Rottnest Island

If you were to ask a seasoned traveller, “What was the highlight of your Australian trip?” Rottnest Island, or Rotto for short, may very well be spoken of. A stone’s throw away from the city of Perth yet feeling miles away from anywhere, it’s the perfect getaway with over sixty magnificent beaches — all of which are utterly astounding. With so many azure destinations packed within such a small area, you really are spoiled for choice. We’ve rounded up what we consider to be the highlights, but to be honest, the whole island is breathtakingly spectacular.

The other star attraction is the ridiculously cute quokka, native to Rottnest Island. In 1696, the Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh mistook the quokka for a large rodent, naming the island Rattenest Island (Dutch for “Rat’s Nest”), a name that was later changed. There are approximately twelve thousand quokkas on Rottnest Island, which makes the chances of seeing a quokka pretty much guaranteed.

While quokkas are predominantly nocturnal, you’ll inevitably see them as you explore the island in daylight hours. Being used to humans, they are very tame — to the point that they are not fazed by tourists at all and may even hop over to you. While touching quokkas is frowned upon, the trend on Rottnest Island is the “quokka selfie”. Being so affable, it’s quite easy to get a self-posed shot with these furry critters. They are usually munching on leaves, which, when photographed, can make them look like they’re in party mode with a huge grin.

While the destinations we feature on this page are free, there are costs involved in getting to the island. The ferry service to the island is available from three locations, so be sure to check the details with the various ferry service providers.

While taking in the many sights of Rottnest Island is achievable as a day trip out of Perth, many will want to savour the experience a little longer. Given how close it is to a major city, it’s no surprise that accommodation costs can add up quickly. For those on a tight budget, check out midweek deals, which are often significantly cheaper than weekend deals. Camping is also permitted at designated campsites on the island. See here for accommodation and camping details.

Once you’re on the island, you’ll be surprised by the fact that there are no cars allowed here. Sightseeing on the island is best done by bicycle, with rental options available close to the ferry terminal. If bikes aren’t manageable, you can alternatively catch the bus, which operates as a hop-on, hop-off service for a one-time fee.

While hiring a bike or catching the bus are both great ways to see the whole island, you can see an abridged version of the sights by simply walking. The following free things to do on Rottnest Island have been thoughtfully put together, so that no matter your timeframe or budget, you’ll have an excellent idea of what you can expect to see.

Overall, this is one charm-filled island, with plenty to see and do. If you’re planning on travelling to Perth, be sure to consider a trip over to the unforgettable paradise that is Rottnest Island.

With so many great beaches on Rottnest Island, deciding which ones to visit will depend on how long you have. Kicking off a stunning list of beaches on Rottnest Island, Pinky Beach is sure to impress. This is our first recommendation on Rottnest Island, not because it is a better beach than some, but because it is accessible by foot from town (and the ferry). In fact, there is a string of beaches which can be combined into an excellent seaside walk.

As you depart from the ferry jetty, simply turn right and follow the coast. Keep your eye out for quokkas as you traverse the streets, as they are known to inhabit this area.

The scenery gets better the closer you get to Pinky Beach. After approximately 600 meters, as you round the north-west point of the island, you’ll come to Bathurst Lighthouse. The views from the base of this light station are expansive and make for a great spot to take in the stellar scenery.

From the lighthouse, there’s a staircase leading down to the beach. With its patches of turquoise water, the beach itself makes for a remarkable place to sit and admire, swim, or simply enjoy one of the many highlights of Rotto’s magnificent coastline.

If you had to choose one beach to enjoy on Rottnest Island, The Basin could well be the beach you’d pick. It all depends on your particular preference, but The Basin, with its azure natural swimming pool accompanied by scenery to die for, is a must-see destination while on the island.

As the beach faces north, it’s protected from Western Australia’s infamous southerly winds, which could be a reality on any given day. With a barrier reef protecting the swimming area, it’s a great beach for families with plenty of shallow areas for young ones to enjoy. It’s also a top spot for entry-level snorkelling, which will keep the little ones amused for quite some time.

