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Discover Rottnest with Ferry & Bus Tour

Name: Discover Rottnest with Ferry & Bus Tour
Brand: Rottnest Express
SKU: 5297DR
Price: 91.94 USD
Rating: 4.5 (541 reviews)

Badge of ExcellencePerth, Australia

Rottnest Island Tour from Perth or Fremantle

From $91.94

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

8 hours
Offered in: English

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Overview

Visit Perth’s favorite local getaway destination on a day trip to Rottnest Island, located just offshore in the Indian Ocean. Travel to Rottnest by high-speed ferry from either Perth or Fremantle (your choice), and then embark on a sightseeing tour of the island by coach. While you listen to narration from an informative guide, check out landmarks like the West End and Wadjemup Lighthouse. Then enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore the car-free island at your leisure. You may upgrade when booking to include lunch.

Day trip to Rottnest Island with coach tour, from Perth or Fremantle
If departing Perth, cruise down Swan River, past local landmarks and Millionaire’s Row
Listen to commentary from a guide as you circumnavigate the island by air-conditioned coach
See spectacular locations including Wadjemup Lighthouse and the West End
Upgrade to include lunch at Karma Rottnest
Spot the island’s famous marsupial, the quokka, and marine life such as dolphins and fur seals
Enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore at your leisure

What's Included

Same day return ferry to Rottnest Island from Perth or Fremantle (selected at time of booking)
90-minute coach tour
Local guide
Lunch (if option selected)
Rottnest Island Authority fee
Round-trip Swan River cruise (if booked to depart from Perth)

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional activities (bike, snorkel gear, surfboard or stand up paddleboard hire)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

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End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

When booking, select your ferry departure location—either Perth or Fremantle—as well as the option to include lunch on the island, if you wish.

Your day trip starts with the high-speed ferry ride to Rottnest Island. If you’re departing Perth, cruise along the Swan River to Fremantle, where the river meets the Indian Ocean, to pick up more passengers for the ride across the water to Rotto, as it’s referred to by locals. When you arrive, hop aboard your coach for an island sightseeing tour.

Listen to commentary from your guide about the history, culture and wildlife of the island, known for its secluded beaches and its resident quokkas, small marsupials who call Rottnest home. As you circle the island, make stops at Wadjemup Lighthouse and the West End, where you can hop off to stroll down the boardwalk, admiring coastal views. Look for fur seals at Cathedral Rocks, and watch for the possible humpback whale, which might be seen from September to November.

When your tour ends at Thompson Bay, you are free to enjoy the island independently until it’s time to catch the ferry back to Perth. Perhaps rent a bike to check out one of the 63 beaches or 20 bays, go snorkeling or stand-up paddleboarding, or visit attractions like Lomas Cottage, Rottnest Island Museum or Pilot Boathouse. (Rentals, activities and entrance fees are at your own expense.) If you select the lunch upgrade, head to Karma Rottnest for a buffet of hot dishes, deli items, salads, desserts and beverages.

Your day trip then ends with the return ferry ride to Fremantle or Perth.

Swan River

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Rottnest Express (Pass By)

Wadjemup Lighthouse

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Rottnest Island Visitor Centre (Pass By)

West End

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 3 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation

Infants must sit on laps
Infant seats available
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 32 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Gail_A

Beautiful island, great white sand beaches and the cute quokkas. Tour guide was very informative nice bus tour around the island

Reviews

4.5

541 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 541 reviews

Great day at Rotto

Margaret_R, Apr 2024

The island lived up to its hype. Rottnest express had great staff that also did our bus tour. Malcolm was very informative and Mark our driver, did a great job dodging all the bike riders. The quokka's were a plenty and very friendly. Happy to see that the sovereigns were not expensive. Thoroughly recommend a trip to Rotto.

Wonderful day at Rottnest

Kay_E, Apr 2024

Excellent experience. Bus trip especially. Very knowledgeable guide and helpful, patient driver. Beats cycling - esp if travelling with a senior! Great food and cocktails at Frankies restaurant. 10/10.

Beautiful experience

Matthew_O, Apr 2024

The bus tour was very informative and the guide was extremely knowledgeable of the island. We also purchased the lunch time meal and that was flawless too. All in all it was a fantastic experience and a thoroughly enjoyable day out

Great tour with informative commentary

Diane_O, Apr 2024

Great tour overall. The bus tour was great. You get your tickers from the Rottnest Express shed. They give you all the information when you arrive. I'd recommend getting to the bus around 11am so you can get a seat on the left. But you get to stand up for photos, as the bus will stop several times, if you sit on the right. The food at Frankie's was amazing! We didn't get the lunch deal but there was enough space. Highly recommend the gnocchi and pizza! There are free tours run by volunteers. This is right near the Island Gypsy shop. We went on a quokka walk and saw so many!

