Things to do and Top Attractions on Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island lies just offshore from the city of Perth, in Western Australia. 

A preserved nature reserve, it’s home to the quokka, a small wallaby-like marsupial. White-sand beaches and concealed coves include the Basin, with its depthless waters, and Thomson Bay, the main hub and ferry port. Strickland Bay is recognized for its surf breaks, while reef breaks occur at Radar Reef, off the island’s far western tip.

How to reach Rottnest Island?

Rottnest Island is 11 miles off the shore of Western Australia. It’s a 30-minute ferry ride from Fremantle, a 45-minute ferry ride from Hillarys Boat Harbour in the northern suburbs of Perth, or 90 minutes via ferry from Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty.

Things to do here

1. Skydive: Experience unbelievable views of Western Australia’s grand coastline as you skydive over blue-green waters toward the beach at Rottnest Island. It won’t just get your heart pumping; it’ll also give you a one-of-a-kind vantage point of the remarkable island.
   
2. Quokka: Rottnest Island is known worldwide as the home of the cutest animal in the world, the quokka. Apart from a colony on the mainland, they are found nowhere else on Earth. These little animals, similar to wallabies, are found in plenty on the island, and have no fear of humans so they will often come right up to guests. Don’t touch them though. That is illegal. Social Distance FTW.
   
3. Whales: Rottnest Island is an excellent location to see humpback whales as they make their annual migration along Western Australia’s beaches. In April, about 35,000 whales travel north from the Antarctic to feeding and birthing spots in the Indian Ocean. From late August to November, on their return journey with newborn calves, they spend important time around Rottnest Island’s guarded waters, before once more heading south. 
   
4. Beach Please: With 63 beaches, Rottnest Island is a famous destination for water sports, including swimming, diving, surfing, fishing, and snorkeling. You can also take a guided bus tour, which loops around the island in 90 minutes while guides give a brief into the island’s cultural and traditional legacy, as well as its flora and fauna.