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Nowhere wraps outdoor adventure, wildlife encounters and next-level dining in a bow quite like Western Australia’s Rottnest Island (Wadjemup). Welcome to the good life; days here are spent walking, cycling and swimming before indulging in long oceanside lunches of seasonal dishes and artisanal cocktails. The backdrop? Secluded, azure-water bays, pink lakes, and white-sand coastline with cresting whales and fur seals.
Whether you’re after non-stop adventure, a culinary odyssey or simply seeking to reconnect with yourself and Country, you can shape your own itinerary here, whether you’ve got one or a few days to spend.
Scroll on for inspiration on how to maximise your time on Rottnest Island – your way.
Start the day with salt water & coffee
For breakfast: The Lane Café, Dome Café, Rottnest Bakery
Stroll down to one of the island’s quiet bays, like Little Parakeet, for an early morning swim, and be the first to leave footprints in the sand. After awakening your senses in the crystalline waters, refuel with breakfast at The Lane Café, where colourful acai bowls and the signature ‘cray dog’ (a soft white bun loaded with crayfish grilled in garlic and olive oil, topped with jalapeno mayo) are complemented by the island’s best coffee. Head to Dome Café for biscuity Biscoff pancake stacks, or for something on-the-run, Rottnest Bakery can’t be beaten with its oozing jam doughnuts, crayfish pies and fresh sourdough.
Make the most of the serenity of the morning with a gentle coastal walk to take in the breathtaking scenery – you’re never far from a postcard-perfect beach, here. If you’re out early enough to catch the lavender-to-fiery-orange sunrise, Bathurst Lighthouse, Thomson Bay, Parker Point or Pinky Beach are prime spots (where you can easily park your bikes in the nearby racks).
Explore the island by bike or foot
For refreshments: Lexi’s on Rotto
‘Rotto’ is largely car free, making it easy and enjoyable to explore on foot or two wheels. Lace up your trainers or walking boots to navigate the Wadjemup Bidi, a 45km network of walking trails that span the island. There are five uniquely beautiful sections to explore, with different attractions along the route, from WWII coastal defence remnants to the storybook-like Wadjemup Lighthouse. Here near the lighthouse you can head off-track to Lexi’s on Rotto. Located in the West End, this eccentric 70s-era caravan is the perfect refreshment stop, serving barista-made coffees, cold drinks and ice creams.
For shorter stays, choose one or two trails to traverse, or allow a few days to complete it in its entirety. Cover ground more quickly by e-bike, which is one of the best ways to explore Little Salmon Bay and Parker Point and uncover unexpected gems en route. Discover more about Rottnest’s walking and cycling trails here.
Long lunch with a view
For lunch: Isola Bar e Cibo, Geordie’s Café & Art Gallery
The dining scene on the island is varied and dynamic; of course, fresh seafood takes a starring role, as do elevated family favourites like sourdough pizza and handmade pasta. The beachside fine dining of Isola Bar e Cibo offers reimagined Italian dishes led by seasonal local produce, with million-dollar-views over Thomson Bay. While the offering is upscale, the setting is warm and casual; the perfect way to recharge before setting off again for the afternoon. Its cured meat platter, served with focaccia, Sardinian pan carasau flatbreads and housemade pickled giardiniera vegetables, is perfect long lunch fare, especially when complemented by a chilled Italian prosecco or smoked negroni. Another standout is Geordie’s Café & Art Gallery, where hearty Aussies favourites, like slow-cooked lamb shank with red wine and Tasmanian pepperberry jus, are served amid local artwork.
Afternoon relaxation
For an aperitif: your hotel bar
What’s a holiday without an impromptu afternoon nap? Whether you find your serenity from putting your feet up with a good book, sunbathing on the sands or an indulgent spa treatment, you’ll find your version of peace here. At Samphire Rottnest, you can enjoy a massage in the comfort of your own room, from a reinvigorating 20-minute scalp, neck and shoulder treatment to a full two-hour extravaganza with body scrub and facial included. The coastal-inspired rooms of The Lodge Wadjemup are perfect for an air-conditioned snooze after soaking up the sunshine beside the 12-metre outdoor pool, while the terraces of Discovery Resort’s luxe eco-tents invite you to linger a little longer over your book, with beach views in the distance.
Sunset drinks & snacks
For drinks: HAVZA, Bayside Bar
Come together to celebrate your day’s adventures over sunset drinks. HAVZA (open seasonally, from 11 November for 2025), is located right on the island’s north shore and serves Mediterranean-style tapas crafted from Western Australian produce. It’s best to secure your ocean-view seats around 30-45 minutes before sunset so you’re comfortably set up to capture those golden hour photos – or you can even place your order to take away, if you prefer to eat barefoot right on the sand. Another excellent sunset spot is Bayside Bar at Samphire Rottnest, where cocktails such as a lychee caprioska (Ketel One vodka, Soho Lychee liquer, lychee, agave and lime juice) are served beside a fire pit on cooler nights.
Wildlife & twilight adventures
For dinner: Sunsets, Lontara
Twilight is the perfect time for wildlife spotting, stargazing and walks in cooler temperatures, before or after dinner at one of the island’s restaurants. Best of all, from 30 October, the return ferry to Fremantle runs until 9pm from Thursday to Sunday, meaning you can make the most of those summer evenings.
One of Rottnest’s greatest attractions is its furry inhabitants; after all, the island’s name comes from 17th-century Dutch explorers, who spotted its native quokkas and called the island ‘Rat’s Nest’. The iconic smiling marsupials can usually be found in the early morning or evening near Garden Lake (while they’re delightfully friendly, remember to keep your distance and refrain from feeding them). For dinner, the nearby Sunsets restaurant at The Lodge Wadjemup offers Mediterranean-inspired flavours (think burrata with peaches, and salt cod croquettes with jalapeno), while Lontara, also close to the lake, serves up South Asian-style fare designed to be shared, like dumplings and beef cheek rendang. After darkness has fallen, marvel at the constellations from the 1900-era Bathurst Lighthouse as they sparkle over the Indian Ocean.
Discover Western Australia
Feature image: Tanya Morgan / Tourism Western Australia. Images: Rottnest Island Authority.