A goo all rounder.

Noelene_A, Apr 2024

Thoroughly enjoyed the day at Rottenest Island. Picking up the tickets, catching the ferry, the bus tour & lunch were seamless. Bus tour was very enjoyable, interesting & informative. Rob the driver was very good given the bikes on the road! The tour guide Richard was very knowledgable about the varied history of the island . Very relaxed and welcoming to all. The bus tour is a must do to find out all about Rottnest. Lunch was very yummy and I dinned with Quokkers! I had plenty of time to walk around on my own and enjoyed a pleasant walk to Longreach Bay including plenty of time for a swim at The Basin and checked out the Bathurst Lighthouse. A must !

Nice day out

AnnMarie_B, Apr 2024

Nice day out. Quokka’s are adorable. I chose to have lunch at Frankie’s included and was delighted with the meal served, great verity, something for everyone. Only complaint was the bus tour was a bit short and would benefit from a few opportunities to get off and take some pictures as the surroundings are beautiful.

Happy Quokka day out in the sun

Garry_P, Apr 2024

We loved the river cruise down the Swan River with its fabulous sites. The highlight of the trip was seeing all the Quokka. They were cute and friendly and easy to spot all over the island. The discovery coach tour was awesome too.

A fun day

Sharon_B, Apr 2024

We had an amazing day. From the ferry ride, the bus tour & interacting with the Quokkas. Highly recommend this tour.

A worthy trip

Lei_W, Apr 2024

It was a great trip. We took cruise to Fremantle, then to Rottnest Island. Once we arrived there, we went to toilet first. It was a bit queue. The good thing was that the bus tour around the island was at 11:30 so we had enough time to walk there and look around. The bus tour is a guided tour so you need to sit on the bus around the island and only allowed you to walk and photo at Cape Vlamingh but it was great being inside as it was hot when visited on 6th April. After the bus tour, we went to Frankie’ Cafe for lunch as included in the tour. There are choices for food and drinks and their food are quite nice. You can see quokkas nearby the cafe. The quokka toys are not very good so we did not buy any for memory which was a pity. It’s a bit waiting to depart the island at 5pm.

The whole trip was great...

Ian_B, Apr 2024

The whole trip was great but the bus tour was excellent The tour guide certainly kept us well informed

Must see in Perth

Sem_C, Apr 2024

I would take the hop on and off bus as you get to swim and spend time more of the spots you like. Biking it only for professional cyclists as it’s very hilly. Good choices of places to eat. The only sad part was that we only saw 3 quokkas around the bakery area.

Wasted time

Vance_M, Apr 2024

Showed up with our booking confirmation from Viator and tour operator said sorry we are sold out. We sowed them the confirmation from Viator and they just that we would have to request a refund from them. We have done many tours with Viator and been pleased, but obviously their relationship with with this tour operator needs improvement.

On the bus tour enjoyed...

Michelle_P, Apr 2024

On the bus tour enjoyed learning about the island and the beautiful bays.family had a great time.just bikes get in the way

Wonderful experience

John_C, Apr 2024

When you just thinking good but its way beyond your expectation that's what I feel overwhelming joy.

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS

Dianne_A, Apr 2024

There was no single thing - every aspect was fantastic. Staff, facilities, bus trip, history and then there was Frankie's! We had one gripe and that was the amount of people ignoring the dismount your bike signsssss. Perhaps a little "policing" of this would help others to enjoy the crowded settlement area more.

Great full day out

Paul_M, Apr 2024

Brilliant day out. Swan River cruise to Freemantle and the to Rottnest Island with a bus tour round the Island. As a first time visitor this was perfect for us. Plenty of time for a meal with the Quokkas, a wander around the jetty area and a drink before the return trip. Would thoroughly recommend 👌

Do not miss

Connie_C, Mar 2024

The scenery is beautiful. Warm water, beautiful beaches and no cars. The Bus tour was very informative. One negative is the inability to take pictures. Only those on the left side of the bus were able to view many of the attractions.

Don't miss this one!

Rebecca_A, Mar 2024

The history and beauty of Rottnest was amazing. It was interesting to see/experience Australia personally!

I'd always known quokkas...

Andrew_M, Mar 2024

I'd always known quokkas were cute, but I had no idea the island was so beautiful. The bus tour was informative and the lunch was fine

Interesting and memorable trip to Rottnest Island.

LimYapSeng_n, Mar 2024

Love the hunting and photographing of quokkas. Coming very close to these little creatures. Happiest animal on earth I heard. The commentary on the ferry was informative. Lunch at Frankies was delicious.

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