Rottnest Island

Featured Lists

Moondyne / CC BY-SA 3.0

Rottnest Island Essentials

Rottnest Island, known as Wadjemup to the Whadjuk Noongar people, features a mix of maritime history, unique wildlife, and coastal landscapes. This selection highlights the island's dual lighthouses—the 1849 Wadjemup and the scenic Bathurst—alongside natural landmarks like the saline Government House Lake and the sheltered waters of The Basin. Heritage sites include the WWII-era military installations at Oliver Hill and the Wadjemup Museum, which documents the island's colonial and Aboriginal history. The car-free terrain allows for quiet exploration of viewpoints and white-sand beaches.

8 places

Sam Wilson / CC BY-SA 4.0

Nature and Wildlife

Rottnest Island’s unique ecosystem features a permanent salt lake system covering ten percent of its land area, including Lake Baghdad and Government House Lake. This list highlights the island's diverse habitats, from the hard coral colonies at Pocillopora Reef to the seasonal wetlands of Salmon and Lighthouse Swamps. These environments support specialized flora and significant birdlife, while coastal areas like Ricey Beach and Pinkie Beach showcase the marine diversity influenced by the warm Leeuwin Current.

10 places

Djanga / CC BY 2.5

History & Heritage

Rottnest Island, known as Wadjemup to the Whadjuk Noongar people, contains a complex history spanning maritime navigation, colonial industry, and military defense. This list highlights the island's 19th-century lighthouses, such as Western Australia’s first stone lighthouse at Wadjemup, and the remnants of the salt harvesting industry. It also includes memorials to significant shipwrecks like the City of York and Mira Flores, alongside monuments acknowledging the island's history as a former Aboriginal penal settlement.

12 places

Rottnest Island — Map

Climate & when to visit

Best time to visit: February, March, April, May, October, November, December

Practical information

Tours & Activities