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As morning broke, we hopped aboard our ferry from Fremantle, gliding through the calm waters towards Rottnest Island, WA. Having heard much about the famed Rottnest Island quokka, everyone in the family was buzzing with anticipation, eager to meet the whimsical quokka on this epic day trip to Rottnest Island.
Upon reaching the island, the day was a tad overcast but it didn’t diminish the beauty of this paradise. The crystal clear turquoise waters near the pier immediately transported us to a relaxed island vibe. Right away, we wished we had booked an overnight stay here on Rottnest Island.
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The untouched beaches stood in contrast to the snug eateries and boutique stores. We had pre-booked our bikes and kids’ trailers with Pedal and Flipper, so our stroll led us to the bike store.
While patiently waiting to be served, our 3-year-old eager-eyed boy suddenly shouted, “Quokka!”, and there it was, sniffing around inside the bike shop, going about its day, occasionally standing up curiously looking around.
We didn’t expect to meet a quokka as soon as we stepped onto the island, so the close encounter with this adorable native animal was as exciting for the kids as for us. Casting my mind back to this day as I’m writing, this special moment marked the beginning of a memorable day on Rottnest Island. It was, hands down, the highlight among the many things to do in Perth during our 10-day family trip in September.
In this post, we’ll run through everything your family needs to know about a day trip to Rottnest Island: a complete one-day itinerary to meet the quokka with kids in tow, the best beaches for swimming, snorkelling, and more.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Where to Find Quokkas on Rottnest Island?
The first question many families have when planning a day trip to Rottnest Island is where to find the famed quokkas on Rottnest Island.
You’ll be glad to know they’re found everywhere on the island. Near The Settlement, around the playground, by the café, under the trees, near the beaches, under the picnic tables and even inside the bike shop!
The quokkas on Rottnest Island are not shy to come up and say hi, especially when you have food in hand. However, be mindful that feeding quokkas is illegal on the island.
So, don’t worry about searching for quokkas while you’re on the island, but keep a curious eye out for them and you’re bound to meet a few. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a quokka mama with an adorable baby joey in her pocket.
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Rottnest Island Bike Trails
As you may already know, Rottnest Island is an untouched, car-free island that’s a ferry ride away from Perth. While there are many bus and coach tours that take you to the highlights of Rottnest Island in comfort, the best way to explore this picturesque slice of paradise is by bike.
And in case you’re wondering, yes, there are tag-along bikes and kids’ trailers available for hire on the island.
If you need detailed information on getting to and around Rottnest Island, we’ve covered the options extensively in this complete family guide on Rottnest Island Ferry, Bike and Tours.
Now, let’s get to the bike trails on Rottnest Island. There are 3 main bike trails, ranging from 4km, 10km to 22km depending on the time you have on the island. Here is an overview of these bike trails and the parts of the island they cover.
As you can see, the purple trail is a 22km loop around the entire island that can take 3-5 hours to complete. If you plan to stop and enjoy any of the points of interest along the way, a day trip to Rottnest Island may not give you enough time to truly appreciate what this island has to offer.
That leaves us with the blue and yellow trails.
Depending on your one-day itinerary on Rottnest Island, you may be able to cover both trails and enjoy the stops along the way. And of course, who says you have to follow the trails exactly, right?
Our route: We cycled anticlockwise, covering beaches such as Pinky Beach and The Basin dotted along the northern end of the island all the way to Little Parakeet Bay.
Then we cut across the hilly roads between the beautiful lakes to Wadjemup Lighthouse before making our way back to The Settlement via Little Salmon Bay to catch our 4pm ferry.
There’s no particular preference regarding whether to tackle these bike trails clockwise or anti-clockwise as both directions offer beautiful beaches, scenic lookouts, turquoise waters, and chances to spot quokkas.
However, we do recommend starting the bike trail first after you arrive on Rottnest Island, so you can cycle around while the day is still young, the kids are fresh and happy, and the sun is not as fierce.
Leaving the Settlement (the visitors’ hub) to the end before boarding the ferry will still give you plenty of time to relax at the playground, grab a coffee or shop around.
Things To Do & See on a Day Trip to Rottnest Island
Aside from spotting quokkas and taking selfies with them, there are many stunning bays and beaches to explore.
We won’t get to the far end of the island in this post as this is a one-day itinerary for families with kids, but here are the best beaches and bays to stop on your day trip to Rottnest Island.
Pinky Beach & Bathurst Lighthouse
Pinky Beach and Bathurst Lighthouse are among the iconic spots on Rottnest Island that you simply can’t miss.
Pinky Beach, as the name suggests, is known for its soft, smooth sand with a tinge of pink and crystal-clear turquoise waters.
Climbing up the lighthouse, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the ocean meeting the sky, and the quaint cottages dotting the island.
Together, Pinky Beach and Bathurst Lighthouse offer an idyllic introduction to Rottnest Island’s unparalleled beauty.
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Accommodation on Rottnest Island for Families
As mentioned previously, we recommend staying a night on Rottnest Island, especially for families with children. As you can see in our photos above, the weather wasn’t on our side during our day trip to Rottnest Island. And we wish we had another day to appreciate this island.
This glamping-style resort is located just steps from Pinky Beach and Rottnest Museum, offering an idyllic escape on Rottnest Island.
