Having visited Rottnest Island many times over the summer months, I had yet to experience the island in winter and wasn’t sure what to expect. Would it live up to the incredible experience I have in summer?
To put it to the test, I spent a weekend exploring the delights of Rottnest Island in the middle winter.
Read on for what a Rottnest Island winter is like, why you should consider visiting in winter and ideas on what to do in Rottnest during the cooler months of the year.
Is it Worth Visiting Rottnest Island in Winter?
I definitely think it’s worth visiting Rottnest Island in the winter months.
It’s so much quieter – you might find you have popular spots like Little Salmon Bay to yourself! It was much more of a relaxed and chilled vibe compared to the busy summer months.
Perth winters are relatively mild anyway. If you pick your day right, you’ll find there are lots of beautiful days with that lovely winter sunshine to still make the most of the stunning landscapes and scenery Rottnest Island has to offer.
Visiting Rottnest in mid-June, we were treated to beautiful clear skies and sunshine for two of the three days. It became stormy and rained on our last night and into the morning, but it didn’t impact our plans too much.
All photos taken in this article are from my visit in June!
Getting to Rottnest Island
I travelled over to Rottnest on the ferry from Fremantle. You can also get a ferry from the Perth CBD, or even Hillary’s Boat Harbour. However, my preferred departure point is Fremantle as it’s the shortest ferry travel time and you can easily catch the train to get to the ferry terminal.
Ferry options are summarised below.
| Departure Location | Departure Time | Price | Booking |
| Perth CBD | 8.30am | From $124 | Click here |
| Perth CBD | 8.45am | From $119 | Click here |
| Fremantle | 7am or 9am | From $84 | Click here |
| Hillarys (complimentary CBD hotel pick up offered) | 7.30am or 10am | From $90 | Click here |
I was a bit worried about the ferry home as we had a storm overnight and it was quite windy. Luckily I had nothing to worry about, as the ride home was so smooth. If you do suffer from seasickness like me, my tip is to sit outside on the balcony or make your way to the lower level on the ferry.
Arriving at Rottnest Island it was a short wait to grab our bikes and helmets before the short cycle to our accommodation for the weekend.
You can buy a package of ferry tickets with bicycle hire, or rent a bike from Pedal & Flipper, about a 5 minute walk from the ferry terminal.
| Departure Location | Departure Time | Bicycles | Price | Booking |
| Perth CBD | 8.45am | Provided on Ferry | From $155 | Click here |
| Fremantle | 9.30am | Provided on Ferry | From $114 | Click here |
| Fremantle | 7am or 9am | Collect on Island | From $114 | Click here |
| Hillarys (complimentary CBD hotel pick up offered) | 7.30am or 10am | Provided on Ferry | From $119 | Click here |
What to do on Rottnest Island in Winter?
Some ideas for things to do on Rottnest in winter include:
Hike the Wadjemup Bidi trails
Did you know there are over 45 kilometres of walking trails on Rottnest Island?
With our fabulous guides from the The Hike Collective we explored the island on foot. The Hike Collective took us on an 8km walk starting from Discovery Rottnest, up to Vlamingh Lookout and then down through the salt lakes.
We looped back through some of Rottnest’s beautiful beaches where our guides even showed us a few secret spots, such as this beautiful hidden cove.
Take a Joy Flight over Rottnest Island
The most incredible way to experience all of Rottnest Island’s 63 beaches and 20 bays is from the sky!
Our 20 minute joy flight with Rottnest Air Taxi provided breath-taking views over the island with two complete orbits around the island. Joy flights start from $65 per person, and you can even fly from Perth over to the island! Now that’s arriving in style!
The more adventurous among us could even do a Tandem Skydive!
Get all the Quokka Selfies and See Baby Quokkas
Rain, hail or shine, the quokkas are always plentiful on Rottnest Island.
We saw so many over the course of the weekend, even during the middle of the day. Usually in summer they’d be hiding somewhere cool.
We also saw a few joeys in their mothers pouches which was the cutest sight, and only happens over the winter months following the breeding season in autumn.
Admire the Salt Lakes of Rottnest Island
The Rottnest Pink Lake really isn’t that pink… and in winter they are full of water! In summer they are mostly dried up. It looked even better from above on our joy flight too!
Learn the History of Rottnest on a Segway tour
Unfortunately heavy rain on the morning of our departure stopped us from doing our planned Segway tour.
