What it's like to stay at the The Lodge Wadjemup on Rottnest Island

After a $40 million redevelopment, the newly-revitalised resort is open to guests.

Most people visiting Rottnest Island think it’s all about spotting quokkas in the wild (and yes, scoring the obligatory selfie). But locals know better.

They’re the ones still lounging on beaches as the day’s final ferry departs, whisking salt encrusted daytrippers back to Perth. For east coasters and internationals, cracking the sleepover code has been akin to getting a table at Vue de Monde – everything is, seemingly, always booked out. But, halleluiah, with the opening of The Lodge Wadjemup it’s now easier for anyone to experience the magical exhale that happens as the day’s buzz shifts to a hush.

First look at The Lodge Wadjemup, which has undergone a $40 million redevelopment and is now open to guests.

I was one of the first to stay at Rotto’s flash new accommodation, which was the only Australian hotel in TIME magazine’s 2025 World’s Greatest List – here’s what to expect.

The Location

The Lodge Wadjemup water view — The resort overlooks picturesque salt lakes.

The Lodge Wadjemup is a three-minute walk up an easy hill from the Rottnest ferry terminal. Sidestep sweaty bag hands and sore shoulders with a local tip: the ferry will deliver bags to your accommodation for $3 a piece. When booking online, select where you’re staying and how many pieces you’re bringing. At departure, collect airport-like bag tags and let ferry staff do the rest.

The Lodge Wadjemup invites a new view: of sunset over salt lakes, rather than the ocean. At arm’s length from Rottnest’s pedestrian mall, bakery scents may waft but noise does not. Quokkas are everywhere.

With no cars on Rotto, the island bike hire and bus terminal are a minute or two’s wander. Thomson Bay’s beaches are a similar distance, or stroll about 10mins to local favourites, The Basin and Pinky’s.

Fremantle is a 30-minute ferry ride away, or 1.5 hours to reach Perth CBD.

Style and character

The Lodge Wadjemup — The accommodation channels a relaxed beachy vibe.

A cluster of 1950s-era sun umbrellas in sage and white set a casually cool vibe, where sand between your toes is as welcome as flowy resort wear and statement sunglasses. Passing through the swing gate (a common way to keep curious quokkas out) and entering the whitewashed, heritage stone walls, an unpretentious vibe emanates via an info board that asks, “What day is it?". It lists the sun’s rise and fall and which beach is best, given the current wind direction and speed. It’s the sort of intel that makes a big difference to the Rotto experience.

Beach grass tones colour the long bar and plush restaurant armchairs on polished concrete. Bi-fold glass doors are pushed aside to allow the outdoors to spill into the airy eatery, which leads to a large lounge of plump cushions and distracting coffee table books. Rooms are just beyond.

Facilities

Reception stocks everything a traveller is likely to forget: sunscreen, towels, USB cords, international adaptors and natural deodorant. Clever.

There are fireplaces and underfloor heating throughout the restaurant, primed for cosy winter escapes.

With nature Rotto’s main draw, there’s little need for other facilities; activities from Segway tours to sunset sails to skydiving are available around the island, and an old-school cinema, mini golf and games zone is nearby. The Lodge Wadjemup opened a pool and cultural gathering ground in mid-May.

Rooms

The Lodge Wadjemup room — The neutral-toned rooms offer a calming stay.

The Lodge Wadjemup has 63 refurbished rooms – a mix of heritage and 1970s bones – and has now opened another 46 swish Poolside rooms.

From the 1970s inventory, the splurge option is the Lake View rooms with a balcony. Vast floorspace and flooding natural light meet a minimalist, bone-on-white renovation. Textured floor tiles are particularly beautiful, edging a King bed, a wooden bar with a very-mini fridge and a bathroom. The balcony’s chic colourway of burnt orange couch and baby blue ottoman faces salt lakes. This side of The Lodge Wadjemup allows direct access to nature walking trails leading to quokkas in the wild – not those scavenging at the bakery.

