Wadjemup/Rottnest Island — The Other Side Guide
This guide to travelling Wadjmeup/Rottnest Island in the off-season is part of a larger content strategy. Aimed at positioning the island as a rich, immersive winter destination, this guide is the feature editorial piece, supported by a collection of long-form articles. I led this project as Senior Copywriter at Lush and wrote alongside our copywriter, Caitlin Scott.
Your time on Wadjemup/Rottnest Island during the cooler months is an invitation to re-connect to yourself and discover a sense of adventure and curiosity that comes from time well spent. With just a little bit of planning, you can ensure that you get the most out of your island time.
Exploring the island on foot
A network of trails
The island is threaded by five unique hiking trails, each one offering a backdrop that you can only access on foot. While each trail provides a distinctive experience, they connect to form the 45 km iconic Wadjemup Bidi trail.
Extending from one end of the island to the other, the Wadjemup Bidi trail navigates walkers from the vast coastline, past inland lakes, and through military history. This is a trip worth wandering.
Choosing the right trail
The cooler months are the ideal time to embark on your Wadjemup Bidi hike. So, once you’re armed with an island map — which you can pick up from the Rottnest Island Visitor Centre — and plenty of water, all that’s left is to choose the trail you want to discover first.
Walk through the military history of the island
Track name: Ngank Yira Bidi
Plan for: 3-4 hours
Distance: 9.4 km one-way
What you’ll see: Military history, Wadjemup Lighthouse, Shark Wreck, Porpoise Bay, Lake Serpentine.
Start your journey at Thomson Bay and hike along the coastline before walking into the heart of the island and finishing at Oliver Hill. This trail is known for its journey through the island’s military history as you head towards Kingstown Barracks, pass Bickley Battery with its gun tower and historic railway, and then hit the steep climb up to Oliver Hill. This is where you will end your hike, with a full view of the island, including Wadjemup Lighthouse. There is also the option to join the Rottnest Island Voluntary Guides on a tour of the site’s underground tunnels while you’re here.
When it comes to the natural wonders of Ngank Yira Bidi, you’ll find Henrietta Rocks, where those with a penchant for cold dips can snorkel to Shark Wreck 50 m offshore. Then there’s Porpoise Bay and a walk by the side of Lake Serpentine. This trail is a real blend of history and nature’s takeover.
Inland salt lake wandering
Track name: Gabbi Karniny Bidi
Plan for: 3-4 hours
Distance: 9.7 km loop
What you’ll see: All five salt lakes, Wadjemup Lighthouse, Parakeet, Geordie and Longreach Bays.
Copy: Gabbi Karniny Bidi takes you on a tour of the extraordinary salt lakes that dwell in the centre of the island. Starting with a view from Vlamingh Lookout, you’ll hike past Garden Lake, then pass between the huge Herschel Lake and Lake Baghdad, before walking beside Lake Vincent and Pink Lake. Beyond the draw of the lakes, this walk is known for migratory bird-life sightings and the string of gorgeous bays that draw the hike to a close.
Drawn to the edge of the bay
Track name: Wardan Nara Bidi
Plan for: 3-4 hours
Distance: 10 km one-way
What you’ll see: Parker Point, Wadjemup Lighthouse, Little Salmon Bay, Green Island.
Copy: From the stunning views at Parker Point through to Little Salmon Bay and then up to Wadjemup Lighthouse, this is the hike to choose when you’re looking for a little taste of everything. On the way to the lighthouse, you’ll climb to the peak of Oliver Hill and have the opportunity to learn about the island’s WWII history. Next up is a walk to Strickland Bay, which is famous for its surf break, before finishing the hike at Narrow Neck. The Wardan Nara Bidi is a 10 km hike that offers walkers a cross-section of island experiences worth writing home about.
Marine wildlife sightings and winter beaches
Track name: Karlinyah Bidi
Plan for: 2-3 hours
Distance: 5.9 km one-way
What you’ll see: The northern coastline of the island, dolphins, ospreys, fur seals.
Copy: Feel truly grounded amongst the island’s diverse wildlife, both on and off shore. Karlinyah Bidi follows the twists of the northern coastline and, for those with a keen eye for marine life, there’s a high chance you’ll see the dolphins and New Zealand fur seals which frequent the island’s waters. As you hike to City of York Bay — named after the 1899 shipwreck — take care in navigating the naturally rocky terrain that extends all the way to Ricey Beach. Then pass one of the island’s most stunning beaches, Stark Bay, before concluding your walk at Rocky Bay.
The wilderness of the west end coastline
Track name: Ngank Wen Bidi
Plan for: 3 hours
Distance: 7.6 km loop
What you’ll see: The west end of the island, New Zealand fur seals, dolphins, humpback whale migration.
This loop guides you around the entire west end of the island. You can pick up the track from Marjorie Bay — a natural lagoon within the island’s marine sanctuary zone — and walk to Cathedral Rocks, where you will see a colony of New Zealand fur seals. These playful mammals are just the beginning of the potential wildlife sightings along Ngank Wen Bidi. Next up is Cape Vlamingh and the West End Boardwalk, where those with keen sight (or a pair of binoculars) may spot osprey nests, dolphins, and even the seasonal migration of humpback whales.
CRUISING around the island
Seeing the island by bike
You can bring your own wheels or hire a bike either from your ferry company or on the island once you arrive. Pedal & Flipper (the island’s hire company) has a large number of bikes to choose from and all the equipment you could need, from mountain bikes and children’s bikes/attachments to electric bicycles and scooters. It’s time to choose your adventure! Whichever you choose, cycling around Rottnest is an unbeatable way to experience the island.
Cycling trails to guide your exploration
There are almost no cars on the island (and certainly no traffic), so when you cycle along the network of roads, you’re given a rare opportunity to feel the abundance of space and take in the awe-inspiring scenery around you. It’s an uninterrupted experience you simply can’t get anywhere else.
The Rotto Mini Loop
Start small with the island’s 4 km loop, which is easy to complete in under an hour. Travelling from Thomson Bay through the island’s unique bushland and towards The Basin, this loop is the perfect way to experience a snapshot of Wadjemup. You’ll cycle past Longreach Bay and Geordie Bay before making your way inland to Vlamingh Lookout, where you can take in expansive views of the salt lakes.
Beaches, Lighthouses, and Lakes
Next, take things up a notch and venture out on a full 10 km loop. This route covers many of the island's most famous beaches and bays — Porpoise Bay, Parker Point, and Little Salmon Bay — before taking riders inland to experience the 360-degree views from Wadjemup Lighthouse. As you head back to the settlement, you’ll cycle through the island’s network of mirrored lakes and wetlands.
The Island Ride
This is where you commit to cycling the entire island — all 22 km of it! The Island Ride loop takes you all the way to the west end of Wadjmeup, where you get to experience parts of the island that are only open to those on bicycles. This ride offers abundant rewards to those willing to go the distance: rugged landscapes, shipwreck sightings, wildlife in abundance, and a complete sense of seclusion.
Prefer a guided tour?
Segway tours
Go off-road and behind the scenes with Segway Tours WA. There’s no peddling required, just a bit of balance and a desire to learn more about Rottnest Island. Your guide will give you information via a personal headset as you pass the island’s unique flora and fauna, military history, and curious quokka population.
Paul’s eco e-bike tours
This four-hour tour is a guided experience where you’ll circumnavigate the island on an electric bike (requiring very little peddling). For those who wish to add a cool swim or snorkel to the experience, this tour stops alongside each of the island’s five marine sanctuary zones.
