Rottnest Island is a unique holiday destination just off the Perth coast. Awaken understanding and connection with meaningful history, thriving ecosystems, and tropical ocean depths.

All the inspiration and information you need to plan your visit to Rottnest Island / Wadjemup, from guides and tips to how to get here and around.

Explore underwater marine sanctuaries snorkelling at iconic beaches like Little Salmon Bay and during the whale watching season from September to December, get up close with migrating humpback and southern right whales as they linger in the calm waters around the island.

From its formation over 6,000 years ago — and even before that — Wadjemup / Rottnest Island is a place of stories. Explore its rich natural history: learn about the wealth of native animal and plant life that inhabit the protected island sanctuary both on land and below the water.

Staying at Rottnest Island can be a chance to reconnect with nature, have a moment of indulgence, or embark on an invigorating adventure. And, it might be all of this. Rottnest Island has accommodation options for every kind of person who ventures to the island.

The island lies 19 km from Fremantle Port, 33 km from Perth, and 22 km from Hillarys Boat Harbour. A marine paradise, visitors can explore 63 of the most stunning beaches you’ll find in Western Australia. 20 beautiful bays border the island, brimming with sea life, with over 135 species of tropical fish and numerous species of coral to observe.

Almost 4,000 Aboriginal men and boys from all over Western Australia were exiled at the Rottnest Island Aboriginal Establishment from 1838 to 1931. These men and boys came from many different Aboriginal tribes across Western Australia, including Whadjuk Country.

Every visit to Rottnest Island offers you the chance to slow down, take a breath and open up to the spaces that welcome you. With accommodation options ranging from cottages to cabins, beachfront units to bungalows, you’ll find the perfect place to connect back to yourself as you explore an island that is unlike anywhere else you’ve ventured.

From barbecue blocks to toilet stops, discover where to rest and refresh on the island.

European settlers established Wadjemup first as a prison, incarcerating thousands of Aboriginal boys and men from across Western Australia, then as a forced labour camp – known as the Rottnest Island Aboriginal Establishment.