14 Unmissable Things To Do On Rottnest Island (Wadjemup), Australia

Just a stone’s throw off the coast of Perth, Rottnest Island, or Wadjemup to the natives, is a sun-soaked oasis with turquoise waters, white sand beaches, and Australia’s rare and cheeky marsupials, quokkas. Although we grew up in Australia, it wasn’t until we spent 18 months road-tripping across the country that we discovered Rotto – a tiny island that’s big on adventure.

Although it looks more like a postcard paradise and a place where you can laze all day on a beach, there are in fact lots of things to do on Rottnest Island to make it well worth exploring for a full day or more.

Simply rent a bike (cars are largely forbidden here) and cycle past coves, secret snorkelling spots, historic lighthouses, hidden trails, and quaint villages. Rottnest is all about slowing down, breathing deeply, and basking in the natural beauty.

Whether you want to see the adorable quokkas, chase sunsets over the pink-hued sand of The Basin, or simply want to enjoy somewhere with an easygoing pace reset your internal compass, Rottnest delivers.

Measuring just 24 kilometres round trip by road, Rottnest Island is small enough to explore in a day, but has over 63 picturesque beaches and 20 bays, as well as top spots for snorkeling, diving, kayaking, swimming, and fishing.

If you’re not sure what to do on Rottnest Island during your visit, then consider these attractions…

Table Of Contents

1. 1. Bike ride around the island
2. 2. Meet the Quokkas
3. 3. Sunbathe on the stunning beaches
4. 4. Go snorkelling
5. 5. Take the kids to the Aquapark (seasonal)
6. 6. Have dinner with a view
7. 7. Check out The Visitor Centre
8. 8. Take a Rottnest Island Cruise
9. 9. Visit the Rottnest Bakery
10. 10. Walk the Wadjemup Bidi Trail
11. 11. Check Out The Bathurst Lighthouse & Wadjemup Lighthouse
12. 12. Visit Oliver Hill Guns & Tunnels
13. 13. See the seals at Cathedral Rocks
14. 14. Discover the shipwrecks of Rottnest Island
15. Where to stay on Rottnest Island, Perth
16. Getting to Rottnest Island
17. Final thoughts
18. More South Western Australia Travel Tips
19. Pin To Save It On Pinterest

1. Bike ride around the island

Rottnest Island is a car-free zone (aside from the coaches bus tours), so to get around, it’s best explored by bicycle, otherwise you will be hiking for miles. If you’re not an active person, don’t worry, the island is mostly flat, so biking around it is a relaxing and enjoyable experience.

Cycling around Rotto is also a great way to get from attraction to attraction. As you pedal, you are blessed with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean from every angle. You can also take a segway tour if you prefer not to use your legs.

If you don’t have your own bike, you can rent a bike at the same time as booking your Sealink ferry from Fremantle. You simply show your booking, receive a ticket, and pick up your bike at the other end on Rotto.

See tickets for a bike hire and ferry to Rotto here

2. Meet the Quokkas

During your trip to Rottnest Island, you’ll be sure to meet lots of the true locals without much need to find them. The Quokka is a small macropod about the size of a domestic cat, who are native to Rottnest Island. It’s said there are around 10,000-12,000 quokkas on the island, the world’s largest quokka population.

Although that sounds like a lot, they are a vulnerable species who are under threat. They thrive on Rottnest Island because it has very few predators, (like foxes and cats), but elsewhere in Australia they are very rare to find and in most areas need protection from humans.

Although they are cute, do take time to reflect on how lucky you are to see them in their natural habitat. They can be found all over the island, but some of the most popular spots to see them are:

• The Main Settlement near The Rottnest Bakery
• Near Porpoise Bay where you park the bikes
• Around Garden Lake
• Wadjemup Road near the Wadjemup Lighthouse

Remember they are wild animals, so when you are snapping photos, don’t get too close and don’t feed them any human food – they have plenty of resources to eat on Rotto! Try not to shove a camera in their face, they don’t like that either. They are more active in early morning and late afternoon when they are scavenging for food.

3. Sunbathe on the stunning beaches

Aside from quokkas, the main attraction on Rottnest Island are the beaches – I mean, come on, just look at this photo. Despite being a small island, you’ll never run out of amazing beaches with pure white sand and refreshing shallow waters that are perfect for snorkelling in.

The bays are often sheltered making them a great place to swim with children, plus the coral reef often comes up close to the shore so you can snorkel right from the beach.

Some of our favourite beaches on the island are:

• Thomson Bay
• Parakeet Bay
• Strickland Bay (great for surfing)
• Little Salmon Bay
• Little Armstrong Bay
• Pinky Beach

4. Go snorkelling

A trip to Rottnest Island would not be complete without visiting one of the many snorkel trails. Pack your snorkelling gear and swim with the tropical fish right from the shoreline.

Little Salmon Bay, The Basin, and Parker Point are some great spots for snorkelling and have lots of thriving marine life and gentle waves.

5. Take the kids to the Aquapark (seasonal)

During the summer months, a floating water park opens up at Rottnest Island. This floating obstacle coursem called Just 4 Fun Aqua Park, can be found in Thomson Bay, and opens in November.

It offers a range of family-friendly floaties and inflatable obstacle courses, as well as offers water equipment for kids. If you’re traveling with toddlers, there’s even a Knee Deep Zone for little ones to splash around in.

You can rent paddle boats, stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, and much more. Or enjoy the sea catapult, sea saws, and slides into the ocean!

6. Have dinner with a view

There are plenty of cafes on Rottnest Island that come with a good view, but one that we loved was Pinky’s Beach Club by Pinky Beach.

Grab a table by the ocean and do some whale watching whilst you gorge yourself on some delicious seafood. If you are short on time and don’t want to stop at a café, you can get quick bites to eat from the general store.

7. Check out The Visitor Centre

If you’re looking for information about the attractions on Rottnest Island, aside from the simple plaque with a few sentences telling you about it, then you’ll want to head to the Visitor Centre.

To really learn more about the island’s history and uses, the Visitors Centre offers several free walking tours of many of the top landmarks on Rottnest Island

The “Go Cultural Aboriginal” tour is a popular favourite, as it gives visitors a chance to learn all about the Noongar people, who are the island’s traditional owners.

The visitor centre is also a great place to book accommodation, ferry tickets, boat tours and pick up maps of the island.

8. Take a Rottnest Island Cruise

A Rottnest cruise is a great way to look for some local marine life. The boat journey takes you off the shores of the island, and if you’re lucky, you might spot some humpback whales breaching in the water.

If you’re very lucky, you may also see dolphins or even New Zealand fur seals off the shores. As you sail the crystal clear waters, you can kick back and relax in style as you sail on a luxury catamaran boat.

See whale watching cruises here

9. Visit the Rottnest Bakery

For a bite to eat or a little pick-me-up, check out the Rottnest Bakery. Here you will find delicious homemade cakes and sweet treats, as well as savoury pies, sandwiches, and pastries.

But the food is not the only reason to visit the bakery. Even the local resident quokkas know this bakery is good, as they can often be found hanging around outside.

10. Walk the Wadjemup Bidi Trail

If you’re up for a hike, then be sure to hit up the Wagjemup trail. The trail is 45 km and spans the entire island. Mos

Craig Makepeaceمصدر