In a nutshell
- Rottnest Island is a small island off the west coast of Australia, just a short ferry ride from Perth. The island became world-famous thanks to its quokkas — these mini-kangaroos are seriously among the cutest things we’ve ever seen.
- Beyond the quokkas, Rottnest Island has beautiful viewpoints, gorgeous bays like Salmon Bay perfect for snorkeling, and two historic lighthouses.
- Feeling adventurous? You can even go skydiving over the island — Jenny did it and called it the best experience of the trip.
- Read on for everything you need to know about things to do on Rottnest Island, how to get there, and our best quokka selfie tips.
Quokkas: The Residents of Rottnest Island
Before we share our best quokka photos and selfies, let us tell you a little about these absolutely adorable creatures.
Quokkas are a small kangaroo species, with estimates suggesting only 7,000 to 8,000 individuals remain in the wild.
They live exclusively in Western Australia, with roughly half of them calling Rottnest Island home.
Why are quokkas so popular? Just look at the photos below and you’ll get it immediately. These little guys are seriously cute — it’s impossible not to love them.
You’ll find quokkas all over Rottnest Island. They live in small groups and are often spotted hanging out along roadsides.
The Quokka Selfie Craze
On Rottnest Island, quokkas are very comfortable around people, which is why snapping a selfie with one of these little critters has become a huge thing over the past few years. With their seemingly permanent grin, quokkas are absolutely selfie-worthy.
In reality, getting a good quokka selfie isn’t all that easy — but we gave it everything we had. You can see the results below. Not bad, right?
Warning: Despite their cuteness and friendliness, quokkas are still wild animals. Please don’t feed or touch them. Unfortunately, some travelers ignore this and feed the animals just to nail the perfect selfie.
Why you shouldn’t feed or touch them
Quokkas are definitely not built to eat human food like bread, cookies, or chips. It can make them seriously sick or even cause them to die.
Even though they practically invite you to, you should also not pet quokkas. They’re very sensitive to scents, and petting them transfers the smell of humans onto the animal. This can lead to a quokka being rejected by its group because of the unfamiliar scent.
Who would want to be responsible for an adorable quokka suddenly having no friends? Exactly! Strangely, there are hardly any signs on the island addressing this — and the ones that do exist are tiny and easy to miss.
Things to Do on Rottnest Island
The quokkas are, of course, the absolute highlight of visiting Rottnest Island. But there are definitely a few other great things to see and do while you’re there.
Your best bet is to rent a bicycle. It’s the most fun way to explore the island — and you’ll keep stumbling across quokkas along the way.
There are some beautiful viewpoints and secluded coves dotted around the island. We especially loved (Little) Salmon Bay, a gorgeous little cove with white sandy beaches and crystal-clear water.
At Salmon Bay and several other spots around the island, you can also go snorkeling. Since we visited in Australia’s late autumn, it was a bit too cold for us — but in summer, it looks absolutely incredible.
Also worth a look are the two lighthouses on Rottnest Island: the Wadjemup Lighthouse in the interior and the Bathurst Lighthouse to the northeast.
Skydiving with Geronimo Skydive
Looking for a truly unforgettable experience on Rottnest Island? How about a skydive over the island with a landing right on the beach?
While Basti thought this sounded a little crazy, Jenny was immediately on board — and actually completed her very first skydive here on Rottnest Island.
So how was it? “Amaziiiiiing! I want to do it again right now!” were her exact words after landing. That pretty much says it all!
Skydiving on Rottnest Island is run by Geronimo Skydive. After a quick orientation, you take off from the island’s small airstrip — and then it’s straight back down at freefall speed.
Book your Rottnest Island skydive here
Getting to Rottnest Island
You reach Rottnest Island by ferry. Several companies run services to the island, and prices are pretty similar across all of them. A round-trip ticket costs just under 70 AUD per person, plus a 21 AUD island entry fee.
You can buy tickets on-site or book online in advance:
Rottnest Express and Sealink run multiple daily departures from Fremantle to Rottnest Island, taking about 30 minutes. Rottnest Express also offers a connection from Elizabeth Quay in Perth, with a journey time of about one hour and 15 minutes.
Round-trip ferry from Fremantle to Rottnest Island
Round-trip ferry from Fremantle including bicycle rental and hotel pickup
Rottnest Fast Ferries operates between Hillarys in the northwest of Perth and Rottnest Island. The crossing takes about 45 minutes.
Round-trip ferry from Hillarys to Rottnest Island
Round-trip ferry from Hillarys to Rottnest Island including bicycles
Getting Around Rottnest Island
There are several ways to get around once you’re on the island: by bicycle, on foot, by bus, or on a small train.
Here’s everything you need to know about your options.
Renting a Bicycle on Rottnest Island
We explored the island on rental bikes — and honestly, it’s the best way to go. A bike gives you by far the most flexibility. You can stop whenever you feel like it (say, when a group of quokkas appears by the roadside) and manage your time however you please.
The ferry companies offer bicycle rentals too. You can add a bike to your ferry ticket and pick it up right as you step off the boat.
Alternatively, there’s a bike rental shop near the ferry dock.
In Australia, helmets are mandatory for cyclists — and that applies on Rottnest Island too. Helmets are included with your rental.
Bike Rental and Bus Return
The Bike and Bus combo is especially handy for families. You rent bikes and ride around the island for as long as you like.
When you’ve had enough pedaling, just leave the bike at one of the bus stops and hop on the bus back to the ferry terminal whenever it suits you.
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
Not into cycling? You can also ride the hop-on hop-off buses around the island for 30 AUD (children 22 AUD).
The first bus departs at 8:45 AM and stops at each station every 30 minutes. Tickets are available at the Visitor Centre on the island.
Train Ride
Another fun option is the Oliver Hill Train Ride. The train departs at 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, and 2:30 PM from the settlement’s station. Tickets are available at the Visitor Centre on Rottnest Island.
Food and Drink on Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island was historically an uninhabited island. Before it was opened to visitors, it was used exclusively by the military — which means there are no villages with shops and restaurants spread across the island.
Around the ferry dock, you’ll find a handful of restaurants and cafes. The rest of the island has neither shops nor food options. So make sure you bring enough water when you head out to explore by bike.
Our Verdict on Rottnest Island
A day trip to Rottnest Island is an absolute must if you’re spending time in Western Australia or Perth.
The quokkas alone make it a genuinely special experience — and on top of that, the island is simply stunning.
One practical tip: we’d recommend visiting on a weekday rather than a weekend if you can. Weekends see a lot of locals making the trip out, and it gets noticeably more crowded.
