Bundle up and make your way to Wadjemup / Rottnest Island this winter school holidays. Here, families of all ages will be delighted by the island’s natural wonders, active wildlife and storied past. Here’s everything to add to your winter island itinerary these school holidays.
The Rottnest Voluntary Guides Association (RVGA) run a program of (mostly) free activities and tours to get kids of all ages learning more about the island during the school holidays.
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Spend two hours tackling questions that’ll get minds of all ages ticking. This family night out features good fun and great prizes along the way. Make your own tables of eight or join an existing table.
Bookings are essential for the Family Quiz Night.
Channel your inner detective and follow the trail of clues. This challenge changes each week and gets everyone involved, with the possibility of winning the weekly prize (drawn on Thursdays). Collect your entry form at the Rottnest Voluntary Guides Information Booth.
Winter marks a special time of the year when the island's djerap (birds), reptiles, and mammals are particularly active and abundant. Join a guided tour to see and hear some of these creatures in their natural habitat. Binoculars are available to spot those on the shy side.
Take a twilight stroll up to the lookout to watch the sun slowly melt into a kaleidoscope of colours over the kabikarning (salt lakes). Along the way, your guide will share stories about the island’s natural history, the first settlers, and the Dutch explorers.
Marvel in the sparkle of the winter sky over Wadjemup while you listen to captivating stories. Tours depart from both the settlement and Geordie Bay mall, offering the opportunity to share a meal beforehand. Around the settlement, Frankie’s on Rotto serves up hearty fare like handmade sourdough pizzas and belly-warming pasta dishes. Subway pizzas make for an easy meal, as does an early dinner of hot chicken, chips and roast veggies from the Chook Shack window at Rottnest Bakery.
Whether you wander near or far, there are endless opportunities to spot wildlife during the cooler months. Stroll a few minutes away from the main settlement to Garden Lake and find a moment of serenity surrounded by native flora and the fascinating happenings of the kwoka (quokka). Walk the stretch of boardwalk to watch countless quokkas roam freely from a respectful distance. While you wander near the kabikarning (salt lakes), listen out for unique species of (kooboolong) frogs that repopulate with the winter rains, then take to the ngobar (coastal) trails for sightings of the island’s many djerap (birds).
Glide around as a group thanks to the large selection of children’s bikes, baby seats and trailers at Pedal & Flipper Hire. The 4 km Rotto Mini Loop trail is a popular pick for families, starting from Thomson Bay and passing through bushland and striking coastland. When you’re rosy-cheeked and ready to refuel, Geordie’s Café & Art Gallery offers a selection of kids’ meals and moreish mains, plus outdoor seating and a playground nearby.
Older children will love the independence that comes with these two-wheeled tours, which can either take you off-road to hidden reaches or around popular attractions.
Not only do the guides offer the exciting school holiday program, they also offer free daily walking tours year round. Environmental awareness and historical education are a primary focus during tours, which can include wildlife sightings, stories of shipwrecks, sailors and past settlement workers, plus information detailing the agriculture, industry, geology and marine reserves of the island.
Tee off for a round of mini golf and enjoy a light-hearted game with the family. During bouts of rain, the bright lights of the arcade offer a thrilling way to spend a few hours. Then, once everyone’s worked up an appetite, make the short stroll over to Dome for crowd-pleasing, classic meals.
Staying overnight? Head to the historic Picture Hall for family-friendly flicks and the latest blockbusters paired with warm, buttery popcorn from the candy bar.
Everyone will be enthralled by audio accounts, unique artefacts and interactive exhibits, in addition to a range of books that will transport your little ones to a different time. Plus, when the weather permits, the friendly Rottnest Voluntary Guides can bring out games to enjoy outside on the grass.
Bring young explorers to learn more about the legacy of Oliver Hill. This thought-provoking tour details the history of the battery before taking you below ground to navigate the tunnels. Watch for excited faces when the Ghost Engine elicits a mighty roar.
Feel a sense of family accomplishment by ascending all 155 stairs of this iconic island structure. Your guide will share tales of engineering feats along the way, before you marvel in the 360-degree views of the alluring Indian Ocean, island surrounds and on clear days: the Perth city skyline. Nearby, Kalli’s on Rotto provides a welcome place to park up and enjoy panoramic views with a warming drink before or after your climb.
Please note participants must be a minimum of five years of age, and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
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