The ultimate guide to the real Rottnest Island

From breathtaking beaches to furry new friends, Rottnest Island is the weekend away your family needs.

Secluded, beautiful and with that perfect balance of salt and sunshine, Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) feels a world away from the bustle and hustle of the city – especially when you have your first encounter with what is possibly Australia’s most cheerful native creature, the quokka. Car-free Rottnest Island boasts five marine reserves, the occasional pink lake and some of Western Australia’s most stunning beaches. What keeps families coming back, though, is the island’s slower rhythm. Life moves at a gentler pace, encouraging visitors to unwind and immerse themselves in the stunning natural surroundings with the help of stays like Discovery Resorts – Rottnest Island – making it the perfect family escape for much longer than a day trip.

Getting to Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island lies just under 20 kilometres off the coast of mainland Western Australia. While the island can be reached by plane, seaplane or helicopter, the most popular way to get there is by boat.

Private moorings are available but most visitors take a ferry, with regular services from Fremantle (25 minutes), Hillarys Boat Harbour (45 minutes) or Perth (90 minutes). Once aboard, you can relax and begin enjoying your trip; after your luggage is tagged and checked in, it magically finds its way from the port to your accommodation (but this can take up to three hours after your arrival, so be sure to pack swimmers and a towel in your backpack).

Where to stay on Rottnest Island

Discovery Resorts – Rottnest Island is an easy one-kilometre stroll from the town centre, yet feels completely secluded from the rest of the island. Located by the iconic Bathurst Lighthouse and overlooking Pinky Beach, the glamping retreat is an ideal stay for families.

The park features 83 glamping sites, available in standard and deluxe options. Each tent is designed to be both eco-friendly and immersive, allowing between two and five guests to enjoy the natural surroundings. They come complete with creature comforts like air conditioning and heated blankets, and most tents even include a kitchenette for added convenience.

A full buffet breakfast is included at the onsite bar and restaurant – which is also the perfect spot for enjoying a coffee after a refreshing morning swim or a sundowner at sunset.

Discovery Resorts – Rottnest Island is just five minutes away from the island’s most popular swimming spot, The Basin. Protected by reefs, the calm water is ideal for children, offering them an introduction to the incredible reef system and marine life that call Rottnest Island home.

Where to eat on Rottnest Island

Dine alfresco by the beach at Pinky’s Rottnest Island. Along with live music and a huge outdoor screen when there’s a big game on, every day at dusk you can catch the sun drop over the ocean from the deck at Sunset Bar. The menu is local and seasonal, featuring dishes like local prawns with nduja yogurt, marinated octopus, chilli mussels, crispy calamari and soda-battered blue-eyed cod.

Further afield on the west of the island, you can grab a cheese toastie and a cup of coffee at Lexi’s on Rotto, a ’70s-era caravan-turned-food truck. In the north, browse the art at Geordie’s Cafe or dig into pub grub at Hotel Rottnest. If you’re after something simple, Rottnest Bakery has grab-and-go snacks like pastries, pies and croissants in the centre of town.

During summer, don’t miss trying a scoop of Kuld Creamery’s ‘quokka trax’ ice cream, made with homemade peanut butter cups, chocolate fudge swirls and vanilla bean ice cream.

Things to do on Rottnest Island

There’s no shortage of amazing things to experience on Rottnest Island, but nothing beats meeting the famous smiling quokkas. Surprisingly friendly, these creatures are found nowhere else in the world.

The island offers plenty of aquatic adventures, including rentals for snorkel gear, paddleboards and sea bikes. The Basin is the most popular family-friendly spot for swimming, but if conditions are right, don’t miss the excellent snorkel trail at Little Salmon Bay. Little Parakeet Bay also offers phenomenal snorkelling year-round, while the island’s wetlands and lakes occasionally turn pink.

A colony of long-nosed seals can be easily spotted from the viewing platform on the west side of the island. And sunsets are particularly spectacular from Pinky Beach, with pink hues bathing the backdrop of Bathurst Lighthouse, crystal clear blue water and white sand.

There’s plenty to do beyond the beach, too. If the sun is shining, play a round of mini golf; if it’s raining, settle into a beach chair and enjoy the flicks at Rottnest Island Movies & Mini Golf. You can tour Wadjemup Lighthouse, visit the local museum, head on a segway tour or take a trip on the 64-seater Captain Hussey train. History buffs will also enjoy exploring the Second World War tunnels and battlements at Olive Hill.

One of the simpler pleasures on the island is hiring a bike to explore the interconnected bike paths, taking in the stunning scenery. Depending on your pace, you can complete a loop in just two hours or take the whole day to enjoy the ride.

Start planning your Rottnest Island adventure.

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