basin is the most popular and safest one.

The Basin, also known as the mermaid pool is located in the northwest of the island, between Pinky Beach and Longreach Bay. With beautiful clear water, it’s like a shallow pool until some distance making it safe for kids to jump in and play in the water. The presence of lifeguards makes this beach even safer for everyone. Hence, it’s the favorite & most popular swimming spot for the people coming to Rottnest.

Facilities: Basin also happens to have a shower facility which is not common at the beaches on the island. There are very limited bays or beaches that have shower facilities.

3. Parker Point

You may want to take the island explorer bus for this if you don’t want to ride the bike. Get down at Stop 5, Parker Point and you will see a beautiful view of the bay. The array of blues look stunning when you get down the stairs to access the white sandy beach.

With the diversity of marine life present here, Parker Point is an ideal location for every kind of recreational activity like snorkeling, swimming, and scuba diving. It even has a marine Snorkel Trail to have a look at the fishes and flora.

4. Little Salmon Bay & Salmon Bay

A bit far from the main settlement area, Little Salmon Bay and Salmon Bay are the 2 bay’s next to each other (stop 6 and 7). Little Salmon Bay is a small secluded spot that is well protected from the winds that makes it a perfect spot to have some time in the water. It is even the best spot for snorkeling. It can get a little crowded as it’s small but the clear turquoise water will make you fall in love, making it worth spending an hour or two. A day trip to Rottnest Island is incomplete without visiting little salmon bay.

Next to Little Salmon Bay, there is a bigger version of it called Salmon Bay. There is a small seating area with shade where you can have a little picnic or save yourself from the scorching sun. The water is crystal clear and the sea is a beautiful color.

5. Visit the Wadjemup Lighthouse

Wadjemup lighthouse is located in the center of the island and is the 8th stop of the island explorer bus. From the bus stop to the lighthouse, the walk is around 10 mins and while walking towards the lighthouse, you will meet several quokkas in the bushes.

Wadjemup Lighthouse is a 38.7-meter white color working lighthouse that has a lot of history and offers a breathtaking 360° panoramic view of the island & Indian Ocean if you climb its 155 steps. It’s also the fourth tallest lighthouse in Australia. You can take a tour of the lighthouse for $9 p, the tours operate every day between 10 am – 2.30 pm.

There’s a little food truck at the bottom which sells ice creams and coffees and you can sit on one of the deckchairs here and enjoy the view out over the island.

6. West End

Saved the best for the last, West End is the extreme west point of the island and the 11th stop. It comprises 3 main points – Cape Vlamingh, Fishhook Bay, and NZ Colony of Fur Seals. Cape Vlamingh is a spectacular spot & acts as a blowhole when a large wave breaks through it. Follow the Boardwalk to the edge of the cliff to see the beautiful divine ocean.

Fish Hook Bay is on the left side of Cape Vlamingh blow holes & is a scenic vantage point. The turquoise & many shades of blue along with a crowd of limestone cliffs looks spectacular. NZ colony for fur seals is at walking distance (Beware of the snakes & skinks). Use the binoculars that are there to spot the seals. Sometimes you may be able to spot dolphins and whales too. I spotted a baby whale lying in the water while a baby dolphin playing all by herself.

If you still have time left then do a whole loop with the island explorer bus without getting off anywhere. This way you get to see and learn more about Rottnest Island but if you are running out of time, take the bus back to the main settlement and take a leisurely walk around Thomson Bay before boarding your ferry back to Perth/Fremantle.

Best Rottnest Island Tours

If tours are your thing and you are more comfortable with them rather than exploring on your own then these 3 are the best Rottnest Island tours from Perth or Fremantle that include round trip ferry fare and admission fee.

How Long to Spend on Rottnest Island?

As a local, I recommend spending at least 8 hrs if you are planning a day trip to Rottnest Island from Perth. I can vouch that during this time you will be able to see and do a lot of things on Rottnest Island that will guarantee a good time.

But it’s no fun to go from one spot to another just for the sake of seeing the whole island so if you can spare a day or 2 more, then an extended stay is definitely the best idea. It would be the perfect duration to see so many places along with some rest and not being on the go all the time.

