Rottnest Island Return Ferry and Island Admission from Perth

Barrack Street Jetty and the Swan River

Barrack Street Jetty is Perth's main river ferry hub, set at Elizabeth Quay right in the heart of the city, a short walk from most central hotels and the train station. Your morning starts at Pier 3, where the ferry leaves at 08:30. If your boarding pass has not arrived by email, the ticket desk at the pier can issue it, so give yourself a little time before departure.

The first part of the journey is a scenic cruise down the Swan River. As the city skyline slips behind you, look out for the green escarpment of Kings Park, the leafy riverside suburbs, the sailing clubs of the wide river reaches and the pale limestone cliffs near the river mouth. It is a relaxed way to see Perth from the water, and the ferry has a kiosk where coffee, tea and snacks can be bought for the ride.

Past Fremantle and across to the island

Near the mouth of the river the ferry passes Fremantle, Perth's historic port city, with its busy container wharves, heritage warehouses and the old harbour where the river meets the Indian Ocean. Fremantle is known for its markets, cafes and nineteenth-century streetscapes, and it is easy to visit on another day by train from Perth.

From the harbour mouth the ferry heads out across open water to Rottnest Island, which lies about 19 kilometres offshore. The crossing can be bumpy when the afternoon sea breeze picks up, so bring a tablet if you are prone to seasickness. On a clear morning you soon see the low island rising from the sea, its white beaches and turquoise shallows becoming brighter as you approach the jetty at Thomson Bay, the main settlement where every visitor arrives.

Rottnest Island and its famous quokkas

Rottnest Island, called Wadjemup by the local Noongar people, is a protected nature reserve about 11 kilometres long. Its name comes from early European sailors who mistook the island's small marsupials for large rats and called it a rats' nest. Those animals are quokkas, and today they are the island's biggest celebrities: round, friendly-looking and often seen resting in the shade near the settlement and along the bike paths.

Quokkas are wild and protected, so you may photograph them but never touch or feed them. The best time to see quokkas on Rottnest Island is in the cooler morning or late afternoon, when they are most active. Is Rottnest Island worth visiting? For most travellers it is one of the highlights of Western Australia, combining wildlife, clean water and a calm car-free atmosphere just a ferry ride from the city.

The Basin, Pinky Beach and the island's bays

Rottnest's coastline is a string of sheltered bays and sandy beaches with water so clear it looks tropical. The Basin, a short walk or ride from Thomson Bay, is a natural rock pool with calm shallow water that is popular with families and snorkellers. Nearby Pinky Beach, below the Bathurst Lighthouse, is one of the prettiest spots on the island for a swim and for sunset photographs.

Further south, Little Salmon Bay has a marked snorkel trail over reefs full of colourful fish, and Parker Point offers sheltered water and limestone ledges. Each bay has its own character, so many visitors simply cycle from one to the next. Bring your own snorkel gear or hire it on the island, pack reef-safe sunscreen and plenty of water, as shade is limited along the coast.

Getting around: bikes, the island bus and Wadjemup Lighthouse

There are no private cars on Rottnest Island, which makes cycling the classic way to explore. Bikes and helmets can be hired at Thomson Bay, and a full loop of the island is a good half-day ride with some hills. If you prefer to rest your legs, the hop-on hop-off island bus circles the island and stops at the main bays, so you can still reach the far beaches.

Inland, the white Wadjemup Lighthouse stands on the highest point of the island, and the salt lakes around it sometimes glow pink in the sun. The settlement at Thomson Bay has cafes, a bakery, a general store and picnic areas, so you can buy lunch or bring your own. Keep an eye on the time and be back at the jetty well before your return ferry departs.