Holidays to Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island boasts everything from their own wildlife species, underwater marine sanctuaries, stunning bike paths and walking trails and pristine white-sand beaches. It is a magical destination that is certainly worth incorporating into your holiday.
Getting to Rottnest Island from Perth
Rottnest Island is just 33km from Perth’s city centre and 19km from Fremantale, so it’s incredibly accessible. There are several ways to get to Rottnest Island from Perth.
The most popular choice is taking the ferry. The boat from Perth City takes 90 minutes, departing from Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty. From Fremantle, the journey takes just 25 minutes.
For an incredible perspective of the island, you can fly to Rottnest Island on an air-taxi, a sea plane or even a helicopter. A similarly special experience is travelling to Rottnest Island by private boat, allowing you to hop between beaches and explore secluded coves.
What animal is Rottnest Island famous for?
Rottnest Island is famous for quokkas, which are native to the island. Quokkas are a type of marsupials that are actually small wallabies. They’re known for being curious and friendly, as they have no natural predators on the island and therefore have no need to be fearful of humans.
Although they are mainly nocturnal, you’ll have no problem spotting them. During the day they can be found sleeping under shady bushes or lazing around. They become most active in the early mornings or the late afternoon. Quokkas can be spotted year round, although August and September make particularly magical times to visit Rottnest Island as tiny joeys begin to be spotted poking their heads out of their mothers’ pouches.
Although quokkas are very friendly, they are wild animals and it’s important that you don’t disturb them. Make sure to watch them from a safe distance, don’t touch them, and let them forage for their own food rather than feeding them.
Things to do on Rottnest Island
There is so much to do on Rottnest Island. Popular activities include:
- Encounter the iconic quokkas
- Spot humpbacks on a whale watching tour
- Explore extraordinary marine landscapes through snorkelling and diving
- Hike the Wadjemup Bidi series of trails
- Learn about the island’s history at Wadjemup Museum
- Take in the views from Bathurst Lighthouse
- Hire a bike to explore the whole island
- Enjoy a dip at Pinky Beach
How many days do you need on Rottnest Island?
Although you can visit Rottnest Island on a day trip from Perth, it is a destination that rewards visitors who stay a little longer.
We’d recommend staying at least two nights on Rottnest Island so that you can enjoy it at a relaxed pace and still explore most of the island. Staying at Discovery Rottnest Island is an experience in itself, with its glamping tents situated right on Pinky Beach, so you can wake up beside the sea.
What is the best time of year to visit Rottnest Island?
There really isn’t a bad time to visit Rottnest Island, although the summer months of December, January and February are the most popular time for visiting the beaches. The weather is still very pleasant for exploring between September and May, so this is also a great time to visit. Although it is cooler between June and August, towards the end of this period you can see plenty of baby marsupials, as quokkas, kangaroos and wallabies welcome new arrivals, carrying them around in their pouches.
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