We have cherry-picked a few of our favourite places to stay when you’re visiting Wadjemup / Rottnest Island in Western Australia.
Many West Australians have nostalgic memories that revolve around Rottnest Island. For those of us daydreaming about the barefoot luxury of an island getaway and the emotions it evokes, a visit to Rottnest Island or a stay near the ferry departure point in Perth offers the perfect opportunity to soak up some vitamin D at its beautiful beaches and bays.
Here are some of the best Rottnest Island accommodation options that will make for a memorable visit.
The Lodge Wadjemup
After a $40 million refurbishment, The Lodge Wadjemup has just opened its doors to guests, offering idyllic lakeside relaxation to all. The resort has 63 refurbished rooms with a mix of heritage and 1970s bones, but come April, another 46 sleek poolside rooms will open. Rottnest Island has been short of delivering delicious food, but the Mediterranean fare at the onsite restaurant Sunsets Bar & Dining serves fresh WA produce in the form of XO prawns, heirloom tomatoes and squid ink linguine and Rottnest swordfish with mussels, sauce vierge, and bottarga.
Discovery Resort – Rottnest Island
Glamp by the water at Discovery Resort – Rottnest Island. (Image; Tourism Western Australia)
If you’re after a relaxing beach break, or want to create a multitude of memories with the family, you can do so in comfort at Discovery Holiday Parks Rottnest Island . From deluxe tents nestled in the dunes, to standard family tents with a private ensuite and outdoor deck, to superior family tents with kitchenettes, the holiday park located just 300 metres from Garden Lake and 200 metres from the beach has just 83 eco tents and gets the thumbs up for treading lightly on the land.
Heritage Cottages
Bathurst Lighthouse Keepers Cottage comprises two units. (Image: Rottnest Island Authority)
The majority of the original Heritage Cottages on Rottnest Island are located at the southern end of Vincent Way, in North Thomson, one of the oldest intact streets in Australia. Be transported back to the 1840s when you book a stay in one of the heritage-listed cottages which all share the same ochre hue that has become iconic on the island. Two of the charming Heritage Cottages are located close to Bathurst Lighthouse, while others with historical significance from the Second World War are to be found at Kingstown Barracks, a short bus ride from the main settlement. While they offer a historical experience, they do offer a more rustic accommodation in comparison to some of the island’s other stays.
Samphire Rottnest
Samphire Rottnest is the first luxury resort on Rottnest.
Samphire Rottnest is the first luxury resort to spring up on Wadjemup (Rottnest Island) and it takes just 30 minutes on the ferry from Freo to get there. The 80-room boutique hotel feels like a hidden corner of Canggu without the crowds: it has a restaurant, beach club, lounge, lagoon-like pool and bar and landscaped gardens that make it irresistible as a hide-away-from-it-all hotel. Open up the doors to your suite and invite the sea breeze in or kick back with your toes in the sand for sunset cocktails at the Beach Club.
This article was originally written by Chloe Cann and updated by Rachael Thompson
Chloe Cann is an award-winning freelance travel and food writer, born in England, based in Melbourne and Roman by adoption. Since honing her skills at City St George's, University of London with a master's degree in journalism, she's been writing almost exclusively about travel for more than a decade, and has worked in-house at newspapers and travel magazines in London, Phnom Penh, Sydney and Melbourne. Through a mixture of work and pleasure, she's been fortunate enough to visit 80 countries to date, though there are many more that she is itching to reach. While the strength of a region's food scene tends to dictate the location of her next trip, she can be equally swayed by the promise of interesting landscapes and offbeat experiences. And with a small person now in tow, travel looks a little different these days, but it remains at the front of her mind.
The East Kimberley should be on every bucket list, and here’s why.
Livistona palms soar out of chasms the colour of Valencia oranges. Shady waterholes beckon travellers daring to venture off the bitumen. From the air, fruit farms give way to vast plains that meet rolling hills and fascinating geological formations centuries in the making. The East Kimberley is one of Australia’s most treasured wilderness areas, but don’t be fooled by its rust-coloured roads. This north-eastern corner of Western Australia is home to some of Australia’s most iconic stays by Discovery Resorts that should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Dine in the heart of nature.
Your guide to Lake Argyle
The backstory
With rolling hills that glow amber at sunrise and glassy water that reflects the Kimberley’s bright blue sky, a visit to Lake Argyle is nothing short of awe-inspiring. As Australia’s second-largest man-made freshwater lake, travellers flock here to soak in the views from boats, helicopters and Discovery Resorts – Lake Argyle.
The latter is a lakeside oasis, a resort where travellers crossing from Western Australia into the Northern Territory (or vice versa) converge. Fifty minutes’ drive south of Kununurra, the property is perched atop a cliff overlooking the sprawling Lake Argyle.
