Rottnest Island Day Trip
A short ferry from Perth or Fremantle — a car-free island of dazzling turquoise bays and the famously friendly quokka. Hire a bike, ride, swim and slow down.
Rottnest Island Day Trip
A short ferry from Perth or Fremantle, Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) is one of WA’s great days out — a car-free island ringed by dazzling white-sand bays and clear turquoise water, home to the famously friendly quokka. Hire a bike, ride between the beaches, snorkel over reefs and coral, and slow right down. Here’s how to plan the perfect Rottnest day.
What to Do
Meet the Quokkas
The island’s famous “smiling” marsupials — look, don’t touch or feed.
The Basin & Salmon Bays
Some of WA’s best swimming and snorkelling bays.
Cycle the Island
Hire a bike and ride between the beaches — the classic way to explore.
Wadjemup Lighthouse
Views and the island’s deep Aboriginal and colonial history.
Rottnest Tips
- Ferries leave from Fremantle (shortest), Perth city and Hillarys — book ahead
- Budget for the ferry and the island admission fee
- It’s car-free — hire a bike or use the Island Explorer bus
- Take water, sunscreen, a hat and swimmers — shade is limited
- Never touch or feed quokkas — it harms them and can incur fines
Rottnest Island — FAQ
How do you get to Rottnest Island?
Ferries run to Rottnest (Wadjemup) from Fremantle (shortest crossing, ~25–30 min), Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty and Hillarys Boat Harbour. Book ahead in peak season, and check current timetables and the island admission fee.
What are quokkas and where do you see them?
Quokkas are small, cat-sized marsupials found on Rottnest, famous for their friendly “smile” and quokka selfies. They roam the island, often around the main settlement — look, don’t touch or feed them (it’s harmful and can incur fines).
Can you drive on Rottnest?
No — the island is largely car-free. Get around by bike (hire on the island or bring your own on the ferry), the hop-on-hop-off Island Explorer bus, or on foot. Cycling between the bays is a highlight.
What is there to do on Rottnest?
Swim and snorkel at bays like The Basin, Pinky Beach and the Salmon Bays, cycle the island, visit the Wadjemup Lighthouse, spot quokkas and learn the island’s layered Aboriginal and colonial history.
Can you visit Rottnest in a day?
Yes — it’s a superb day trip, though many people stay overnight to enjoy the beaches after the day-trippers leave. Take water, sunscreen and swimmers, and start early.
Perth & the West Coast, Planned Around You
Kings Park and the beaches, quokkas on Rottnest, the Swan Valley and the Pinnacles — with the planning and bookings handled by the family that’s toured Australia since 1974.
Call 0409 661 342 Plan My Trip — Free Enquiry