AU · Western Australia · 32.01°S 115.52°E

rottnest island

Quokkas, clear swimming bays and bike rides on an island off Perth.

Best time
October–November and February–April are warm, and the sea is often calm enough for snorkelling. December–January is school-holiday busy; June–August is cool and wet, and the crossing can be rough.
How long
1–2 days
Getting there
Fly direct to Perth in just over 5 hours. Ferries to Rottnest leave from Fremantle (about 30 minutes) and central Perth (about 90 minutes). Western Australia is on the same time as KL.
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AU · Western Australiarottnest island32.01°S 115.52°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Quokkas, clear swimming bays and bike rides on an island off Perth.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingRottnest IslandAU, Western Australia
KLrottnest island
≈ 4,172 km from KL, as the crow flies
Rottnest Island

Photo: Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Rottnest, or Wadjemup, is Perth's car-free holiday island: small turquoise bays linked by quiet roads made for bikes. The quokkas get the selfies, but the swimming and snorkelling are reason enough to stay a night.

Makan

  1. Bakery lunchPastries and sandwiches from the settlement bakery, for a picnic between swims.Map ↗
  2. Fish and chipsA takeaway by the jetty before the ferry home.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. The BasinA shallow, reef-ringed bay a short ride from the settlement, and the easiest first swim.Map ↗
  2. Little Salmon BayA sheltered cove with reef and fish close to shore, one of the island's best snorkels.Map ↗
  3. Island bike loopAbout 22 km of quiet roads past salt lakes, beaches and the lighthouse, with a bay to swim in every few kilometres.Map ↗
  4. QuokkasThe small, round-faced marsupials doze in the shade around the settlement and wander up to anyone with a bag.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Bikes can be hired with your ferry ticket, and the island bus is there if hills aren't your thing.
  • Feeding or touching quokkas is banned, and they'll happily raid an unzipped bag.
  • Halal food on the island is limited, so bring a picnic from Perth, where halal Malay and Indonesian food is easy to find.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.