Rottnest Island

<p>You won’t find the quirky quokka – one of the happiest marsupials you’ll ever meet – anywhere else on the planet.<br> <br> You can meet the quokka just off the coast of Perth, on Rottnest Island (Wadjemup). 63 stunning beaches, 20 beautiful bays and many coral reefs and wrecks invite you to enjoy some of Australia's finest swimming spots, snorkel trails and surf breaks. And on dry land, you'll meet the cutest mini marsupial, found only in Western Australia, the world famous quokka.</p>

The Wadjemup Bidi is a series of walk trails that will take you across spectacular coastal headlands, and past stunning inland lakes and encounter both natural and man-made attractions along the way. "Bidi" means "trail" or "track" in Noongar, the language of the Whadjuk Noongar people who are the Traditional Owners of Rottnest Island (Wadjemup). <br/><br/>The trail is 45 kilometres in its entirety and made up of five sections, each boasting culturally and environmentally significant landmarks to interpret and experience, connecting Rottnest Island's beautiful natural features to its cultural history in an environmentally sustainable manner.<br/><br/>The five sections include Ngank Yira Bidi - Uncover Bickley Battery, a 9.4 kilometres one-way trail; Gabbi Karniny Bidi - Discover the Salt Lakes, a 9.7-kilometre loop trail; Wardan Nara Bidi - Relax on Salmon Bay, a 10 kilometres way trail; Karlinyah Bidi - Experience the Northern Beaches, a 5.9 kilometres one-way trail and Ngank Wen Bidi - Explore West End, a 7.6-kilometre loop walk. Allow yourself 3-4 hours to complete most of these trails.<br/><br/>Trail fact sheets are available on the website.

Parker Point Marine Snorkel Trail is located on the southern side of Rottnest Island, a popular holiday destination 20 kilometres off the coast of Perth. The easy Top Trail features a number of plaques on the sea bed which allow you to read about the abundant flora and fish life in the area.<br/><br/>The plaques are identified with buoys making them easy to find and are equipped with two handles to hang onto. As the water is a bit deeper and the swim area larger, the more experienced snorkeler would enjoy this trail, whilst less confident swimmers may prefer the trail at Little Salmon Bay.<br/><br/>The water conditions on the trail are generally calm, clear and spectacular, allowing superb viewing of the vast array of marine life.<br/><br/>Access to Parker Point is by Rottnest Bus or by bicycle. Rottnest Island is well known for its lack of vehicular traffic, just some service vehicles and the round the island bus. Therefore the main form of transport is bicycle. It's possible to ride around the island (26 kilometres) in half a day, but to enjoy the cycle stop off at some of the many pristine beaches along the way, including Parker Point.

The iconic white brick structure of Bathurst Lighthouse is found at Bathurst Point, overlooking Pinky Beach.<br/><br/>Constructed after the fateful voyage of the City of York, an iron ship that sank off the western coast of Rottnest Island in 1899 with the loss of 12 lives, it first shone its light on the seas in 1900.<br/><br/>The lighthouse lantern originally featured a fixed white light, but in 1920 this was changed to an automatic flashing light. With a range of 14 nautical miles, it provides a beacon of hope and safety far out into the ocean around it, and helps to create safer waters around the rocky coast.<br/><br/>While you can't access the lighthouse itself, Bathurst Point provides gorgeous views of Pinky Beach—and an exceptional spot to watch the sun set uninterrupted over the vast Indian Ocean.

With a theatrette, 40,000-year-old artefacts, and immersive audio experiences, the museum is a place to pause and reflect on everything that has come before you.<br/><br/>Enter the Old Mill and Hay Store and you'll immediately feel the presence of the past in the cool, quiet rooms. As you walk around the building, discover an old lighthouse keeper's jacket, vintage postcards and glass spearheads found on the island. <br/><br/>Developed in partnership with the Wadjemup Aboriginal Reference Group (WARG), the museum shares the history of the island. Observe and listen to stories of imprisonment, natural history, and arts and culture, as well as contemporary milestones of the island.<br/><br/>The mill stone, located in the museum's Truth Telling Space, is a particularly moving artefact. The Aboriginal men and boys imprisoned on the island used it to grind wheat into flour, giving the building its name. <br/><br/>As you wander the 17 exhibits and sculpture garden, you are encouraged to reflect and pay reverence to the complex history of the island. Upon leaving the museum, continue your journey of island exploration with a renewed respect for the land you're visiting.

This unique swimming spot is a favourite with holidaymakers and each year friendships are made and renewed on the white, sandy beach at The Basin.<br/><br/>Just follow the signposts out of the settlement past the tennis courts to this aptly named pool. It seems to have been scooped out of the reef, its clear turquoise water reflecting the white, sandy bottom.<br/><br/>Surely one of life's true delights is to lie on the soft sand at The Basin, under a cloudless blue sky, watching the carefree swimmers in the foreground and just beyond in the Indian Ocean, a procession of pleasure-seeking yachts and launches.

A curve of white sand gives way to brilliant blue water, dotted with boats. The large, curved beach provides space for roving groups of families and friends.<br/><br/>One of the largest beaches on the island, Geordie Bay offers enough space for everyone to set down a towel, open up the picnic blanket, and spend their day by the water. Swimming further out into the bay, you'll find excellent snorkelling opportunities. Dive below the gentle waves to come face to face with schools of fish, and even the occasional stingray passing by. Stay until sunset for one of the best views of the island's daily sky shows in an idyllic setting. <br/><br/>While home to bands of curious quokkas, make sure you look without getting too close, and give them the distance they need to enjoy their island home.