To extend the coast walk even further, there’s a sand track on the far side of The Basin that leads to the next stretch of the beachside at Longreach Bay. At the end of Longreach Bay, you’ll have access to the Geordie Bay general store, a café and a host of amenities. From this point, the Island Explorer bus service is free and can shuttle you back into the village of Thompson Bay, where the ferry terminal is located.

The former Scenic Gems are based on travelling anti-clockwise from the ferry terminal around the island perimeter. The remaining destinations here are presented in clockwise order, which is the same direction the Island Explorer bus takes.

Parker Point is the first standout location along this clockwise journey. For those who catch the bus, the amazing scenery starts at Porpoise Bay, where you can hop off the bus to walk around Parker Point. The turquoise water of Porpoise Bay is astounding, to say the least, and shimmers with intense colouration on a clear day.

Some of the best snorkelling to be had on the island can be found at Parker Point, so if you’re feeling adventurous, be sure to bring your mask and flippers. Overall, this is a spectacular pocket of coastline; if it’s a still day, you may even want to base yourself here for a while.

Shortly after Porpoise Bay, you’ll come to the surreal landscape that is Jeannies Lookout. With elevated views of the coastline, you’ll be mesmerised by the amazing reefs to be observed here. Interspersed with patches of azure sand beds, it’s a sensational view and worth stopping for (albeit briefly), with so much more to come.

The snorkelling is sensational around this section of headland as well. If possible, aim to be in this area by late morning, as the sun will be in a prime position to light up the beaches here.

Continuing on from Jeannies Lookout, you’ll come to the pristine sands of Little Salmon Bay. This is another favourite beach of visitors to the island and a great spot to stop and take in the captivating scenery. It’s a small, cosy beach with big appeal for those who can appreciate Mother Nature at her very best.

This is another great spot to don fins and a mask, as the snorkelling on either side of the bay is excellent. If the beach isn’t overcrowded, be sure to spend enough time on the pristine sands of this beach. It’s one of the better ones.

Just around the corner from Little Salmon Bay, you’ll come to the much larger Salmon Bay. This is one of the most popular beaches away from town, and for good reason. The reef systems that are scattered within the shallow waters of this bay are mesmerising, and on a sunny day, they will leave you spellbound from the moment you see this magnificent vista with your own eyes.

There’s a sheltered picnic table with elevated views of the bay, which can be a great spot to time with a snack or lunch. Of course, the beach is also an excellent spot for a picnic and a swim. If you haven’t taken the opportunity by now, there’s great snorkelling to be had on the eastern/left-hand end of the beach. Overall, it doesn’t get much better than Salmon Bay.

Note: From here, people travelling by the Island Explorer will want to hop back on the bus to the next major destination.

As its name implies, West End (or Cape Vlamingh) is located on the western end of the island. This part of the coast is more exposed to the prevailing westerly winds, which can be quite an experience when the wind is up.

There are two distinct attractions to discover here, the first being Fish Hook Bay. On a calm, sunny day, with the sun a few hours either side of midday, you’ll find the scenery here nothing short of breathtaking. Indeed, the coming together of brilliant turquoise colouration pairs beautifully with the contrasting limestone rocks of the bay and is well worth the short stroll down to this magnificent viewing platform.

The other standout feature of this part of the island is the Southern Fur Seals that use Cathedral Rocks as their refuge grounds. The viewing platform at Cathedral Rocks is the perfect place to see these mysterious creatures lounging in the water, often with one fin in the air to cool their bodies. You’ll find two free binocular stations available at the viewing platform so you can study and admire these fascinating creatures up close.

You really are spoiled for choice on Rottnest Island. Parakeet Bay and its neighbour Little Parakeet Bay are as good as any of the beaches on the island.

These beaches are located on the northern side of the island, so if your chosen day out is a little windy, these two beaches should provide shelter. Parakeet Bay offers a more open-water beach feel, while Little Parakeet Bay offers a more secluded feeling. Both are excellent beaches in their own right.

You have almost completed a lap of the island by the time you get to these two beaches. The good news is that the majority of visitors completing the clockwise loop around the island won’t reach this location until the afternoon. If the wind is up, be sure to consider riding your bike or taking the bus directly to this seaside stunner, and you’ll have more than a good chance of having these pockets of paradise all to yourself.