Best Things To Do in Rottnest Island, Australia

Are you looking for what to do in Rottnest Island?

PLACES TO SEE

  • Rottnest Island Visitor Centre: The best information resource in town, and a must visit if you want to make your stay as smooth as possible.
  • Rottnest Island Museum: A densely-packed museum with a comprehensive if surprising record of the island’s history.
  • The Basin: Sometimes called the world’s most beautiful beach, it’s a natural swimming pool formed by reefs. The waters are emerald in color.
  • Oliver Hill Battery: A defence-gun that was leftover from WWII. It used to protect the mainland from Warships. There is a guided tour if you wish to learn more about it’s history.
  • Wadjemup Lighthouse: The highest part of the island, and Australia's first rotating beam lighthouse. The 360 degree panoramic views make it worth climbing the 155 steps to the top.

Below we have a list of things to do in Rottnest Island and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Rottnest Island getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Rottnest Island with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Rottnest Island

Here is the list of things to do in Rottnest Island and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Rottnest Island Visitor Centre
    Find this highly helpful resource close to the main jetty at Thompson Bay. Since this is the first building you see when you arrive, it’s hard to miss. The friendly staff is always up-to-date with the latest tour information, rental info, and public transport info. Make sure to pick up maps and brochures related to the island’s attractions, routes and their related histories. It&rsq...Read more
  2. Rottnest Island Museum

    Museum

    However delightful the island is now, it has quite a dark history. Learn all about it in this tiny little museum. The building, built by aboriginal prisoners, used to be a hayshed and a granary, but now it comprehensively cover’s the island’s past of shipwrecks, natural history, European settlements, their conflict with and imprisonment of the Aboriginals. A lot of the story is told...Read more
  3. Parakeet Bay

    Waterfront, Snorkeling

    Rottnest Island is famous for its many bays; this may be the most popular of them. It’s on the island’s north side, about three kilometres from Thompson’s Bay. The crystalline waters are shallow and calm, making this a great place to swim. It’s surrounded by rather jagged looking rocks though, that just adds to the beauty of the bay. It’s sheltered from the breeze ...Read more
  4. Salmon Bay

    Beach, Waterfront, Water Sport

    On the south side of the island, Rottnest’s most beautiful beach is also its most wild. Windswept waves make for great surfing conditions; that’s why you’ll see more activity and excitement here than any other beach on the island. There are some sheltered areas in the water that are not so dangerous to swim in, but it’s better if you head over the to calmer waters at the...Read more
  5. The Basin

    Beach, Waterfront, Water Sport, Snorkeling

    At first look, it’s not obvious why the Basin’s been called Australia’s best swimming beach. The rocks around it actually look a little formidable. Then you realise that these headlands actually keep the emerald green water sheltered from the wilder parts of the ocean; and that the cove has clean white sands. It looks like a natural jewel. Sharks cannot enter the basin. To get...Read more
  6. Oliver Hill Battery

    4.6 (171 Votes)
    Oliver Hill Battery

    Museum, Military Museum, Specialty Museum

    Historically, this may be the most significant site on the island. It’s a gun encampment, one of the seven that were set up during WWII to defend Australia against bombardment by warships. This one is the only preserved battery of the original set. In addition to the guns that you can still see here there are also tunnels, railways, and the remains of old defence structures. Though guided...Read more
  7. Wadjemup Lighthouse

    4.5 (106 Votes)
    Wadjemup Lighthouse

    Light House, Landmark, View Point

    Thousands of tourists come to see the lighthouse every year. It’s an important part of the island’s heritage, and also the highest point on the island. The stone building you see today is the second that was built here. The one before it was also the first lighthouse ever built in Western Australia. The tower you see today is twice the height of the original. It’s also Austral...Read more
  8. Bathurst Lighthouse

    4.5 (150 Votes)
    Bathurst Lighthouse

    Light House, Landmark

    The second of Rottnest Island’s lighthouses was built in 1900. It’s 20 metres high. It was built because in 1899, a ship that tried to blindly navigate the narrow channel between Rottnest and Fremantle ran into reefs, in an incident known as the City of York shipping disaster. Today, the Bathurst, Fremantle and Wadjemup lighthouses create a navigational triangle to help guide skippe...Read more
  9. Rottnest Island Airport Image
    ©
    Rottnest Island Airport is an airport located on Rottnest Island, off the coast of Western Australia. It is the only airport on the island and is operated by the Airport Authority of Western Australia. The airport is used mainly for general aviation, with a few scheduled flights to and from Perth.The airport was first established in the 1930s, when the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) built a ...Read more
  10. Cathedral Rocks

    4.5 (6 Votes)
    Cathedral Rocks

    Nature

    A seal-viewing platform ideal for the nature lovers, Cathedral Rocks Viewing Platform is your best bet if you wish to explore wildlife nature-based tourism at its best. The free to use binoculars on the site offer magnified and beautiful views of the seals. The platform also features a one-kilometer long walking trail which links the platform to the West End Boardwalk. You can watch the seals a...Read more
  11. Henrietta Rocks

    Beach

    Henrietta Rocks is a huge rock adorned by a beautiful beach known for a ship that sunk here years ago. Henrietta Rocks features rocks and dunes that add to the beauty of the location. The place still has some parts of the sunken boat making a visit here all the more interesting. The top of dunes offers panoramic views making this beach worth-visiting when in Rottnest Islands. This beach is also...Read more
  12. Thomson Bay

    Beach

    A beautiful bay with numerous tourists paying a visit here every year, the Thomson Bay is the island’s oldest as well as the largest settlement. Facing the mainland, this protected bay serves as the point of arrival and departures for ferries that travel to and from Hillarys, Fremantle, and Perth. This north-easterly bay is protected by lifeguards and shark nets providing secure opportuni...Read more
  13. Longreach Bay

    Beach

    Boats at the harbor, peaceful vibes, different colors of water, beautiful dunes and rock formations give a laid-back and pristine atmosphere to the Longreach Bay. With beauty nothing less than surreal, the bay can be used to enjoy swimming or take a calm stroll along the pristine waters. You can snorkel on the beach, go fishing or simply spend some quality time with your family and kids. Look o...Read more
  14. Pinky Beach

    Beach

    One of the most rejuvenating and breathtaking coastal locations nestled in Australia, Pinky beach is an iconic destination favorite among the locals. Beautiful white sand and sparkling crystal-clear water add to the beauty of the beach. Located right below the Bathurst Point Lighthouse, the beach is a little slice of heaven providing opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, fishing and taking in...Read more
  15. West End

    4.8
    West End Image
    ©

    Water Sport

    A rugged piece of coastline and the westernmost point of the Rottnest Island is the West End featuring magnificent waves which serve as a paradise among the surfers. You can visit the place to witness sea creatures in their natural habitat like whales, dolphins and New Zealand fur seals. Numerous activities are also enjoyed here by the visitors including shore fishing and scuba diving. You can ...Read more