You’ve decided to book a few nights on the incredible island of Rottnest, and now you’ve got to plan it out. I’ve got you covered! I’ve been visiting Rottnest for years, both as a day tripper and as an overnight guest. I even worked there one summer! My interest now is how to make the most of trips as a family, so welcome to my guide to a stay in Rottnest Island for families.
Rottnest, or Wadjemup, is a very easy place to spend time with small children. As a largely car free place, kids can safely move around outside your accomodation. You’ll find plenty of children cycling and scootering around until they’re exhausted. There are multiple small and very charming beaches around the island, so you never need deal with crowds. There are a range of accomodation options for different price points. Finally, Rottnest is home to the sweetest little creature, the quokka, who the kids will fall in love with.
This guide is dedicated to those looking to spend a few nights on Rottnest. Let me take you through how to organise yourself beforehand and what to do while you’re there.
Preparation
Book your accomodation
Your first job is to book your accomodation. Rottnest has many different options including a campsite, hostel, villas and some rather nice looking hotels. Check out the interactive accomodation map the Rottnest Island Authority publishes to see where everything is. Do keep in mind that everything is within easy walking distance. Maybe with the exception of the hostel!
Camping
The campsite has a great location near the Basin which is a fabulous snorkelling spot. Its great for anyone wanting the most reasonably priced accomodation on the island. There are 43 campsites in the campground plus an ablutions block and communal outdoor kitchen.
For more information and booking details check out Stay Rottnest.
Hostel
Over at Kingston Barracks there is hostel accomodation. The hostel has private family rooms sleeping 4 and you can make use of shared kitchen and lounge facilities. Its located a decent walk from the settlement, so I would definitely recommend hiring bikes or using the Rottnest bus.
For more information and booking details check out Stay Rottnest.
Villas
The traditional accomodation for family stays on Rottnest, the villas are all across the eastern edge of the island. They generally sleep 4-8 people and come with beds already made and bath towels provided. Every villa has a kitchen with some basic tea and coffee making supplies.
Growing up I have usually stayed in either north or south Thompson Bay, which are the closest to the settlement. We recently stayed in the Governors Circle villas near the Kingstown Barracks at the south end of the island. It was lovely but it is a bit more of a trek from the settlement. Keep this in mind if you have small children. Some people prefer the Bay areas (Geordie Bay, Fay’s Bay and Longreach), which is a bit further along on the northern coast. They have their own mini settlement with a general store and a restaurant which is cool.
The villa accomodation is super popular, and very reasonably priced for its comfort level, so get in early. The island authorities now run monthly ballots nine months in advance of the month of the stay. For example, if you want to be amongst the first to book a villa for July 2027, you’ll need to join the ballot on 4 November 2026. They refer to this as an Open Day. You might also get lucky and get a villa last minute without going through the ballot, like we did in September. This is less likely in peak season.
For more information and booking details check out Stay Rottnest.
Hotels
All the hotels seem really nice, and my friends who have stayed in them rate them highly. Discovery Resorts and Samphire both have rooms that can sleep 4, which is good value for the hotels. The Lodge, however, has rooms that sleep 2-3 but that can be interconnected, meaning you may need to book two rooms.
All the hotels have pools as well as onsite restaurants and bars. Samphire and Discovery Resorts are on the beach and have coastal views, whereas The Lodge is behind the settlement and has lake views. For a family I’d recommend you look at availability at each hotel for the dates you want to stay in Rottnest. Then take whichever one has a family room available.
Book your transport
Ferry
The recommended method of getting to Rottnest, the ferries leave from several ports in Perth. These include Hillarys Boat Harbour (northern suburbs), Barrack St (Perth City) and Fremantle (southern suburbs). The ferries are good value and have multiple departure times across the day. You can also transport your bike, bike carriage, and even eskies (ice box), as well as regular luggage. You can then get them delivered to your accomodation. The luggage and eskies that is, not the bikes, which will be taken off the ferry for you to collect when you disembark.
Hillarys is serviced by Rottnest Fast Ferries, while Fremantle and Perth City are serviced by Sealink and Rottnest Express.
Plane
It’s possible to fly over to Rottnest from Jandakot Airport, in Perth’s south. If this is your preference, you can book with Rottnest Air Taxis. Rottnest’s airport is about 15min walk from the Thompson Bay settlement. If this is a bit far, you can book a golf buggy transfer from there to your accomodation as an add-on if you wish.
Book your grocery delivery
If you’re the organised type you may want to book a grocery delivery from the Rottnest General Store to be delivered to your villa. Note that they’ll only do deliveries to villas. However, they will do a click and collect order for guests staying in any of the hotels, the camping grounds, or the hostel. As a start, I’d recommend getting some fruit, breakfast items and bread.
You could also just visit the general store on the day you arrive. Last time I checked, the online store didn’t offer bananas, which are one of my kids’ main breakfast foods. Bananas were, of course, in the store when I actually visited in person.
