Rottnest Island, also known as ‘Rotto’ by the locals, is located just off shore of Western Australia’s capital city, Perth. Home to picture perfect beaches, surreal marine life and the worlds happiest animal, the Quokka, Rottnest Island is the ultimate destination for any outdoor and animal lover.
Despite the Island being only a speck on the map, Rotto is jam packed full of adventures that await to be explored! This is your perfect guide to visiting Rottnest Island for the day!
“…pleasurable above all islands I have ever seen -a paradise on earth”
-Willem De Vlamingh
Getting to Rottnest Island
The Island can be accessed via water and air, but the most affordable and more convenient option is by ferry. The ferry can be accessed at both Fremantle (20 minutes) and Hillary’s (45 minutes). Tickets can cost around $80-$120, depending on where and when you purchase the ticket. To ensure you secure a ticket and good price, I’d advise making a purchase at least a few days to weeks in advance.
Getting around Rottnest Island
Although there are roads around Rottnest Island, these are primarily used for bikes and buses. Cars are only used by people maintaining and working on the Island. You can purchase a bus pass or hire a bike in which are great ways to explore the Island, however everything within this blog post can be reached within minutes on foot, therefore I recommend saving this money for snorkelling gear instead!
How to spend the day
The Settlement
The Settlement is found on Thompson Bay in which the ferries dock – making this the first place to visit and explore. Although originally inhabited by the Noongar people, the Island was separated from mainland Australia 7,000 years ago and had no human presence during this time up until it’s rediscovery by European Settlers in the 17th century. The Island was given the name Rottnest (translated from ‘Rats nest’) by a Dutch explorer who believed the Quokkas were massive rats.
The mud brick heritage buildings that make up the Settlement today were built 200 years later by Aborigional people who were imprisoned on the Island between 1838 and 1931 when Rottnest Island was used as a prison due to its isolated location.
Today, the historic buildings are used to house shops, cafes and even residences on the Island. Here you can pick up some snacks, sunscreen, souvenirs and other supplies before exploring more of the Island.
Visit Pinky Beach & lighthouse
Pinky Beach is possibly one of my favourite Australian beaches! Boasting a long strip of white sand, pristine water and lively reefs, it’s the perfect place to have a dip and take in Rotto’s natural beauty!
Pinky Beach is best known for its picturesque white brick lighthouse, Bathurst Lighthouse, which sets the backdrop to a long afternoon on the beach as the sun sets. The iconic landmark was built and used from 1900 after a ship wreckage on the shore in 1899.
It is easy to let time slip away at the beach, whether it be wading the water, snorkelling or just simply relaxing on the sand and taking in the view.
Lunch at Pinky’s Beach Club
Pinky’s Beach club resides only meters away from Pinky Beach, making this the perfect location for lunch. Here you can find a number of cafes and a bar where you can fuel up and take time to relax whilst gazing over the oceans reef and admire the Quokkas scavenging food.
Snorkel in the Basin
After lunch, you can make your way to The Basin, the next beach over from Pinky Beach. I loved Pinky beach however this location felt like a merge of Southern Europe and Australia – I mean what else can you ask for? With cascading white rocks, vibrant coral reefs and tropical fish aplenty, The Basin is the perfect place to get the snorkel gear out and swim amongst the marine life.
The reef sprawls out a long distance, making for a truly magical experience!
If you don’t own your own Snorkel gear, you can hire some for $50 from the Settlement shops.
The Quokka’s
What you should know about the Quokka
The quokka is a rare marsupial that is only found on Rottnest Island in addition to a small area within the South West of Western Australia’s national parks. Dubbed as the happiest animal in the world due to their distinct smiles and friendly demeanours, many people travel from around Australia and the world, to view these beautiful animals.
Due to the rarity of the Quokka and strong presence on Island, Rottnest Island is an A class reserve – the most protected reserve classification possible. To ensure the safety of the quokka there are strict rules around how humans interact with the adorable critter.
It is important to note that you CANNOT touch a Quokka. This is for both the safety of the quokka and your own. The mammal carries some pretty nasty diseases and although friendly, they can bite when feeling threatened. Touching a quokka is a serious offence and comes with a hefty fine and penalties.
Secondly, I encourage people not to crowd the quokkas, especially mothers and their babies. It’s important to respect the wild animal and their habitat. There are quokkas that are friendlier than others and will normally approach you if you wait.
The Quokka Selfie
Taking an iconic selfie with a Quokka is a must do – but as previously mention, you must not make contact with the animal or make them feel threatened. The best way to achieve the quokka selfie is by using a selfie stick or wide lensed camera.
Alternatively you can get someone to take the photo for you, just be prepared to lay on your stomach in the dirt in order to achieve the perfect angle.
Where to find the Quokka’s
Quokkas are nocturnal animals and therefore your chances of seeing them are better early morning or in the late afternoons, however, that doesn’t mean that you won’t find any during the day – there’s still plenty.
You can find them around the settlement, near the golf course and on the footpath that runs between the Settlement and The Basin.
Wander Mak 
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