Rottnest Island Travel Guide

With its perfect beaches, unique wildlife and beautiful weather, it’s no wonder that Rottnest Island is a popular destination with overseas visitors and Australians alike. There’s also plenty to interest history buffs on this fascinating island located just 18 kilometres off the Perth coast. This charming island may only be small at 11 kilometres by 4.5 kilometres at its longest and widest points, but it’s big in personality.Rottnest Island is perfect for swimmers as its sandy beaches and pretty bays are lapped by crystal clear waters. These waters are also perfect for snorkelling. See the ocean’s flora and fauna up close as you float above it, admiring colourful ocean life and beautiful coral. There are also some great spots for scuba divers where they can encounter nurse sharks and rays in the incredible limestone formations around the island. If you prefer to stay dry, you can see the coral in all its splendour in a glass-bottom viewing boat. There are plenty of waves for surfers on the island at Strickland and Stark bays.On the shore, you’ll notice plaques that show the location of 13 ships that went down in these waters after coming into contact with the island’s outer reefs. Bathurst Lighthouse is also open to visitors and provides stunning 360-degree ocean views.A good way to explore the island is by bike along one of the many walking and cycling tracks. Bikes can be hired on the island and are a good way of getting to some of the more secluded of the island’s beaches. Alternatively, there is a shuttle bus near the ferry stop that stops at some of the island’s key locations. The further you travel from the main settlement around Thomas Bay, the fewer people you’ll bump into.If you want to find out more about the history of the island, don’t miss a visit the Rottnest Island Museum where you can learn all about the island’s indigenous history from its discovery by the Dutch, its settlement by the British and its role as a penal colony as well as a military outpost. Rottnest Island can be reached by one of the pedestrian ferries available from the docks in Fremantle, the jetty in central Perth or Hillarys Boat Harbour. If you intend to spend the night on the island, you’ll need to book well in advance of your stay.