There’s something special about a day trip to Rottnest Island. No matter how many times we visit, it somehow feels brand new — same turquoise water, same salty breeze, but always a different adventure. This time we took the kids over for a spring getaway, and Rotto delivered in all the ways it always does.

The excitement started before we even arrived. The boys loved the ferry ride, in between reminding us (loudly) that they were starving. Hunger pains aside, they were glued to the windows watching the water shift from deep blue to that unmistakable Rottnest turquoise as we got closer.

Once we stepped onto the island, the energy shifted instantly. Bikes rolling past, the sound of seagulls in the distance, sunshine everywhere. We grabbed a quick bite to reset the mood, then began the important business of quokka spotting. You can’t come to Rotto with kids and not get swept up in quokka fever.

It didn’t take long before we found a few happily munching away in the shade and of course, the boys were determined to get the famous quokka selfie. Mission accomplished. And honestly? They nailed it.

From there, we wandered toward one of Rottnest’s quieter, tucked-away beaches. Calm water, soft sand, and that feeling you only get by the ocean — where time seems to slow down just enough for you to actually take everything in. The boys ran wild, built sand creations, splashed around, and soaked it all in.

On our way back through one of the limestone paths, we had a close encounter with a King Skink. The boys froze, then whispered like they were on a nature documentary. Seeing wildlife up close like that, not on a screen, not in a book, but right in front of you, those are the moments they’ll actually remember.

It was one of those classic Rotto days: simple, sun-filled, full of small surprises.
A boat ride, a quokka selfie, a hidden beach, a lizard encounter, two happy kids, and a tired set of parents heading back on the ferry at the end of it all.

Nothing fancy — but exactly the kind of day that fills the memory bank.