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The Island Ride, Wadjemup (Rottnest Island)

Embark on the ultimate adventure by cycling around the entire island to West End. Along the southern side, enjoy popular beaches perfect for a refreshing swim. The landscape becomes rugged at the island’s narrow western end, where Cathedral Rocks and Cape Vlamingh offer wildlife viewing opportunities, including fur seals, sea lions, dolphins, and seasonal humpback whales.

West End Aerial Rottnest Ria +5 Gallery
Cycle
Touring, Road
Trail difficulty
Easy
  • Length 22km
  • Est. time Half day
  • Circuit / loop
Today

20°C

21°

12°

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Read more about this trail

This is the ultimate adventurer’s route, where you cycle the entire island — all the way to West End. If you’re willing to go the distance, then you will discover abundant rewards. As you travel the southern side of the island, you will pass along a string of popular beaches, providing ample opportunities for a cooling swim or snorkel.
 
After this, the landscape becomes more rugged as you enter the narrow western end of the island. For the chance to witness local marine life in their natural habitat, stop at the Cathedral Rocks and Cape Vlamingh viewing platforms. From there you can see long-nosed fur seals resting in their colony, Australian sea lions basking on the beach, and out in the sea, bottlenose dolphins and migrating humpback whales (from August to December).
 
The coastal return path is a collection of beautiful, expansive beaches, as you travel past places like Geordie Bay and Longreach Bay on your way to the main settlement. Watch the headlands transform into bushland dotted with thriving salt lakes, before arriving in the bustle of Thomson Bay once again. 

Bike Hire

Bike hire is available on the Island from Pedal and Flipper. They have an array of e-bikes, bikes, trailers, child seats, and snorkel gear for both adults and children. See the links section for more information. 

Rottnest Island Authority

(08) 9432 9300

Rottnest Island Visitor Centre

(08) 9372 9730

Other Links

Flora and Fauna Statistics

20+
Mammal species
280+
Bird species
400+
Fish species

Wadjemup / Rottnest Island is a natural sancturay with unique flora and fauna. It's isolation has allowed a diverse variety of plants and wildlife to thrive, many of which are found nowhere else on the mainland. A main attraction is the island’s iconic species – the Quokka, but there are many other animals to see arcross and around the island.

Along the coastal parts you can see Osprey soaring through the sky, migrating Humpback Whales, dolphins and seals, and numerous species of fish. Coastal birds such as Oystercatchers, Silver Gulls and Fairy Terns can be found along the shoreline. In the coastal healthlands King Skinks, Bobtail lizards and dugites are located, and the salt lakes and woodlands attract many birds, Australian Shelducks and Pied Cormorants.

Wadjemup features a resilient, coastal ecosystem dominated by three native woodland trees: the Rottnest Island Pine, the Rottnest Island Tea Tree and the coast wattle. The Rottnest Island Daisy is a native blue/purple wildflower that blooms across the dunes, alongside spinifex and coastal rosemary. The wetlands are populated by salt-tolerant samphire, and the shallow waters and limestone reefs are home to a diverse array of marine plants, including over 300 species seaweeds and 8 prominent seagrass species that sustain the local marine life. 



Keep an eye out for these species:

Quokka

Setonix brachyurus

Animalia: Mammalia

Conservation status: Vulnerable

VU

Rottnest Island Bobtail

Tiliqua rugosa konowi

Animalia: Reptilia

Conservation status: Vulnerable

VU

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Animalia: Mammalia

Conservation status: Conservation Dependent

Long-nosed Fur Seal

Arctocephalus forsteri

Animalia: Mammalia

Conservation status: Other Specially Protected

OS

Zebrafish

Girella zebra

Animalia: Actinopterygii

Western King Wrasse

Coris auricularis

Animalia: Actinopterygii

Australian Pied Oystercatcher

Haematopus longirostris

Animalia: Aves

Fairy Tern

Sternula nereis

Animalia: Aves

Pied Cormorant

Phalacrocorax (Phalacrocorax) varius

Animalia: Aves

Cushion Fanflower

Scaevola crassifolia

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Rottnest Island Daisy

Trachymene coerulea

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Samphires

Tecticornia

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Be trail ready

Here is everything you need to know before visiting this trail.

Time / Duration

Allow 3 - 5 hours for stops and swims along the way

Length

22km, or up to 30km with detours.

Trail Access

Wadjemup Bidi (Rottnest Island) is around a 30 minute ferry ride from Perth.

Trail Start

The Settlement or Geordie or Longreach Bay - wherever your accommodation is on the island

Get directions

Trail End

When to go

Rottnest is great anytime of year, but for warmer water temperatures go in November - April.

What’s the weather like?

What To Pack

Hazards & Warnings

Dugite snakes are very common on Rottnest Island, please be cautious. 

Prohibited items

Dogs are prohibited on Rottnest Island.

Safety

Although vehicles are limited on Rottnest, riders should be aware of tourist buses operating along the cycle route.

Biodiversity

Do not feed, touch or harm wildlife, and observe from a safe, respectable distance.

Facilities

Facilities are mostly found around The Settlement, Geordie and Longreach Bay areas, and there are toilets and cool drinks and snacks at West End. 

  • Bicycle Rack
  • Cafe
  • Camping
  • Child Activities
  • Guide
  • Lookouts
  • Public Toilet
  • Shaded Area
  • Sheltered Area
  • Shop
  • All accessible toilet facilities
  • View Platform
  • Visitor Information Centre
  • Water Access Points
  • Accessible viewing platform
More tips for being Trail Ready

Today Aug 15, 12:19pm

20°C

Feels like 19°C

Max 21°

Min 12°

Precipitation: 0%

Visibility: 10km

Wind: 4.04km/h NE

8-day forecast

Sat

21°

12°

Sun

21°

16°

Mon

19°

16°

Tue

16°

15°

Wed

17°

16°

Thu

17°

15°

Fri

17°

14°

Sat

18°

15°

Weather data provided by:

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