Over the rising green dunes, hidden behind a rocky outcrop, you'll find yourself face-to-face with Little Parakeet Bay. Protected by a submerged coral reef, its shallow water and calmer conditions make Little Parakeet Bay the perfect option for smaller children and young families.<br/><br/>The jagged rock formations that litter the bay make for a dramatic backdrop, standing in strong contrast to the slow, leisurely pace on the beach. <br/><br/>Little Parakeet Bay's clear blue water is home to a vast array of sea life. Dive under the surface and discover small blue-scaled fish (Miller's damsel fish — a favourite with the little ones), sea stars, and perhaps even the odd stingray.

Thomson Bay is your introduction to Perth’s idyllic car-free and carefree island playground, Rottnest. It’s also where you could get a selfie with the cutest mini marsupial, the world-famous quokka.<br/><br/>Rottnest Island sits just 19 kilometres off the coast, and ferries depart regularly from Perth's Barrack Street Jetty, Fremantle and Hillarys, arriving in Thomson Bay. You can even cruise across in your boat.<br/><br/>The sweeping stretch of white sand in Thomson Bay is one of 63 stunning beaches and 20 beautiful bays in this Class A reserve, and the only one with a roped-off swimming area, making it very popular with young families.<br/><br/>Just behind the beach sits the main settlement, where you can pick up maps, book tours, join free guided walks, grab coffee or lunch, get tickets for the Bayseeker Bus or hire surfboards and bikes.<br/><br/>Many of the grand buildings and quaint cottages commissioned by Perth's Governor in the mid-1800s are still standing there, including the Salt Store and Lomas Cottage. The restored Hotel Rottnest, colonial cottages and old barracks now offer accommodation for visitors.

Located at one of the southern-most tips of the island, Little Salmon Bay is one of the more popular bays on Wadjemup / Rottnest Island. Its naturally-sheltered location makes for calm, clear waters, perfect for families looking for a relaxing swimming experience.<br/><br/>It's an excellent spot for snorkelling and exploring under the waves. Follow the Little Salmon Bay snorkel trail to discover more about the plethora of Wadjemup sea life. <br/><br/>Some lucky beachgoers might even have the fortune to spot the rare Australian sea lion lounging on the beach, soaking up the sun. But if you do see one, be sure to watch it from a distance rather than getting up close, and let it enjoy its time on the beach, too.

Whether cycling isn't your thing or you're just keen to see the island from a different perspective, you'll love the flexibility of exploring Rottnest Island on a bus tour.<br/><br/>Rottnest Island, Western Australia's most beautiful island, is 19 kilometres off Perth's coastline. Take advantage of the hop-on hop-off bus service to explore the island and experience pristine beaches, rugged coastlines and natural wildlife.<br/><br/>Upgrade your island experience and enjoy the beauty of Rottnest Island on board the easy and convenient Island Explorer bus service.<br/><br/>This service allows you to enjoy the spectacular views as you explore the whole island in air-conditioned comfort. It also includes the fantastic option of hopping on and off at any location on the island throughout the day; this means that you can take the opportunity to discover the beauty of the island at your own pace without the worry of finding transport back to the main settlement.

Pedal and Flipper Hire is the largest bike hire facility in the Southern Hemisphere with close to 2000 bikes and specialty equipment available for hire. <br/><br/>The fleet includes standard mountain bikes, comfortable hybrid bikes, electric bikes and a large selection of children's bikes. <br/><br/>You can also hire bikes with baby seats, child trailers for the little ones (12 months to 4 years), and a range of mobility assistance options. Please note that for visitors wishing to hire child trailers and baby seat bikes, the child/children must be present when hiring.<br/><br/>The premium quality hire bikes are expertly maintained by a team of skilled mechanics and backed by a complimentary call-out service for any problems you may encounter, so you can simply relax and enjoy your ride. <br/><br/>The Pedal and Flipper Hire team are also trained to personally fit customers to bikes to ensure optimum comfort and safety.

Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours and Experiences is a fully Aboriginal-owned and operated company based in Perth Western Australia delivering authentic Indigenous cultural experiences for local, domestic and international visitors to Perth, conference and events delegates, government agencies, corporate clients, schools, community programs and special interest groups.<br/><br/>Owned and operated by Walter McGuire, a Noongar man from the Perth region and Meg McGuire, a Kungarakan woman whose traditional lands lie in the Northern Territory, Go Cultural delivers a variety of products and services that educate and share Aboriginal culture including Welcomes to Country; Smoking Ceremonies; cultural consultancy, public speaking, cultural awareness programs and Aboriginal cultural tours. <br/><br/>Please visit their website for more information on their tours.

An all inclusive eco-tourism company providing high quality hiking experiences in Western Australia.<br/><br/>Their mission is to provide an environment to nurture mental health through hiking experiences by mobilising the power of movement, connection and nature. <br/><br/>The hiking experience provides a safe place for the community to enjoy and connect with themselves, the community and nature. You will experience the best of Perth's hiking trails with tours starting from 3-kilometre lake trails to 19-kilometre Bibbulmun track adventures.

Segway Tours WA is proudly Western Australian-owned and operated. Their award-winning business has been in operation since 2006 and their experienced guides brief and train every rider before commencing the tour.<br/><br/>Segway Tours WA is extremely proud of its wonderful, award-winning guides and every one of their team is passionate about Perth and proud to share their knowledge of attractions, iconic landscapes, unique wildlife and historic landmarks with their guests. Stop at picturesque locations and have time to capture the best photos and interact with the surroundings.<br/><br/>Distance covered will be between 8-12 kilometres in either a 60, 90 and 120-minute guided tour and you will see much more than you possibly on your own by walking or on a bus tour.<br/><br/>Whether your tour is visiting the beautiful Swan River foreshore, picturesque Perth city streets, or the stunning coastal bays of Rottnest Island, a Segway tour allows you to get to know Perth and Rottnest Island whilst having the most fun you’ll have standing up!