Rottnest Island 

Rottnest Island is located approximately 18 kilometres west of Perth. It is one of Western Australia's most popular holiday destinations, with over 400,000 visitors per year. The island boasts all the facilities required for overnight and day-tripping visitors as well as traditional island history, heritage and environment.

Major attractions to the island are the cute and mischievous marsupials that live there - Quokkas. They are almost unique to Rottnest Island and resemble small kangaroos, pouches and all! You can get up close and personal with the island’s indigenous flora and fauna, enjoy a bit of quokka spotting or just kick back and soak up the scenery.

Public vehicles are not permitted on Rottnest Island. Hiring a bike is the best way to get around – and to find those secluded beaches and secret surf spots on the other side of the island. There’s also a guided bus and historic train tour, or you can just hop on and off the free bus when it suits. Winter is a popular period on the island, with warmer temperatures and often less rain than Perth. If you plan to stay over, there are many types of accommodation options available that cater to any budget, from refurbished beachfront villas, tent sites, hotel and lodge accommodation.

With 63 sheltered beaches to choose from, Rotto is refreshingly uncrowded. Surrounded by coral reefs and shipwrecks, the diving and snorkelling is out-of-this-world. Or have a go at kayaking, surfing, boogie boarding or fishing.

Rottnest has a la carte restaurants, a hotel, a general store, take-away outlets and a cafe. Or just grab a snack from Rotto’s famous bakery and head to the beach.

Further Information

Rottnest Island Visitor's Centre and gift shop is located in the Thomson Bay settlement at the end of the Main Jetty. The staff can help you plan your day/s on Rottnest Island and recommend activities and places to visit.

Things to do

• Enjoy snorkelling, diving, guided tours or bus and train tours
• Tennis, Golf, Lawn bowles
• Hire a bike and use pedal power to see the sites
• Rottnest Island Museum - traces the cultural and natural history of Rottnest
• Spot a Quokka!
• Cape Vlaming & Vlaming Lookout
• Hotel Rottnest - the "Quokka Arms"
• The Old Cemetery - with its gravestones telling the story of days long past
• Thomson Bay - the islands harbour, popular for surfboard & surf catamarans
• Rottnest Wreck Heritage Trail
• The Basin - a unique swimming spot
• Scenic Flights
• West End - gaze out over the rolling ocean
• Oliver's Hill Heritage Trail - examples of a World War II defence system
• Family Fun Park
• Salt Lakes - a unique feature of Rottnest