Planning a trip to Rottnest Island from Perth? During my time in Western Australia, I visited Rottnest Island as a day trip from Perth and quickly understood why it’s such a popular escape. From beautiful beaches and turquoise water to the island’s famous quokkas, Rottnest Island was one of the highlights of my time in Western Australia.
In this guide, I’m sharing my experience, how we got there, what we did on the island and my tips for planning your own Rottnest Island day trip.
Where Is Rottnest Island?
Rottnest Island is a small island located off the coast of Western Australia, close to Perth. The island is known for its beautiful beaches, turquoise bays and, of course, its adorable quokkas.
What I loved about Rottnest Island was how different it felt from Perth. Even though it’s easy to reach as a day trip, it immediately feels like a little island escape.
How to Get to Rottnest Island from Perth
We travelled to the island by ferry. Depending on where you are staying, ferries to Rottnest Island depart from Perth, Fremantle and Hillarys. If you’re visiting for just one day, I recommend booking your ferry in advance and choosing an early departure. This gives you as much time as possible to explore the island before taking the ferry back later in the day.
Getting to Rottnest Island from Perth is relatively easy, which makes it perfect for a day trip.
Getting to Rottnest Island – Ferry from Perth
We took the ferry from Perth to Rottnest Island and returned the same day. The ferry ride is straightforward, comfortable and offers beautiful views along the way.
- Departure point: Perth
- Travel time: around 90 minutes
- Return: same day
For us, a one-day trip to Rottnest Island was perfect. It gave us enough time to explore the island without feeling rushed, and we never felt like we were missing out by not staying overnight.
Getting Around Rottnest Island – Explore by Bike
One of the most important things to know before visiting Rottnest Island is that you can only get around by bike. There are no public transport options like buses, and private cars are not allowed. Bikes can be rented directly on the island, and this is by far the best way to explore. We cycled all over the island and even managed to cycle around the entire island in one day. The routes are well maintained, scenic, and suitable even if you’re not an experienced cyclist.
Reaching the lighthouse by bike was one of the highlights of our Rottnest Island visit. The coastal cycling paths offer stunning ocean views, making the ride there and back just as impressive as the lighthouse itself.
Meeting the Quokkas on Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island is famously known as the island of the quokkas, and you really don’t need to worry about spotting them. As soon as you arrive on the island, quokkas are everywhere. They are curious, relaxed around people, and incredibly photogenic. Seeing quokkas in their natural habitat was one of the highlights of our visit. Just remember to never feed the quokkas, keep a respectful distance, and enjoy watching them behave naturally in their environment.
Is One Day Enough on Rottnest Island Western Australia?
In our opinion: yes, one day is completely sufficient.
In one day, we were able to:
- Take the ferry from Perth
- Rent bikes
- Cycle across the island
- See countless quokkas
- Enjoy beaches and coastal views
- Cycle all the way around the island
- Have lunch at one of the island cafés
- Enjoy coffee, tea, and pastries along the way
Rottnest Island is the perfect day trip from Perth, offering beautiful coastal scenery, relaxed cycling routes and unforgettable encounters with quokkas, a truly special experience in Australia.
