Summer on Rottnest Island
Come summertime, few islands in Australia can match Rottnest Island’s natural beauty and varied experiences. WORDS Kristy Hosking
Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) in summer has a way of slowing time. Bicycles bump along dusty paths laden with beachgoers, swimmers loll about in turquoise seas, and lovable quokkas go about their days making eyes with the odd photographer. Just 19 kilometres from Fremantle Port, “Rotto” feels worlds away from the mainland. But what makes her so appealing is her generosity; she offers something for everyone. No matter how you arrive – with kids in tow, hand-in-hand with a partner, or alone with only a good book for company – you’ll leave feeling a renewed sense of life.
FAMILIES WITH KIDS
Families quickly discover that Rottnest Island is made for little legs and bright eyes. Few cars are allowed on the island, so the first stop after the Rottnest Express ferry is often to collect a hire bike. You can pre-book your rentals when purchasing a ferry ticket, including bikes with baby seats, and child trailers for little ones aged one to four years.
The nearby Rottnest Bakery beckons young families with jam doughnuts, vanilla slices, home-baked pies, baguettes, sandwiches, sushi, and more; perfect for a packed picnic lunch. With snacks tucked safely into baskets, pedal off towards The Basin – a protected beach with calm, shallow, crystal-clear water – for your seaside feast.
Post-swim, burn off any extra energy with some quokka-spotting along shady paths, then finish your island day trip with an afternoon treat at Simmo’s Rottnest, a classic WA ice creamery with more than 60 flavours for kids (and adults) to choose from.
COUPLES
For couples, Rottnest exudes romance. Begin your morning with brunch at the Lane Cafe in the Settlement; here you can enjoy great coffee and fresh juices while people-watching by the sea.
If you’re feeling active, hire bikes and make the 18-minute journey to Little Salmon Bay for a snorkel. You can admire colourful fish as they thread their way through the seagrass like ribbons, or follow the snorkel trail to see all the sights.
If you both love hiking, the Wadjemup Bidi trail is made up of five connected tracks, taking in different parts of the island. Choose a section to meander along, or if you’re staying on the island for a few days, the entire 45-kilometre walk might pique your interest.By late afternoon, the island shifts gears, with sunset the headline act. Book a table at Pinky’s Rottnest Island and indulge in local seafood dishes such as snapper caponata or garlic chilli prawns, all while watching the sky turn crimson, then pink, then black over Bathurst Lighthouse. As evening sets in, retreat to Samphire Rottnest, a boutique beachfront stay luring you with its poolside cabanas, seaside firepits, and ocean-view balconies.
SOLO ADVENTURERS
Seabirds glide across an open sky, an undulating coastline curves away in soft arcs, and feelings of solitude feel expansive, never hollow. Such is the experience for the solo traveller on Rottnest.
A dreamy summer’s day here begins with coffee and a breakfast bite at Frankie’s on Rotto in the Settlement. Then head out on your own version of island time. Dive into the reef at Geordie Bay for a solo snorkelling session amid brilliant blue hues, where you might spot an octopus or stingray slipping past.
Prefer to stay dry? Visit Wadjemup Museum to explore the island’s layered history, including its Indigenous heritage. Or take in the views from the Wadjemup Lighthouse, which has watched over the island since 1896. For something more active, there’s the nine-hole Rottnest Island Golf Course, with gear for hire.
When hunger calls, enjoy a light lunch while admiring local artworks adorning the walls at Geordie’s Cafe & Art Gallery. As evening sets in, join the social buzz with sundowners at Hotel Rottnest, or choose the quieter path: watch the sky blush in shades of rose and apricot over Parakeet Bay while you dig your toes into the sand. It’s life at its best on Rottnest Island.