Hotel Rottnest

If you’re ever lucky enough to find yourself on the beautiful Rottnest Island, do yourself a favour and book a stay at Hotel Rottnest. Not only is this hotel the epitome of beachfront living (literally a two-minute walk to the pristine white sands of Thomson’s Bay), the in-house bar and bistro also offer the best food and drinks with the most sublime alfresco dining area on the island. Recently restored to its former glory, this historic hotel was even once where the Governor of Western Australia would lodge on Rottnest during summer.

Top Tips

• Even though all 18 rooms of Hotel Rottnest are equally well-appointed and comfortable, previous guests have recommended booking one of the Bayside Rooms. Not only will you be able to enjoy uninterrupted views of Thomson’s Bay from your very own private patio, these rooms are reportedly a lot more spacious than the Courtyard Rooms. Pro tip: it is worth keeping in mind that each room has a maximum occupancy of 3 people.

• If you’re hoping to stay on Rottnest Island (not necessarily just Hotel Rottnest), it is imperative that you book your accommodation well before your trip. Being such a small island, demand for hotels (and even hostels) far outweigh supply. Pro tip: Rottnest Island is best enjoyed and most popular in the warmer months (between September and February), so if you’re planning your trip for that time of year definitely plan ahead.

• While Rottnest may be a relatively small island, there are a lot to see and do. For the adventurous (and fit) amongst us, there are bicycles you can hire for the day that will allow you to cycle the entirety of the island at your own pace (beware though: there are a lot of steep hills). For the less athletically gifted of us, there are hop-on-hop-off buses that service the island, stopping at the most popular spots for the majority of the day (a day ticket would set you back around AUD$20).

• The most famous celebrity to be found on Rottnest are of course the adorably irresistible quokkas (do yourself a favour and Google “quokka”). These adorable creatures are native to the island and are very comfortable around humans. That being said, there is strictly no feeding them as they can get very sick and jeopardize the rest of the quokkas on the island. Pro tip: while you can’t feed them, these happy little animals will gladly let you come close enough to take a selfie with them as a reminder of your time on Rottnest.  

• Being a beautiful island just off the coast of Perth, Rottnest is an incredibly popular destination for Australia’s school leavers. During the schoolies period (end of November to early December), the island will be overrun by freshly minted 18 year olds looking to blow off some steam. If the party scene isn’t (or is no longer) your thing, it’s best to  avoid the island during this time.