If you’re looking to shake off the work week with Rottnest Island day trip from Perth, you won’t be disappointed. Just 30km off the mainland, Rotto has a laid-back island vibe that’ll make you feel like you’re on holiday, not just a day trip!
It was love at first sight when I first visited Rottnest Island, and I’ve been back countless times since. It never gets old! It’s also always my top recommendation when friends ask me what they should do on their trip to Perth.
So, whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, follow this Rottnest Island day trip itinerary for a wonderful day that takes in the very best of this awesome island.
Rottnest Island Day Trip Itinerary
I recommend arriving at Rottnest by 10.30am at the latest and getting a ferry back to Perth at around 5.30pm. Obviously, in winter you’ll want to return to Perth a little earlier. We’ll cover how to get to and get around Rottnest later, but first, here’s the itinerary you should follow for a perfect day out:
1. The Settlement
The Settlement is where it all starts because this is where the ferries will drop you off on Rotto. This is also the only thing even close to a “town” on the island, so if you need to stock up on water, snacks, or suncream, this is the place to do it.
There are also a few cafes and restaurants here (and even, bizarrely, a Subway), so if you need to grab something for lunch do it now. You’ll be extremely limited for options outside The Settlement.
2. Porpoise Bay
Hopping on your bike, set off to tackle the island in an anticlockwise direction. You can cycle in either direction, but this route is my favourite so that you tackle the hillier sections of the island in the first half of your day.
There are a couple of spots you’ll pass along the way, but I recommend carrying on until you reach Porpoise Bay. This isn’t a spot to sunbathe, but it’s very popular with snorkellers thanks to the reef close to the shore.
3. Jeannies Lookout
Hopping back on your bike, your next rest stop is Jeannies Lookout, a scenic viewpoint that offers fabulous views of the sea sprawling out as far as you can see. The lookout is lovely, but the journey there is also as pretty as a postcard, dotted with colourful flora and fauna.
4. Little Salmon Bay & Salmon Bay
These twin bays are two of the prettiest on the island, and, despite being neighbours, offer totally different things.
Little Salmon Bay is, as the name suggests, little, and fairly sheltered thanks to the small cliffs on either side of it. The sand here is bright white, and the sea a brilliant shade of blue that looks almost neon! If you head a few metres out to sea you’ll find reefs that are super fun to snorkel around.
Little Salmon Bay is very busy – I think because it’s the first truly epic beach you pass on your Rottnest Island loop, so everybody wants to stop here. It’s still worth a stop, 100%, but limit your time here and then head a couple of minutes onwards to Salmon Bay.
Salmon Bay, in contrast, is a long sandy beach with plenty of space to spread out and swim in peace, and I think it’s even prettier than Little Salmon Bay! The only thing to note is that this part of the island is very exposed, so there’s practically no shade. Don’t hold back on the suncream!
5. Wadjemup Lighthouse (optional)
Now, it’s time to cut across to the other side of the island (otherwise you’ll run out of time on your day trip to Rottnest Island from Perth). Making the slight detour to stop at Wadjemup Lighthouse along the way is optional but recommended!
The cycle up is a struggle, but there’s good news: quokkas, the uber-cute smiley creatures native to Rottnest, love to hang out under the shade of the trees on the path up to the lighthouse. Keep your eyes peeled – just remember to admire them from a distance and not to feed or touch the quokkas.
From the top, there’s a small refreshment van and you can stop to take a breather with an ice-cold drink. Here, you can look across the bay and see the skyscrapers of Perth CBD in the distance.
6. Pink Lakes
You’ll pass quite a few pink lakes on this part of the journey, but how “pink” they actually look depends on the time of year you visit. I’ve always visited in summer, and the lakes were dried out, but I’ve seen photos of them indeed looking super pink when they have water in them.
Taking a break to explore and snap some photos offers a great chance to rest during your bike ride!
7. Little Parakeet Bay
This glorious beach looks similar to Little Salmon Bay – just without the crowds! The calm waters here are perfect for a dip to cool off, and there are a fair few spots along the sand with natural shade thanks to rocks and the sand dunes surrounding the beach. I like to roll out my towel and linger here because it’s so peaceful – it feels miles away from the busyness of Perth.
8. Longreach Bay
And finally, this is your last stop on this Rottnest Island day trip itinerary before returning to the Settlement. This is the place to be in the late afternoon. As you step onto the soft, white sand, you’re welcomed by a gentle breeze and water so clear you’d swear it’s been filtered!
The bay’s open, wide stretch is perfect for spreading out a beach towel, cracking open a book, or just lounging around if you have time to kill before heading back to The Settlement to catch your ferry.
How to Get to Rottnest Island from Perth
Getting to Rottnest Island is pretty straightforward, and there are plenty of ferry companies to choose from, including SeaLink, Rottnest Express, and Rottnest Fast Ferries. The prices and experience of travelling with each company don’t vary much, so pick based on which timetable fits your schedule best.
You can catch Rottnest Island ferries from three locations: Barrack Street Jetty in Perth, Hillarys Boat Harbour, and Fremantle. Fremantle is my favourite departure point, not only because the journey from here is the fastest (just 25 minutes) but also because I used to work in Fremantle, so I love any opportunity to pop back there nowadays.
The ferries from Barrack Street take about 90 minutes, and from Hillarys, the journey takes around 45 minutes.
If you’re heading out over the weekend or during the school holidays, you really do need to book your ferry and your bike hire in advance, because tickets do sell out! During these periods, it’s also best to arrive around 30 minutes in advance of your ferry departure to get in line so that you can pick good seats for the journey.
How to Get Around Rottnest
Rottnest Island is, aside from a few ranger vehicles, totally car-free. That’s why it’s so iconic to rent a bike and cycle around the island. Fortunately, though, this isn’t your only option. Here are the best ways to get around Rottnest on your day trip:
- Bike: Most ferry companies offer the option to reserve a bike when booking your ticket, and this is the best option as it’ll be waiting for you on arrival at Rottnest. If you forget, or book your ticket last-minute, you can hire a bike on the island at Pedal & Flipper, but the queues can get pretty extreme in summer.
- Bus: It’s surprisingly hard work cycling round the island, as it has a lot of hilly sections, barely any shade, and, in summer at least, can be hotter than 40°C. For this reason, there’s a Rottnest Island bus you can take that does a loop of the top spots. HOWEVER – big word of warning here: you may have to wait up to 90 minutes to get on the bus, since there are just not enough for the amount of people. Then, you’ll have to wait at each stop for who knows how long until a bus with space arrives to pick you up.
- Sightseeing bus: Finally, there’s also a sightseeing bus. It’s not hop-on-hop-off, but it does drive past all of the island’s top spots and let you get off for photos a few times. If you’re not cycling, this is the best option, as it’s far more predictable than the hop-on-hop-off bus, so you won’t miss your ferry home.
Rottnest Island Essentials to Pack
It’s a full-on day on Rottnest, with surprisingly few places to stock up on supplies, so it’s best to bring everything you’ll need with you:
- Factor 50 suncream, and lots of it
- Swimwear and beach towel
- LOTS of water. Even more than you’d think – trust me
- Portable phone charger – you’ll use a lot of battery taking photos
- Sunglasses, sun hat, and a T-shirt that covers your shoulders
Are You Excited to Visit Rottnest?
Wrapping up a day on Rottnest Island always leaves me a bit nostalgic, even before I’ve boarded the ferry back to Perth. I’ve had so many amazing days out there! Remember, Rotto is as laid-back as they come, so take things at your own pace, soak in the views, and, of course, don’t forget to snap a selfie with a quokka!
