A day trip to Rottnest is like stepping into a postcard: powder‑white beaches, turquoise bays, friendly quokkas—and a sense of island escape just off the coast of Perth, Western Australia. While it’s better to stay on the island for few days or more, you can certainly get a good taster of what Rottnest Island has to offer in a day…. if you do it right! Here’s how to enjoy a full day exploring Rottnest Island, arriving by ferry and using the hop‑on hop‑off Rottnest Island Explorer Bus to visit popular stops and hidden gems and enjoy plenty of local island flavour too.
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Tips for a Smooth Day Trip to Rottnest Island
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Book early: Rottnest Ferry and Rottnest Island Explorer Bus passes can fill—especially on weekends, school holidays and public holidays, so be sure to book in advance.
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Bring essentials and pack light: You’ll need to carry everything you bring, so pack an easy to carry bag with sunscreen, hat, swimwear, towel, water bottle, snacks and snorkel gear (or you can rent some snorkel gear on the island).
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Bus timing: you usually get ~45 minutes per stop; plan realistically if you want to hit all favorites. When buses are operating to capacity at busy times, you may have to wait for the next bus that has room to board. Take this into account when planning your day and number of stops.
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Respect wildlife: never feed quokkas and maintain a respectful distance.
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Stay flexible: with 19 stops, the bus offers freedom—if one spot’s crowded, move to the next!
Getting to Rottnest
Catch a Rottnest Ferry from Fremantle with Rottnest Express or Sealink (approximately 30mins), from Hillarys Boat Harbour with Rottnest Fast Ferries (approximately 45mins) or from Perth city with Rottnest Express or Sealink (approximately 90 mins) and enjoy views of Perth’s coastline on the way over. Tip: aim for the earliest departure so you’ll maximise your day on the island.
Getting Around Rottnest Island
The Rottnest Island Explorer Bus travels around the 19km of island coastline daily, stopping at all 19 stops, allowing passengers to hop on and hop off all day long. This is the most efficient and affordable ways to explore the island (at just $30 a ticket for an adult – kids, youth, concession and family tickets also available). The first stop, the Main Bus Stop is located just a short walk from the ferry arrival and departure point.
Get your bus ticket online before you arrive on Rottnest Island at australianpinnacletours.com.au, then plan your day trip stops below.
Day Trip Stops
While there are many places to explore and adventures to be had on Rottnest Island, if you only have a day you’ll want to prioritise the highlights. There are the Always Adventure Ready top highlights for those who only have a day to explore the island.
Rottnest Island Bakery
Before jumping on the bus, grab a muffin, croissant or jam doughnut to fuel your adventure from the Rottnest Island Bakery. Enjoy it with a cup of coffee while having your first encounter with the quokkas—these curious marsupials often roam here in the morning. You may even like to get some bread rolls or scrolls for later, to enjoy for lunch as you work up an appetite exploring the island. Once you are done, head to the Main Bus Stop in the Thomson Bay Settlement, just up from the ferry terminal.
Henrietta Rocks
A couple of stops in from the Main Bus Stop, on the east side of Rottnest Island is Henrietta Rocks. A secluded bay with grassy limestone cliffs, a small sandy beach and calm waters are around 5–10 m deep. This spot is perfect for snorkeling and also features a partly submerged barge wreck from 1938—the Shark Wreck, that is now teeming with reef life. You’ll need at least 45 minutes to explore this area before, hopping back onto the Rottnest Island Explorer Bus. Read the Always Adventure Ready Henrietta Rocks review here.
Little Salmon Bay
Just a few stops from Henrietta Rocks is Little Salmon Bay, one of Rottnest’s most popular bays. Expect this one to be busy in the school holidays or on the weekends during the warmer months. This naturally sheltered bay and calm, turquoise waters make this a snorkelling hot spot. Not only can you expect to see a wide variety of marine life under surface, you can also follow the Little Salmon Bay Snorkel Trail. Look for 10 buoys above the water then dive down to the plaques below to find interesting information about the marine life of the area. The trail is approximately 700m and you should allow at least 1 hour to complete it.
West End
Next stop is the West End, so named as it is the most western part of the island. This is a good spot to use the public toilets and top up on refreshments at Lexi’s at Rottnest – a restored retro caravan that serves coffees, ice-cream and light food. The highlight of the West End is the Cathedral Rocks Viewing Platform, located just a short walk from the West End bus stop. Cathedral Rocks is home to a colony of long-nosed fur seals, who can be seen swimming in the waters and sunning on the rocks below the viewing platform. From August to December, you may spot migrating humpback whales if you look a little further out to sea. Allow at least 45mins to an hour here also.
The Basin
Returning from the West End back towards the Main Settlement, it’s not a trip to Rottnest Island without a visit to The Basin. This a 1.3km (~20min walk) from the Geordie Bay bus stop, but it’s worth it. This protected bay with a hollowed out reef is another Rottnest Island favourite. It’s a great spot to get in your last snorkel and also shower off before heading back to the Main Settlement for an early dinner and to catch the return ferry home.
Hotel Rottnest
From The Basin it is only a 10 minute walk back to the Main Settlement where you can enjoy an early dinner before boarding the afternoon or evening return ferry home. Hotel Rottnest offers laid‑back meals, cold drinks and occasional live music. It offers a casual atmosphere and great views over the ocean towards the Perth coastline. From here you are only a few minutes walk from where the ferry departs Rottnest Island.
Rottnest Day Trip Summary
Rottnest Island has so much to experience and explore with an array of wildife, beaches, history and cultural experiences. By accessing the island via the ferry, and exploring the island by hopping on and off the Rottnest Island Explorer Bus, you’ll experience the best of what this spectacular island has to offer. Before you go though don’t forget to stamp those memories with a final quokka selfie before the day is through!
Want more Perth Adventure ideas? Check out the Always Adventure Ready Perth Adventures Guide here!
Lauren Angove is an adventurous Perth (Western Australia) Mum of two boys who loves to blog about her experiences to inspire other mid-lifers to choose their most adventurous lives now. Keep up to date with her latest adventure inspiration and advice at Always Adventure Ready on facebook.