Rottnest Island is Western Australia's (WA) premier island getaway, located just off the coast of Perth. As a ‘Class A’ reserve, managed by the Rottnest Island Authority, the island boasts unique animal and plant life, as well as some of the most spectacular beaches you will ever see.

Take a day trip from Perth, or choose from a range of Rottnest Island accommodation and enjoy a longer stay at one of Western Australia’s (WA) most amazing holiday destinations.

Island Description

Hobbies & Activities category:

Great Barrier Reef Resort

Rottnest Island, a low-lying island is a nature reserve (no cars permitted) which attracts many visitors and holidaymakers. It is 11km long from east to west and up to 5km across. It has a varied coastline with numerous inlets and bathing beaches and many inland lakes.The Dutch navigator Willem de Vlamingh landed on the island in 1696 and pronounced it an earthly paradise. Taking the little rock wallabies or quokkas for rats, he named the island Rottnest ('rats' nest'). From 1838 to 1903 it was used as a place of banishment for rebellious Aborigines.The Quad, an octagonal limestone building with a large inner courtyard, was built in 1864 as a prison. The cells, after renovation, are now holiday apartments. The nearby Rottnest Hotel, also built in 1864, was originally the summer residence of the governor of Western Australia; the hotel is popularly known as the Quokka Arms.The Rottnest Museum, housed in a barn and threshing mill of 1857, has collections of historical material and relics of shipwrecks.Most of the little limestone houses round the harbor at the east end of the island were built by convict labor. They are among the oldest buildings in Western Australia.The island has good surfaced roads and walking trails and a range of sports facilities (tennis, golf, bowling, bicycle and boat hire). Safe swimming and fishing in the shelter of the offshore reefs.Beach; Fishing opportunity; Swimming & water activities; Hiking opportunity; Historical museum; Hotel of note; Natural area; Nautical museum or attraction; Region with significant interests-Luxury rainforest resort, Australia Perfect beach Lodgings in Cairns AUJust offshore from Perth, Rottnest Island is where the locals go to swim at white-sand beaches, snorkel in turquoise water over coral gardens and shipwrecks, or kick back and go fishing.Rotto, as it's called locally, is a car-free zone, which adds to its relaxed feel. And with 63 sheltered beaches to choose from, the island is refreshingly uncrowded.Hiring a bike is the best way to get around and find those secluded beaches and secret surf spots on the other side of the island.There's also a free hop-on-hop-off bus service, as well as guided tours exploring the early colonial buildings, lighthouse and the island’s crucial role in World War I and II.Why not take a journey back in time with the Wadjemup Aboriginal Bus Tour? Discover the island’s fascinating history as a place of great spiritual significance and hear the stories of Aboriginal prisoners once held at the penal colony.Attractions include guided walking tours, scenic flights, a family fun park, the Rottnest Museum, as well as tennis, lawn bowls and golf.Have a go at kayaking, diving, surfing, boogie boarding or fishing.You can get up close and personal with the island's indigenous flora and fauna, enjoy a bit of quokka spotting or just kick back and soak up the scenery.There's something to suit everyone's budget, from beachfront villas to tent sites.Rottnest has a la carte restaurants, a hotel, a general store, take-away outlets and a cafe.Or just grab a snack from Rotto's famous bakery and head to the beach.End your stay watching the sunset over a glass of red at the Quokka Arms pub, boasting one of the best beach-side views in the world.Rottnest is an easy day trip from Perth and Fremantle or a relaxing holiday spot.