If you enjoy peaceful walks on idyllic islands, beating the crowds, and low-season rates, consider a winter trip to Rottnest Island / Wadjemup. The weather’s still great (often around 20 degrees), the quokkas still friendly, and Discovery Resorts Rottnest Island is open. Zoe Macfarlane ‘took one for the team’ and checked it out.
Check-in & beyond
A property’s check-in usually starts when you arrive at the reception desk. Not with Discovery Resorts Rottnest Island! The day prior, I received a welcome text advising check-in times and luggage tips. On the day, another text pinged informing me my tent was ready. So great.
While there is an airstrip on Rottnest Island, most people arrive on the Rottnest Express, a spacious high-speed ferry connecting Perth and Fremantle to paradise. From the dock, it’s an easy kilometre walk to the resort’s reception area.
No need to lug your luggage that kilometre, though. The Rottnest Express ferry crew drop it off (and pick it up for your return). Pack what you need for the next few hours, though; it can take up to four hours to make it to your luxury tent in peak season.
The rooms
You might think nylon triangles that collapse in the rain when you think tents. However, these are premium quality, safari-style affairs with pillow-topped beds, ensuite bathrooms, kitchenettes, and inviting decks from which to watch the sunsets or quokkas, or both.
While there are a few accommodation options on Wadjemup, none connect you to nature like Discovery Resorts Rottnest Island’s tented accommodation. Though not so connected you’ve got a quokka snuggled on your plump pillow at night (I wish!).
There are four different styles of ensuite tents, though in winter, the Standard Tents are unavailable. I was in a spacious Superior Family Tent with a nifty area to zip the room in two. My tent had tasteful décor, the shower more powerful than anticipated, and an oil heater for the chillier nights.
If you’re a cold weather wuss, book a Deluxe Oceanside Tent; alongside incredible sunset views, they also come with an electric blanket.
Food & drinks
There’s only one eatery at Discovery Parks Rottnest Island, but it’s a goodie. In fact, it’s famous on the island: Pinky’s Rottnest Island!
The restaurant’s prime sunset position, tropical cocktails, and outdoor seating make it the place to be in summer. And in winter, when you can definitely snag a table.
While the included breakfast at Pinky’s is not as vast as some buffet brekkies, it was a lovely spread that beat many others on the taste front. After days on tour with standard bacon and eggs fare, the hollandaise sauce, berries, and lightly dusted pastries were a welcome change.
From 11 am to 4 pm, Pinky’s lunch menu offers bites large and small. For dinner, I opted for fish of the day from the small seasonal menu. As someone with dietary requirements, it was fab that menu items stated if gluten-, dairy-, and nut-free.
Facilities
Unless you’re into ice bathing, you might want to skip the resort’s 30-metre pretty kidney-shaped pool in winter: it’s not heated.
I prefer an ocean dip if I’m going to get in chilly waters, anyway, which is ideal as Discovery Parks Rottnest Island is right on the ocean with the famed Pinky’s Beach and iconic Bathurst Point Lighthouse at one end and The Basin at the other.
The resort also has barbeques for guest use. Stock up before you leave the city or at the Rottnest General Store.
The extras
While not quite a resort extra in the same way the Light Towers at Discovery Kings Canyon is, let’s be real, you’re coming to Rottnest Island for the stunning scenery and happy, happy residents. Not the local humans (there are only around 300 of those), the quokkas!
Charmingly, a quokka was right under my tent as I left for breakfast! Seeing them at the resort is preferable to the Settlement, where they are a little bit too used to human company. That said, it was around there that I saw baby quokkas! Joey season is probably the top perk of coming to Rottnest in winter.
The verdict
The oceanside location, stylish tents, fab restaurant, and resident quokkas make this a winner winter stay (and summer one, too).
I sadly only stayed one night (it’s usually a 2-night minimum). It would be a dream to go back for a few days to really soak up the mellow vibes and explore the island more.
Unless you’re time-crunched and can only do a day trip, stay at least two nights at Discovery Rottnest Island. More if you can. You won’t regret it.
The deets
I reached the resort by Rottnest Express; it’s 30 minutes from Fremantle and 90 minutes from Perth, then a 10-minute walk.
To book, visit Discovery Resort Rottnest Island, room rates start from $279, minimum two night stay.
Keen to find out what I did while on Wadjemup? Check out my winter on Rottnest review.
