One Day on Rottnest Island: What to Do & Where to See Quokkas!
Planning a day trip to Rottnest Island from Perth? It is indeed one of those must-visit places in Australia. Not only does it have beautiful beaches with crystal-clear waters, but it’s also home to one of Australia’s most curious animals: the quokka.
If you want to meet these adorable little creatures, you’ll first need to make your way to Perth, one of the most isolated cities in the world. But I promise you, the journey is well worth it!
Plan your visit with this one-day itinerary covering the best of Rottnest Island: cycling, beaches, snorkelling and, of course… tips on where to find the quokka, the happiest animal in the world!
ONE DAY ON ROTTNEST ISLAND
2 How To Get to Rottnest Island
Explore Rottnest Island by Bike
Explore Rottnest Island by Bus
4 What to Bring to Rottnest Island
6 What to See on Rottnest Island in One Day
The Best Spot to See Quokkas
7 How Much Does a Trip to Rottnest Island Cost?
WHERE IS ROTTNEST ISLAND?
Rottnest Island is located on the west coast of Australia, just 33 kilometres from the city of Perth. It’s a small island covering around 19 square kilometres, roughly the same size as Fremantle, and is home to around 300 people.
Rottnest Island is just 33 kilometers off the coast of Perth
The island was discovered by Dutch explorers in 1619 and was named “Rottenest,” meaning “rat’s nest.” This was because its main inhabitants at the time were quokkas, small marsupials that the explorers mistook for giant rats.
HOW TO GET TO ROTTNEST ISLAND FROM PERTH
Unless you have your own boat, the easiest way to get to Rottnest Island is by ferry from Perth. There are several departure points:
Barrack St Jetty, Elizabeth Quay, Perth CBD (90 min)
Hillarys Boat Harbour (40 min)
Northport, Rous Head Harbour, North Fremantle (30 min)
B Shed, Victoria Quay, Fremantle (30 min)
The shortest ferry crossing is from Fremantle, and this is the option I would recommend. You can get to Freo by public transport from Perth and then walk about 10 minutes to Victoria Quay, where you can catch either the SeaLink (the blue ferry) or Rottnest Express (the red ferry). If you’re driving, there’s a large paid car park nearby.
It’s a good idea to book your ferry in advance, especially if you’re travelling during the summer months or on weekends. This is the ferry that I booked.
A $20 island conservation fee per person is included when you purchase your ferry tickets. This money goes directly towards the conservation of Rottnest Island.
During the winter months (June to September in the Southern Hemisphere), the sea can get quite rough, so bring motion sickness tablets if you think you might need them, and try to sit towards the back of the boat.
Australians call Rottnest Island “Rotto.” They love shortening names!
GETTING AROUND ROTTNEST ISLAND: BIKE OR BUS
You’ll hardly see any cars on Rottnest Island (the few that are around are just service vehicles), as its small size makes it perfect for exploring by bike. And if you don’t fancy cycling 22 kilometres around the island, there’s also a bus that stops at some of the most interesting spots.
Explore Rottnest Island by bike
Spending a day exploring the island by bike at your own pace is, in my opinion, the most fun option. But I’m not going to lie: there’s no escaping a few good climbs with all those hills!
Hiring a bike from Pedal & Flipper
Pedal & Flipper is the island’s bike rental shop, located about a 10-minute walk from the ferry terminal. It’s open from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, so you’ll need to plan your day around these opening hours.
Your bike rental also includes a lock and a helmet, as wearing a helmet is compulsory whenever you cycle in Australia. (And I’ve just realised it’s probably to protect you from this dangerous Australian animal…)
They also rent e-bikes, snorkelling gear, paddleboards and pretty much everything else you might need for a day on the island.
Hiring a bike with your ferry ticket
When booking your ferry online, you can also add a bike or snorkelling equipment to your booking.
You’ll pay a little more than if you hire them directly from the shop, but the advantage is that everything will be ready for you as soon as you get off the ferry. On the way back, you can simply return the bike directly on the boat.
If you’re short on time, this is definitely the most convenient option.
We picked up our bikes from Pedal & Flipper and headed straight off to explore!
Explore Rottnest Island by bus
If you don’t fancy cycling, your next best option is the Rottnest Island Explorer, a bus that loops around the island and allows you to hop off at any of its 19 stops and hop back on as many times as you like. It runs every 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the time of day.
The ticket is valid all day, costs $25 per person and can be purchased from several places:
Book online in advance.
At the Rottnest Island Visitor Centre.
At the bus stop next to the ferry terminal.