Having seen people on a tour the day before, whizzing around on a Segway, it looked like so much fun! Not only do you get to see the island from a different perspective, the tour guides are super knowledgeable and share a lot of history about the island… plus it saves your poor legs from riding up the many hills around the island!
Book your Rottnest Island Segway Adventure tour here.
Feast on Delicious Food
Normally when visiting Rottnest for a day trip you’ll have lunch on the go or pack a picnic to eat when exploring one of the islands many beaches.
I relished the opportunity to sit down and have some delicious meals from restaurants on the island.
After watching sunset on our first night, we had a delightful dinner at Pinky’s Beach Club. We ended the night with hot chocolate and tasting the Head Chef’s homemade icecream he kindly brought out for us to try… YUM.
Our last night on the island ended with cocktails by a firepit and a South East Asian culinary experience at Lontara Restaurant, part of the Samphire Rottnest hotel establishment.
Make sure you book ahead here! We had a few mix ups with the food for our large table which was made up for by the delicious food and friendly service.
Experience Magical Winter Sunrises and Sunsets
There is something special about sunrises and sunsets in winter in Perth.
It’s also a lot easier to get out of bed at 7am for sunrise than the 5am wakeups required in summer! I had the most incredible sunrise on my first morning, made more magical by the fact that it was only a 5-minute walk from my eco-tent to the lighthouse at Pinky’s Beach.
Lookout for Migrating Whales
On our scenic flight above the island, our keen eyed pilot spotted humpback whales from the air!
As part of their annual migration, humpback whales can be seen along the coast. Usually most prevalent around September but we spotted a small group of them in the middle of June. From the land, these whales can be spotted from the West End where you will also find the resident seals.
For more ideas of things to do on Rottnest all year round, check out my detailed guide here.
Getting Around Rottnest in Winter
Bicycle is still the most popular option to get around Rottnest Island even in winter. You can add a bike on to your Ferry ticket when travelling with Rottnest Express and pick it up when you get off the ferry.
- Book a Ferry & Bike Package from Perth
- Book a Ferry & Bike Package from Fremantle
If the weather doesn’t permit, or you want to give your legs a rest, a good option to get around would be on the Rottnest Island Explorer Bus.
This Hop on / Hop off service is a great way to see the island at your own pace. Tickets are available for purchase from the Visitor Centre, or from the Main Bus Stop ticket kiosk from 8:30am to 3pm daily.
Another option is a guided bus tour, taking 4 hours to see the most popular sites on the island. This goes all the way to the West End and you’ll learn about the island with commentary by your guide from the comfort of the bus.
A good option for a rainy day!
Staying on Rottnest Island in Winter
I stayed at Discovery Rottnest Island in their luxury eco-tents.
Having glamped recently at Karijini National Park and Broome, I can say that Discovery Rottnest Island have the nicest eco-tents I’ve stayed in!
Even more special is the location right on Pinky’s Beach, next to Bathurst Lighthouse.
With 83 eco tents and a range of different options, there is something to suit everyone.
I stayed in a Superior Family tent, equipped with a King size bed, bunk bed, kitchenette and large bathroom. The outdoor deck is the perfect spot to relax and watch the world (and quokkas) go by!
Guests have exclusive use to the 30 metre pool at Pinky’s Beach Club. A gourmet buffet breakfast was included at the Beach Club restaurant.
The Deluxe Oceanside tents are incredible as well, and are a lot more private tucked away in the sand dunes with ocean views.
Definitely a special option if you want an extra memorable stay (we heard the Hemsworth’s stayed here when they came to visit!)
Check out prices and availability of the glamping tents here.
Keep in mind however luxe the eco-tents are, they are still tents. When we a big storm came in overnight I was warm and snug in bed but the canvas tent walls did move with the strong winds a bit… but there were no leaks in the canvas even with the battering of rain we received overnight.
Final Thoughts – Rottnest in Winter
That wraps up my incredible weekend exploring the delights of Rottnest Island in winter. Given how busy this little island can get over the summer months, I loved the experience of having the beautiful beaches to ourselves. I’ll be back soon, Rottnest Island!
Check out my other guides to make the most of your trip to Perth and Rottnest Island:
- 25 Top Things To Do on Rottnest Island
- Rottnest Island Day Trip: Perfect One Day Itinerary
- Ultimate Perth Itinerary: Fun 3, 5 and 7 Day Itineraries
- 23 Ideas for the Best Day Trips from Perth
- Best Places to Stay in Perth – Picked by a Local
My trip was hosted by Rottnest Express in conjunction with Discovery Rottnest, all views shared here are my own honest opinion.
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