A day trip to Rottnest Island is the perfect escape during summer. The short 30 minute ferry ride from Fremantle or 40 minutes from Hillary’s Boat harbour will make you feel as though you have stepped out of the city onto an island paradise with crystal clear turquoise waters, no cars, the cutest marsupials you will ever see and a generally slower pace and vibe.

What you need to know:

Getting there:

When you plan your day trip or holiday to the island you have a few ferry departure options:

Barrack Street Jetty, Elizabeth Quay (roughly 90 minutes). This is a great option for people who are visiting Perth for the first time as this ferry journey takes you down the beautiful Swan River before passing through Fremantle Port.
B shed, Fremantle (roughly 30 minutes). This is the perfect option if you are staying in the trendy area of Fremantle, however keep in mind you will need to pay for parking at this location.
Hillary’s Boat Harbour (roughly 40 minutes). A great option if you are in the Northern suburbs with extensive, free car parking available, located next to AQWA.

There are three ferry companies that make the journey to Rottnest Island, Rottnest Fast Ferries, Rottnest Express and SeaLink. All companies offer a number or services per day, with the option of bike and snorkel hire and are clean, comfortable and reliable.

Getting around the island

We always like to get the earliest ferry at 7:30am and return around 1700 to make the most of our day. We always opt for hiring bikes from Pedal and Flipper as they have different sizes to choose from and you can include baskets for your belongings. We also take our own snorkel gear instead of hiring. But you can hire all your snorkel stuff from here too.

Pedal and Flipper is a short walk from the ferry and never takes too long to arrange your hire as they are always well staffed and have bikes ready to go for you. A full day bike hire is $40.00 per person for a normal bike or $70.00 per person for an electric bike, you can pre book and skip the queue.

The terrain on the island is quite hilly which can become tiring on a hot summer's day. There is a hop on hop off Island Explorer bus, which services the island and picks you up from the main settlement of Rottnest Island and drops you off at all the popular beaches and snorkelling spots. A day pass costs $20.00 per adult. You can get on and off the bus as many times as you wish. It is a great way to cover the whole island especially if you are short on time or have a lot of stuff with you.

Things to see and do on Rottnest Island

The number one thing to do on Rottnest is check out the stunning beaches. Whether you are there for the day or multiple you will want to explore the many beautiful beaches which has made Rottnest Island the popular destination it is.

Our favourite beaches are:

Little Salmon Bay: This spot is popular for a reason. This is by far our favourite beach for a few reasons. It has the best snorkelling spots on the island, the conditions are always nice and calm as it is perfectly protected, beautiful crystal clear water and hidden little cliffs perfect for taking pictures from.
Parker point: The stairs lead down to perfect turquoise water which is hard to go past. This spot is also very popular with boats so it can be fun to sit and people watch. If you swim out past where the boats are anchored there are incredible snorkelling spots where you will see an abundance of marine life.
Salmon Bay: This is the bigger version of Little Salmon Bay. With an endless stretch of white sand beach, it is a short ride from Little Salmon Bay and one not to miss. We were lucky to get some incredible shots here and see octopus, crayfish and a variety of small and large fish.
The Basin: This is a popular one as it is nice and close to the main settlement. It is very busy most of the time. We usually give it a miss but if it's your first time it is definitely worth a look and a great spot to adjust the goggles.
Pinky’s Beach: We love this beach as you get stunning views of the lighthouse. It's nice and calm, perfect for a relaxing swim and soaking up the sun and also close to the main settlement.

Other things to do on Rotto

If you have plenty of time on the island or if your legs become tired from riding there is:

Putt putt mini golf at the Family Fun Park, great for all ages
Enjoy a round of golf
For the thrill seekers you can book skydiving over the island
Enjoy the many eateries on the island and get a refreshing beer or two from Hotel Rottnest or Pinky’s Beach Club
Snap the famous “Quokka Selfie” with possibly the cutest marsupials ever!
Visit the two lighthouses on the island
Do a Oliver Hill Gun & Tunnel tour

Where to stay

Rottnest has so many accommodation options to suit everyone's comfort level and budgets.

Camping - 43 non-powered sites close to the beach
Glamping - Beautiful beachfront glamping tents
Hostel- 50 beds (including family rooms and dormitories), a fully equipped kitchen and a lounge with television
Cottages- A variety of cottages to choose from around Thompson Bay and Geordie Bay
Resort- Brand new Samphire Rottnest, beachfront location at Thompson Bay next to Hotel Rottnest. Opened in October 2020 and is by far the most luxurious accommodation on the island.

Please note: If you are interested in staying on the island make sure you book well in advance, as you can imagine the accommodation can book out months in advance during the summer months!

It’s easy to see why Rottnest Island is the perfect day trip from Perth. Whether you want someone to relax, explore or both this should be your next destination. Visit the Rottnest Island website for more information and make sure to follow us on Instagram for more travel and adventure tips.

Ultimate day trip from Perth to Rottnest