Things to do in Rotto
If you’re the sort of family that just wants to chill, don’t fight it. You are allowed to relax into island time when staying in Rottnest. If you do need some ideas for how to fill a couple of hours, or you want to inject a bit of culture or sport, I have some ideas.
Visit the beaches
Take your family to at least 2 beaches during your Rottnest stay. For snorkelers, try The Basin, and for general beach time fun for smaller kids try Little Parakeet Bay. This is just two I thought of off the top of my head. There are so many though and they’re all pretty accessible.
Cycle around the island
Not many people will actually cycle around the whole island, but have a go at covering some of it. The lighthouse in the centre of the island can be a decent destination if you’re up for a bit of time outside. Especially if you don’t want to commit to the 70min loop of the whole island. For families with smaller kids who are pretty new to cycling (or perhaps will graduate from training wheels this trip, like my son this year!), shorter cycling trips may be better. If this is the case you will probably be satisfied with cycling into the settlement, or up to a neighbouring bay during your Rottnest stay.
Take the hop on hop off bus
The bus is a great option for anyone who does fancy seeing the whole island but isn’t likely to be able to make it work by bicycle. We did the bus in 2026 and it was great to see all the different sights. We got off at Cape Vlamingh on the west end and checked out the fur seal colony down in the water below. There is about a 20min wait between buses. For more information, check out Rottnest Island Buses.
Try a Segway tour
An alternative to doing a tour by bus or bike is a Segway! You can book a Segway Tour which takes you on either an hour or two hour long excursion around Thompson Bay and the settlement area.
Visit the Rottnest lighthouses
Rottnest has two working lighthouses: Bathurst and Rottnest Island Lighthouse (aka Wadjemup Lighthouse). You can climb the Rottnest Island Lighthouse via the Wadjemup Lighthouse Tour, but keep in mind there are 155 steps to the top and it has a minimum age of entry of 5 years old. You can purchase tickets on arrival at the lighthouse.
Bathurst Lighthouse is a full automated lighthouse and is not open to the public. However you may still visit the grounds outside and get some beautiful sunset photos.
Mini golf
If you have a couple of hours to kill and the beach won’t cut it, then take the kids to the mini golf centre. There’s also a game arcade at the entrance which should keep them entertained for a bit more time.
Go to the movies
Next door to the mini golf is a small cinema, playing family friendly movies several nights a week. It’s an iconic little place, with deck chairs as its seating. Movies are shown more frequently during the week the closer to summer it gets. Check out the schedule.
Get a quokka selfie!
Quokkas are delightful little creatures resembling tiny sphere-shaped kangaroos. They are quite photogenic. It’s a rite of passage for every famous visitor to Rottnest to get a selfie with one. You won’t have any issue finding a quokka as they are everywhere on the island, especially around the settlement where they snack on morsels left behind by island guests.
I would recommend finding a quokka closer to your accomodation rather the ones outside the bakery for your quokka selfie. Bring your patience and maybe a selfie stick. It also helps if you have someone actually taking the photo for you, which I guess makes it not an actual selfie… but much easier to accomplish.
Visit the museum
Rottnest once served as a prison for Aboriginal men and boys and this museum serves to remember this history, alongside the natural history of the island and some of the island’s modern milestones. It’s a small museum, with 17 exhibits and sculpture garden, and has an accessible location just behind the bakery in the settlement. It is quite a worthwhile spot to visit.
Sample packing list
You might like to bring some of your own food, such as snacks, and some beer or wine. Most things are available in Rottnest but it’s all a little bit more expensive.
The villas come with limited supply of coffee pods, tea bags and milk but you’ll likely need more so bring your own or buy some at the general store. You might also want to bring your own pantry basics like salt and pepper, and maybe some butter or oil for cooking.
Here’s a non-exhaustive list of stuff I’d recommend packing for a family stay in Rottnest.
- Bathers/swimsuit
- Thongs (aka flip flops for any non-Australians)
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Jumper/sweater for cooler evenings
- Mosquito repellant
- Cream for insect bites
- Games (decks of cards, board games, ball, chalk – though make sure the chalk only gets used on the ground and the road as the staff don’t like it on the villa walls!)
- Beach Towels
- Snorkle and Mask
- Floatation aids if your kid needs it
- Portable speaker
- Coffee pods
- Tea bags
- Salt and pepper
- Bikes and possibly a kiddy seat if they’ll be riding with you
- Bike carriage if you have multiple small kids or you’ll be hauling lots of beach kit around
- Scooter if that’s your kids preferred mode of transport
- Beach shade such as an umbrella or a beach tent
Sample 2 night itinerary
Rottnest is not a difficult place to enjoy for a stay but here are some ideas that I would recommend for a young family. I’m assuming you are a family of four and don’t have bikes, and that you are able to book a villa.