WHAT TO BRING TO ROTTNEST ISLAND
Here’s a quick list of things to bring with you when visiting Rottnest Island:
Swimsuit
Towel or sarong
Sunscreen
Sunglasses and a hat
Trainers and flip-flops
Water bottle (you can refill it at Geordie Bay, The Basin, The Settlement and the Visitor Centre)
Snorkelling gear (you can also hire it from Pedal & Flipper)
Snacks (you can buy them on the island, although they’ll be more expensive)
Motion sickness tablets, if you need them
Don’t bring your drone, as drones are prohibited on Rottnest Island unless you have an official permit, which costs around $50. This is due to the small airport in the centre of the island and the abundance of wildlife.
Please don’t be one of those people who ignores the rules just because you’ve seen others doing it online.
ROTTNEST ISLAND MAP
Thomson Bay → Parker Point → Little Salmon Bay → Wadjemup Lighthouse → West End → Little Armstrong Bay → Parakeet Bay → Geordie Bay → The Basin → Pinky Beach → Thomson Bay
Rottnest Island can be explored by following a circular route around the coast. You’ll start in the eastern part of the island, where you’ll find The Settlement, home to the island’s hotels and restaurants, as well as the harbour where the ferry arrives.
I’d recommend cycling clockwise around the island. This way, you can avoid some of the afternoon winds along the southern coast and finish your day with a swim at The Basin, one of the island’s most beautiful beaches.
Although I’ve marked the most iconic spots on the map, you’ll find plenty of other viewpoints, paths and beaches where you can stop to take photos or simply enjoy the scenery. My advice? Stop wherever something catches your eye!
All the paths are also well signposted, so you won’t have any trouble finding your way around.
WHAT TO SEE ON ROTTNEST ISLAND IN ONE DAY
So, what can you actually see and do if you only have one day on Rottnest Island? Using the map above as a guide, here’s the route I’d recommend to make the most of your time on the island. Pick up a free map at the Visitor Centre, hop on your bike and let’s get exploring!
Allow roughly 6–8 hours for this route, depending on how long you spend swimming and snorkelling.
1. Thomson Bay
FERRY | ACCOMMODATION | RESTAURANTS
You’ll start your day at Thomson Bay, where you’ll find the main settlement on Rottnest Island. You can have a quick look around and grab something to eat if you haven’t brought your own food, but I’d recommend heading straight to Pedal & Flipper to pick up your bike and saving the town for later in the day.
From there, head left and follow the path towards the southern part of the island, where you’ll start discovering those beautiful white-sand beaches you’ve been waiting for.
2. Parker Point
VIEWS | SNORKELLING
Parker Point is a very photogenic beach, with a wooden staircase leading down from the lookout to the sand. The crystal-clear waters and coral reefs make it a great spot for snorkelling.
Parker Point’s wooden staircase, Rottnest Island
3. Little Salmon Bay and Salmon Bay
SNORKELLING | RELAX
A few metres further along, you’ll reach Little Salmon Bay, one of my favourite beaches on Rottnest Island. It’s right next to its bigger neighbour, Salmon Bay, but I found Little Salmon Bay prettier and more enjoyable, as it’s better sheltered from the wind.
Salmon Bay on Rottnest Island
4. Wadjemup Lighthouse
VIEWS | HISTORIC BUILDINGS
Located at the highest point on Rottnest Island, Wadjemup Lighthouse offers impressive panoramic views across the island and even as far as Perth. Built in 1896 to guide ships safely past the island, it stands 38 metres tall and is the fourth-tallest lighthouse in Australia.
It’s a beautiful spot with plenty of history, and well worth a stop for a different perspective of the island. Keep an eye out for quokkas along the way, too — they sometimes hide around the lower parts of the trees!
This new resort on Rottnest Island is located in Wadjemup, it's the kind of place I'd love to stay at!
5. West End
VIEWS | SEALS | CAFES
The western tip is the wildest part of the island. Head to the viewing platforms at Cathedral Rocks and Cape Vlamingh, and keep an eye on the rocks and water for seals. If you visit between late winter and early spring, this is also a good place to spot whales in the distance.
By the time you reach West End, you’ll be roughly halfway around the island. It’s a good opportunity to stop for a refreshing drink at Lexi’s on Rotto, a food truck in a very convenient location.
Crystal-clear water at one of Rottnest Island’s beaches
6. Little Armstrong Bay
BEACH
As you make your way along the northern coast, you’ll pass a string of beaches and viewpoints where you can stop and take in the scenery. Eventually, you’ll reach Little Armstrong Bay, a beautiful and peaceful spot where you can go for a swim or relax on the beach before continuing on to the busier parts of the island.
7. Parakeet Bay
SNORKELLING
Another scenic bay with calm waters and white sand. Parakeet Bay is a popular spot for snorkelling and enjoying Rottnest’s underwater scenery.