The Island looks small but it isn’t. There are 63 beaches and 20 bays to explore and when there is so much beauty around then why hurry. Take some time to enjoy the beaches and cycle around to soak in the beauty. But in case you are really tight on time, you can see the best of what this island has to offer on a day trip too.

Best Time to Visit Rottnest Island

The weather in Rottnest Island is good all the time except for winters. The months of May to August are rainy, chilly, and windy. March-April and September-October are transitional months so it’s tricky to predict the weather at these times.

Though Rottnest Island in winter will offer you good deals on hotels and ferry tickets, the best time to visit Rottnest is anywhere from November to February, in summers. Particularly, the months of December and January are the best months as the water will be perfect to swim and the days will be sunny.

TRAVEL TIP: I recommend visiting Rottnest Island during a weekday as there is a high chance that you may be able to score a good deal on the ferry tickets and some deals on accommodation. Also, avoid a trip to Rottnest Island during school holidays as Rotto is a popular and beloved place to visit for us locals.

Where to Eat on Rottnest Island

There are many bakeries, cafes, and restaurants in Rottnest Islands so there is no shortage of places to eat. Mostly all of them are located within the main settlement or nearby except for Kalli’s on Rotto that is located at Wadjemup lighthouse and Lexi’s on Rotto located at West End. There are also 2 shops (general stores) on Rottnest island from where you can buy the groceries or drinks. Both of them are located in the main settlement area.

Cafes at Thomson Bay – Dome, Subway, and The Lane Cafe.

Cafe at Geordie Bay – Geordies Cafe & Art Gallery

Bakeries at Thomson Bay – Rottnest Bakery & Simmos Rottnest near Rottnest Island visitor center.

There are a few options to choose from when it comes to restaurants and bars. Click here to check.

Rottnest Island Accommodation

Since it’s a day trip to Rottnest Island you will not need accommodation but in case you plan an extended trip, staying at Rottnest Island can be a unique experience as there is a wide range of accommodation options. This includes standard holiday units, campgrounds, Hotel Rottnest, Karma Rottnest, Discovery glamping resort, and the newly opened Samphire Resort.

The most affordable option is camping on Rottnest Island but if you prefer your own home like Airbnb, the holiday units are self-contained and fully equipped with all the necessary facilities and are located in South Thomson’s Bay and Bathurst. For luxury lovers, the best place to stay on Rottnest Island would be Samphire Resort or glamping at Discovery Rottnest Island.

All types of accommodation can be found here and can be booked through the same link. It’s hard to get bookings during peak seasons or holiday seasons so I suggest booking well in advance. Some of the accommodations can be booked around 18 months in advance.

What to Pack for a Rottnest Island Day Trip?

Whether you are coming on a day trip to Rottnest or staying for a night or two, you should have some essentials with you all the time while visiting the island.

1. The most important is a big water bottle as water is not available everywhere on this island. It’s mainly available near the main settlement areas.

2. Don’t forget to bring a swimsuit, of course, a towel and a lot of reef-safe sunscreen in order to protect our corals from the chemicals found in daily sunscreens which can kill coral and damage coral reefs.

3. Pack some light clothes and snacks to munch as food is also not available everywhere.

4. With clear turquoise water, Snorkeling at Rottnest Island is pure bliss. If you have your own snorkeling kit then bring it along otherwise you can hire it at the island from Pedal and Flippers.

5. A selfie stick because we don’t want to miss out on taking the best smiling “Quokka Selfie”.

6. Lastly, a very important thing that you should absolutely not forget is a fly and mosquito repellant spray.

Final Thoughts

Is Rottnest Island Worth Visiting?

Yes, it is absolutely worth taking a day trip to Rottnest Island or even more. I hope this Rottnest Island guide motivates you to visit the Island. Apparently, most people who visit Australia only visit the east side (majorly Sydney) and don’t think about Western Australia as a tourist destination. However, WA is a total gem and Rottnest Island is a paradise here.

A trip to Rottnest Island is all about turquoise water, white sand beaches, and laid-back vibes so whether it’s a day trip or an extended stay, I highly recommend visiting Rottnest Island.

Happy Travels!

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