Discovery Resorts – Lake Argyle was originally built in the late 1960s to provide accommodation for builders of the Ord River dam, which formed Lake Argyle. In the decades that followed it had several owners, until a Kununurra local took the reins in 2004 and reinvented the property with luxury villas and its now world-famous infinity pool. The iconic property was added to the Discovery Resorts portfolio in 2021, undergoing a major upgrade that took the resort from a beloved campground to an all-encompassing resort with premium waterfront villas.
Glide across the vast, shimmering waters of Lake Argyle.
The rooms
A lakeside resort like no other, Discovery Resorts – Lake Argyle offers something for everyone, from campsites to villas and cabins . The Deluxe Lakeview Cabins have views of the opposing cliff and are surrounded by bush, ensuring plenty of privacy, while both the Deluxe and Standard Cabins are ideal for families, with contemporary furnishings and one, two or four bedrooms. The campsites also come in a variety of sizes.
The facilities
There’s no doubt the biggest drawcard to Discovery Resorts – Lake Argyle is the lake, 20 times the size of Sydney Harbour. One of the best ways to experience it is on the Kimberley Durack Sunset Explorer Cruise , during which you’ll see freshwater crocodiles nesting along the banks (it’s home to 30,000 freshies) and even get the chance to swim in their waters. The cruise also takes in Mt Misery, towering above the original and now submerged Argyle Downs Homestead.
If you have young children who need to get to bed early, a great alternative is the three-hour Lunch Explorer Cruise . You’ll tour around the lake’s bays as you learn about the local wildlife before stopping at a remote island for a swim.
Refuel between adventures at the onsite pub-style eatery, The Lake Argyle Cafe. The cafe is the heart of the resort, bringing together friends new and old over a steak, cold beer and live music. Hours vary with the seasons, but rest assured you’ll be able to enjoy a good feed year-round, with a well-stocked general store also open during the day.
Cool off from a day of exploring in the striking infinity pool with some of the best views in the country (you’ll find sweeping views of the lake below). Or enjoy a flight with HeliSpirit, or clear your mind during a yoga class on the lawn.
Take a dip in the infinity pool and soak in breathtaking Lake Argyle views.
Your guide to El Questro
The backstory
One of the most famous stays in Australia is El Questro . A former cattle station, it’s evolved into one of the country’s most recognisable tourism destinations over the past 30 years, and is now embarking on a new chapter to elevate the region’s rich First Nations culture.
The property draws travellers seeking to reconnect with nature and the beauty of this country. Wild in spirit but immaculate in style, El Questro is a 283,000-hectare property like no other; surrounded by dramatic gorges, impressive mountain ranges, thermal springs, secluded waterfalls and even rainforest, it’s the perfect base for adventurous souls.
Float along Zebedee Springs and immerse in nature.
The rooms
Across the sprawling El Questro are three properties catering to the wide variety of travellers who journey this way. The most impressive is the luxurious Homestead , where 10 suites perch at the edge of a burnt-orange cliff, with cantilevered bedrooms over the peaceful Chamberlain River. The adults-only, all-inclusive Homestead is a member of the prestigious Luxury Lodges of Australia collection and offers a backdrop of thick bushland; riverside, you’ll find an immaculate lawn and a shaded pool that lures guests out of their rooms.
At Emma Gorge , travellers will be immersed in the beauty of the Cockburn Ranges, falling asleep to the sounds of wildlife in safari-style tented cabins. This is where you come if you want to completely connect with your environment while retaining a few creature comforts. The Emma Gorge Tented Cabins sleep three or four people and feature private ensuites and ceiling fans.
Families also love The Station , home to simple yet comfortable air-conditioned rooms, as well as a large, leafy campground. Sitting by the Pentecost River, The Station is open from April to October and has a range of accommodation, from unpowered and powered campsites to air-conditioned tents for two people and a Gardenview Family Room for five.
Take a breather with stunning views of nature all around.
The facilities
Located in the heart of the Kimberley, El Questro retains its strong connection with its Traditional Owners, the Ngarinyin people. A highlight of a stay here is the Injiid Marlabu Calls Us experience ; over two hours, guests are immersed in the soul of Country by witnessing ancient healing rituals, listening to generational stories and learning about the land’s ancestral heritage.
Other experiences include bird watching, cruising through Chamberlain Gorge, hiking through Emma Gorge, horse riding, four-wheel-driving and soaking in Zebedee Springs. At the properties, you can also cool off in the pools, and relax in the restaurants or at private dining locations. A bonus of staying at The Homestead is the exclusive service of El Questro’s dedicated reservations team, who will craft a bespoke itinerary tailored to your travel tastes.
