Visit these three islands from Perth – especially if you’re a wild life lover!
Last updated on May 28th, 2026 at 06:56 am
Western Australia has some beautiful islands, but not many are easily accessible. These three islands are not only easy to get to from Perth but also have plenty to offer – beaches, walks, swimming, and plenty of iconic Aussie wildlife!
First of all I have….
A Quick Guide to help you plan your trip
Insurance – Click here for travel cover with SafetyWing – almost any nationality, its ok if you are already traveling, up to 64 years old. Or click here for cover with EKTA – any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling!
Internet – get a highly rated yesim eSim before you go – click here for yours
Accommodation – book a hotel with booking.com or Tripadvisor, or, a hostel with Hostelworld
For the best walks get AllTrails so you have offline maps to guide you.
Car rental – compare prices and get the best deals with Rentalcars.com
Tours and Activities – find the best tours with GetYourGuide or Viator. These are my top picks for you:
- Rottnest Island Skydive and Ferry Package
- Rottnest Island ‘Snorkel and Sail’
- Rockingham Seal & Penguin Islands Sea Kayak Tour
Heirisson Island – right in the city!
Actually, its right in Perth and worth a wander – especially if you want to see kangaroos right there in the city. There are seven female western grey kangaroos living on the island. You will probably, like me, have to walk the entire island to find them – but that makes it more fun, and you even get some nice views over the city while you are on your kanga hunt.
Getting there
Bike or walk from Victoria Park over the other Causeway Bridge, or, drive across the Causeway from Perth towards Victoria Park and take the offramp on your left to the Heirisson Island carpark.
Where to stay in Perth
As always there is a lot of choice and your budget and what you want to do has a big part to play in what is right for you. Book a hotel with booking.com or Tripadvisor, or, a hostel with Hostelworld. I’ve selected some good options to start you off. They all have at least a 9/10 rating at the time of writing!
Luxury – Como The Treasury
High End – The Intercontinental, or QT Perth
Mid Range – Attika Hotel, The Terrace Hotel, or, Nightcap at Belgian Beer Cafe (great name!)
Budget – Spinners Backpackers, or, Kangaroo Inn
Penguin Island – an overlooked island in Western Australia
Another island gem in Western Australia. But unfortunately, don’t get excited about seeing penguins here – despite the name! If you grab a kayak early at dawn or late at dusk and head over to the island you might see a penguin or two leaving for the days fishing, or returning after a hard day at it – but otherwise you are generally not going to see them. They do live here but they are out and about all day – and apparently the numbers are declining.
However, it is a lovely island with masses of gulls. (Ok yes – they are just gulls, but being up close to them nesting is interesting in itself). But there are also big sea lions and big skinks to find, and other birdlife like the very beautiful terns and oyster catchers as well as two of the few pelican nesting sites in WA. You can’t get close to the pelicans – for obvious reasons but you can see them from a viewpoint and watch them flying around above you as you walk the island.
You can also swim in the very clear and blue water, picnic and generally laze away some time after walking around the island. The walk takes about an hour if you’re not swimming and stopping to enjoy the wildlife – I would recommend taking a lot longer and a picnic! (Also see the tours in “Getting there” for good ways to see the island.)
Getting there
Catch the ferry across the bay from Shoalwater near Rockingham, or hire a kayak from the same place and paddle over.
If you’re coming from Perth on public transport, take the train south on the Mandurah line and get off at Rockingham Station. Then catch the 551, 552, or 553 bus outside the train station and get off on Penguin & Watts Road. Its two blocks to the center from there.
Alternatively take this Rockingham Seal & Penguin Islands Sea Kayak Tour from Perth and enjoy a day on a kayak around the islands. Or from Shoalwater take a cruise through the islands and land on Penguin Island to stay as long as you like.
Where to stay in Rockingham
You can easily get to Rockingham from Fremantle so look at the options under Rottnest Island if you prefer that. Otherwise, try the well rated Quest Rockingham, or for a lower budget the RoseMoore Bed & Breakfast
Rottnest Island – the favorite of the islands in Western Australia
The kingpin of the islands of Western Australia, with the main attraction being the native residents – the very relaxed and cute little quokkas!
You can see them all year round, usually snoozing in the shade as they are nocturnal. Early morning and later in the evening you will see them out and about. And in august the joeys are around – poking their heads out from their pouch. How cute is that going to be? I missed that but maybe next time!
I highly recommend staying a night as you then get to wander the island without the day trippers and get plenty of relaxed quokka spotting time when they are most active. It’s also a really lovely island for walking, cycling and swimming – you cant really go wrong!
Getting there
Catch a 20-minute ferry from Victoria Quay in Fremantle or a 90 minute one from the Barrack Street Jetty in Perth. There are five ferries a day from Freemantle and one from Perth. Not the cheapest ferry you will catch but it’s a pretty cool little place!
And take a look at these great tour options – add something extra to your trip – even skydiving:
- Rottnest Island Segway Tour
- Rottnest Island ‘Snorkel and Sail’
- Rottnest Island Skydive and Ferry Package
- Rottnest Island Ferry and Bike Day Tour (from Fremantle)
- Rottnest Island Ferry and Bike Day Tour (from Perth)
Where to stay on Rottnest or Freemantle
Again I’ve selected some good options to start you off. They have at least a 9/10 rating at the time of writing – unless noted!
If you’re staying on the island you can camp, or stay in one of the on-island hotels – try the Discovery Resort (8.7) or the Samphire Rottnest (8.3)
In Fremantle
Mid Range – Warders Hotel Fremantle Markets, the Quest Fremantle, Port Mill B&B, or, the Hougoumont Hotel
Budget – The Fremantle Prison Hostel (8.7 and yes it was a prison!)
Related Posts
Wild Side City Guide: Perth, Western Australia
Road Trip: Australia’s south west from Perth to Busselton
But….if you’re in Perth, Western Australia, you’re just a plane ride away from two of the coolest and unknown islands I’ve ever visited – Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling Island. You can only fly there from Perth so have a read:
Your guide to Australia’s most remote and unspoilt paradise – the amazing Cocos Keeling Islands!
The ultimate guide to Australia’s amazing Christmas Island
And if you love the Aussie animals you might like to read:
Where to find Australia’s Big Five: Kangaroos, Koalas, Platypus, Echidnas, and Wombats!
The best places to see 10 more iconic Australian animals in the wild