8. Geordie Bay
CAFE | ACCOMMODATION | QUOKKAS
After passing some of the island’s salt lakes (there are 10 in total), you’ll reach Geordie Bay. This is one of the more developed areas of Rottnest, with a General Store and a café where you can stop for a break: Geordie Bay Café & Art Gallery. This is also where I saw my first quokkas!
The quokka belongs to the same marsupial family as kangaroos
9. The Basin
SNORKELLING | FAMILIES
A beautiful natural lagoon with calm, shallow waters. It’s perfect for families and beginner swimmers, as well as for snorkelling and spotting little fish in the water. It can get a little busy as it’s one of the beaches closest to most of the island’s accommodation, but it’s still one of the must-visit spots on Rottnest Island.
Did you know that Rottnest Island was used as a prison for Aboriginal people from 1838 to 1931?
10. Pinky Beach
SWIMMING | SUNSET | COCKTAILS
To finish your day around the island, you can’t miss Pinky Beach, one of Rottnest’s most iconic beaches. With its pinkish sand, it’s a great place to relax and watch the sun go down. You can also grab a cocktail at the Pinky Beach Club or take a walk over to Bathurst Lighthouse.
You’re now just a short distance from Thomson Bay, so I’d head back to return your bike and spend some time wandering around the settlement because…
Bathurst Lighthouse on Rottnest Island
The best place to see quokkas on Rottnest Island
You might think quokkas are roaming all over Rottnest Island and that you’ll spot them around every corner. But that’s not quite how it works. When I visited, I headed straight to the bike rental shop and set off around the island. And what happened? I spent most of the day wondering if I’d been completely sold a lie about the quokkas.
Quokkas are nocturnal animals, so they’re not particularly active for much of the day and aren’t always easy to spot, especially during the hottest hours. Your chances of seeing them are much better around sunset.
So, where can you see quokkas pretty much any time of day? Thomson Bay!
There are about 10.000 quokkas on Rottnest Island
Of course, the quokkas have figured out that where there are humans, there’s usually food too, so they love hanging around the shops and restaurants.
Please don’t touch or feed them, as it’s prohibited and you can be fined for doing so. But feel free to take as many selfies as you like!
>> Where to see koalas, platypuses and other Australian animals in the wild
Getting the perfect quokka selfie means getting down on the ground. Yep.
HOW MUCH DOES A TRIP TO ROTTNEST ISLAND COST?
So, how much should you budget for a day on Rottnest Island? Here’s a breakdown of the main costs per person (in Australian dollars):
RETURN FERRY: $88 (including the $20 island conservation fee)
BIKE RENTAL: $35
DAY BUS PASS: $35
SNORKELLING GEAR RENTAL: $23
FOOD
The only essential expense you need to budget for when visiting Rottnest Island independently is the ferry. I’d also recommend hiring a bike so you can explore the island freely, or taking the bus instead. Everything else depends on what you want to do — and, of course, your budget!
And if you have more time on the island, you can make the most of it with some other activities:
Skydiving — If skydiving is on your bucket list, Rottnest Island could be a pretty spectacular place to do it. The views from up there must be incredible!
IS ROTTNEST ISLAND WORTH VISITING?
If I had to choose between spending a day in Perth or a day on Rottnest Island, I’d pick the island! Perth is a nice city to visit, but Rotto feels like a more unique experience — beautiful beaches, crystal-clear water and the chance to see one of the world’s most unique animals. So, if you’re in Perth, I’d definitely make the trip!
Thinking about staying longer? While one day on Rottnest Island is enough to see the main highlights, staying for a few extra days gives you more time to enjoy its beaches and discover some of the island’s quieter spots.
Rottnest Island is espectacular!
ACCOMMODATION ON ROTTNEST ISLAND
Despite its small size, Rottnest Island has a range of accommodation options to suit different types of travellers, from camping to more luxurious hotels. It’s best to book well in advance, especially during summer and school holidays.
Best for camping: Stay Rottnest Campground costs around $41 and offers unpowered sites only. There are shared bathrooms and a communal kitchen. You can find more information about camping in Australia in this post.
Free camping is not allowed on Rottnest Island.
Best for backpackers: A favourite among backpackers and one of the more affordable options is Stay Rottnest Hostel & Dorms, with both private and shared rooms in a historic building.
Best for families & groups: Rottnest Self Contained Units are fully equipped units for groups or families of 4–6 people, spread across different areas of the island.
Best for glamping: As one of the island’s newer accommodation options, Discovery Rottnest Island features modern, sustainable cabins located close to Pinky Beach. Breakfast is included every morning.
Best for luxury: Samphire Rottnest is the most luxurious hotel on Rottnest Island and features a great swimming pool, located right on Thomson Bay.
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