Day 0 – Arrival day
Arrive at the port of your choice at least 30min early for your ferry and ensure you tag your luggage correctly with your accomodation number before getting it on the boat. Try and get on the ferry early as other passengers will take the best seats (in good weather these are the outdoor seats).
Check in for the villas is at 2pm so if you arrive on the island at that time or after, go directly to the office at the end of the jetty to pick up your key. If you arrive earlier than this, go straight to the bike rental to get some bikes for the family. Whichever order this happens, make sure you get your key and you get bikes. Afterwards head to the settlement for a trip to the bakery (their rolls are very good, as are their jam donuts) and the general store (get your supplies). I recommend an early bbq for your first evening so make sure you buy sausages, onions and rolls at the general store. Every villa has a bbq.
After dinner, douse yourself and the kids with mosquito repellant and head on up to Pinkies Beach Club for a cocktail with the setting sun.
Day 1 – Explore the island
Start the day with a coffee from Pelican, located at The Lodge, before taking a ride around the island. Wear bathers and take your beach towels along with any beach kit you have if the weather is warm, as there are lots of beautiful beaches around the island. It takes about 40min to cycle from Thompson Bay Settlement to Cape Vlamingh at the western most point of the island so this adventure might be more for older kids. You can always do the shorter route to the lighthouse in the centre of the island if you have younger children. And if you prefer not to cycle around the whole island but do want to see the whole thing, then look into the air-conditioned Rottnest Explorer bus which operates in a hop on hop off fashion. Get off at Cape Vlamingh so you can spot the fur seals.
If you have the energy after your day out then visit the Mini Golf for a few games before lunch. It’s worth visiting the pub, though be careful if you order anything with chips as a side, as the seagulls are rather cheeky.
For dinner you can stay at your villa and have an easy prep meal (I brought along a pre-prepared frozen bolognese sauce with me last time) or head out for dinner at a spot with a playground outside, like Frankie’s or Isola (a bit fancier). Again, don’t forget the mosquito spray.
Day 2 – Departure day
Check out time can be early here – villa keys need to be returned by 9am. And if you wish for your luggage to be collected for your return ferry, then it needs to be outside on the road by 8am clearly marked. Given the early check out time I would book a return ferry for around midday or just after lunch, giving you time to enjoy one more morning on the island.
Use this time to check out any more sights or just do a bit of a cycle before returning any bikes that you hired. Pop into the bakery for some final lunch items and then set up outside the playground next to Isola to wait for your ferry.
Tips for Rotto
Toilets
They are everywhere and they are free. Cleaning teams visit them regularly, so they are well maintained. You’ll find them at many of the stops along the Rottnest Explorer Bus route.
Quokkas
Please respect these little island inhabitants and don’t feed them or pick them up. They are getting braver and will jump on your table to steal your food so keep that in mind if you’re at a picnic table with a sausage roll from the bakery. One of my defining memories of Rottnest is in the evening when the quokkas visit the villas looking for food. They are really adorable and the kids will be in awe. Just don’t let them in the house. They are wild animals and will defecate frequently.
Other wildlife
You are strongly urged to keep an eye on any food that you have in front of you while outside, particular if its a baked good from the bakery, or a hot chip, as the seagulls are incredibly cheeky and will steal anything if you take your eye off it. Small kids might need to be reminded to look after their food properly.
Biting insects are also operating on the island, so bring your mosquito repellent and your insect bite cream.
Know the daily weather patterns
The wind changes around lunch time so make sure you visit the correct side of the island for the morning and change in the afternoon. Generally the island receives an easterly wind in the morning making the southern beaches the most still. In the afternoon the wind shifts and the northern beaches become sheltered.
You can follow this handy guide to which beaches are most protected during different wind directions. And I just found this live guide which indicates which of Rottnest’s beaches are currently most protected, the higher the number, the calmer and more protected the beach.
How to get to Rottnest island
You can catch the ferry from a number of terminals including Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty, Fremantle B Shed and Hillary’s Boat Harbour. You can also fly to Rottnest.
If you’re traveling from the northern suburbs you may wish to travel from Hillary’s Boat Harbour and take Rottnest Fast Ferries. If you’re traveling from Perth City or the southern suburbs then you have a choice between Sealink and Rottnest Express. Rottnest Express has a good offering for families as you can register your 4-12 year old kids for the Quokka Club and their ferry fare becomes free, though they still need to pay an island admission fee (~AUD11).
What do I know about Rottnest Island?
I’ve been traveling to and from Rotto since I was a kid and still love it! I’m very happy to share my experience and help others enjoy this fabulous spot in WA!
Check out my other posts
- The complete guide to a family trip to Australia
- A 7 Day Family Itinerary in Western Australia
- A great fishing trip and fresh bread: A review of Clover Cottage Manjimup
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