The Superior Family Tent and Superior Access Tent are perfect for a family of 5 and include free breakfast each morning. Imagine waking up to the view of Bathurst Lighthouse, a cup of coffee in hand, and a hearty breakfast to start your gorgeous day on Rottnest Island.
The Basin
Next stop, The Basin, is one of the most family-friendly beaches on Rottnest Island. Its sheltered beach and shallow waters make it an excellent spot for snorkelling.
Little Parakeet Bay
Continuing cycling along the bike trails, you’ll pass the calm waters of Lake Baghdad. And a slight detour takes you to Little Parakeet Bay, another sheltered, family-friendly beach that’s great for snorkelling and sand play for the kids.
Along the way, we spotted a family of quokkas that came up to say hello. From here, the cycling trails become even more scenic, with lakes on one side and a windmill on rolling hills on the other.
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Scenic Lakes on Rottnest Island
From Little Parakeet Bay, we cycled towards Wadjemup Lighthouse through the paths between the picturesque lakes on Rottnest Island. Lake Negri scenic point is worth a photo stop where you can bird-watch and maybe even meet a quokka or two.
Wadjemup Lighthouse
This is when you’ll appreciate the assistance of the e-bikes as the path to Wadjemup Lighthouse becomes noticeably more hilly and windy.
Unfortunately for us, it started to rain quite heavily at this point, which hurried us to find shelter rather than continue sightseeing. Wadjemup Lighthouse, though still standing tall atop the hill, became blurred by the weather, enveloped by dark clouds.
Hopefully, you’ll have better luck on your day trip to Rottnest Island. Again, had we booked a stay at this glamping resort, we may have had a second chance to explore the lighthouse.
Scenic Parker Point Rd
On the bright side, the day started to clear up shortly after. As we continued cycling along the scenic Parker Point Rd, we reached the most picturesque stretch hugging the coastline.
We made various stops along this road, soaking in the surreal colours of the ocean and the occasional views of the dunes and the horizon ahead.
After a bit of a bumpy ride to Wadjemup Lighthouse, our 3-year-old fell asleep in his trailer at the back. So instead of stopping, we carried on to Little Salmon Bay. If we had another day to spare, we’d make our way back to Parker Point Rd and take our sweet time soaking in the panorama.
On a day trip to Rottnest Island with a return ferry waiting at 4pm, we felt a little rushed, especially with kids in tow.
Parker Point Lookout
Parker Point Lookout is one of the most notable lookout points on Rottnest Island. It’s probably the most gorgeous vantage point that gives you a generous peek at the island’s most stunning scenery.
Looking out, the panoramic views stretch out with the turquoise waters that seem to go on forever, and on a clear day, it feels like you can see the edge of the world.
While our son was still snoozing in the trailer, we figured this was the perfect picnic spot for lunch. There was a special kind of tranquillity here, and we weren’t the only ones who thought so.
As I was busy flying the drone and taking photos of the breathtaking ocean below, our daughter yelled out, “Quokkas!” and there they were, a family of four, with the cutest baby quokka curiously looking around for food.
They stayed for quite a while as we indulged in our packed sandwiches against the backdrop of this paradise. Our son woke up to a surprise when the quokkas snuck under our table. It was a meaningful encounter with these adorable quokkas, an experience I’m sure will linger in his memory for a very long time.
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Little Salmon Bay
Little Salmon Bay is one of the most popular snorkelling and swimming spots on Rottnest Island. Again, for the crystal clear waters and sheltered bay, this is one of the most family-friendly bays on the island.
While on Parker Point Rd, my e-bike started flashing an error message due to the rain getting into the battery. For peace of mind, we rang Pedal & Flipper and they came to our rescue after 15 minutes with a shiny new bike.
It was during the wait at Little Salmon Bay that I cut my foot on the reef, so tread carefully on the sand here.
The Settlement
At the end of our day trip to Rottnest Island, we returned to The Settlement a little earlier in the afternoon, allowing plenty of time to drop off our bikes and explore the shops.
The Settlement is the hub brimming with eateries and family-friendly vibes. Wander around the shops and the Visitor Centre for a souvenir and let the kids burn off some energy at the playground before boarding your ferry back to Perth.
If you still have plenty of time to spare, the calm and shallow waters of the nearby beaches are a great place for the kids to dip their toes or build sandcastles.
And if you’re keen on learning about the island’s history, the Rottnest Island Museum is a short stroll away.
Last but not least, you’ll spot plenty of quokkas near the restaurants, so don’t forget to say goodbye and take one last selfie to remember this unforgettable day on Rottnest Island.
Our Goodbye to Rottnest Island
There you have it, a family-friendly one-day itinerary to Rottnest Island to meet the quokka.
This day trip to Rottnest Island encapsulates the essence of adventure, relaxation, and a hearty dose of natural beauty. From the moment you step off the ferry to the island, you are ushered into a world of breathtaking scenery.
The freedom of cycling around, the serenity found at each bay, the close encounters with the ever-smiley quokkas, and the historical whispers from the lighthouse, all contribute to a memorable experience for the whole family.
As always, we enjoyed writing this travel story and will continue to deliver valuable content to help families live life to the fullest. If you resonate with us, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and connect with us. We hope to see you in another chapter.
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