The heritage courtyard rooms have a similar style and smaller size (and price), and while the absence of air conditioning is noticeable, it’s not a deal breaker. Fling open doors upon arrival to welcome in the breeze. By night, leave glass doors open, knowing the secondary, louvred wooden French doors are unopenable from the outside.

Wadjemup is what the traditional Whadjuk Noongar people call Rottnest, and subtle nods to the Aboriginal heritage are dotted throughout, via artwork and welcome cards; there’s more to come once stage two opens.

Food and drink

Good food was once rare on Rotto, making overnight room rates feel extortionate. Sunsets Bar and Dining sets a new standard, along with a few other relative newcomers. Its relaxed but flavourful dishes can be shared or hogged; all exhibit a fresh lightness that matches the island’s esprit. A sunset deck is dotted with circular dining tables and overhead heaters, should the wind be blowing (it can get surprisingly chilly). Order the XO prawns, heirloom tomatoes and squid ink linguine. A wide selection of all the usual drinks is set at WA prices (read: upper end); of the house wine on tap, go for the rosé.

Outside, Pelican kiosk has casual sandwich and baguette options, plus excellent coffee, that can be enjoyed under umbrellas or taken away for a beach picnic.

Does The Lodge Wadjemup have access for guests with disabilities?

The Lodge Wadjemup has three rooms for travellers with reduced mobility, with two more to come.

Is The Lodge Wadjemip family-friendly?

It sure is, with additional single rollaway beds available for Lakeside rooms at an extra $100 per night, eight interconnecting rooms and three bunk bed rooms, sleeping four. Once stage two opens, there will be a pool edged by 46 brand-new rooms, 44 of which can be interconnected, some with a bath. The Sunsets lunch and dinner menu has five kids’ meal options and two ankle-biter desserts; at the breakfast buffet, tin lids adore the soft serve frozen yoghurt and self-serve toppings (watch out!) of mini marshmallows, choc drops and more. Pelican kiosk sells traditional soft serve ice creams – with Ice Magic! – and pimped bowls.

Details

The exterior of The Lodge Wadjemup — The resort is perfect for those looking for a relaxed getaway.

Address: Boreham Wy, Rottnest Island WA

Best for: Families, nature lovers, adventure seekers, and those looking for a relaxed getaway.

Cost: From $359 Courtyard King, $468 Lake and $509 Lake View.

Time your visit to Margaret River just right, and you can spend the ultimate weekend wining, dining and exploring the region with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Wine, world-class produce, surf, sun and beaches: it’s an alluring combination. And the reason so many pin the Margaret River region high on their travel hit-lists. There’s drawcard after drawcard to the southwestern corner of Western Australia, and the Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover food and wine festival showcases the best of it over the course of one weekend in November. It’s never been easier to sip, see and savour the Margaret River region.

In partnership with Pair’d Margaret River Region, Range Rover invites you on a seven-day itinerary of refined adventure, where luxury and exploration go hand in hand. It’s the perfect WA road trip, and there’s no better way to do it than in a Range Rover.

Day 1

the pool at Pullman Bunker Bay — Check into Pullman Bunker Bay.

There’s no more popular West Australian road trip route than that between Perth and the Margaret River Region. It’s an easily digestible, three-hour drive, with worthy pit stops along the way.

Make the first of them one hour and 15 minutes in, at Lake Clifton. Here, find a 2000-year-old living thrombolite reef. Drive for a further 40 minutes and chance meeting some of Bunbury’s dolphin population at Koombana Bay.

Pullman Bunker Bay is the final stop, just over three hours south of Perth. This beachfront, five-star resort is the ultimate base for exploring the Margaret River Wine region.

Day 2

After a leisurely morning breakfast with an ocean view, start your Range Rover and head towards the Dunsborough town centre. Browsing the decidedly coastal-themed goods of the town’s many independent boutiques is a great way to while away the hours, breaking up the sartorial with an artisan gelato snack stop, or some good old-fashioned Australian bakery fare.

Leave room; you’ll need it for the Good Natured Gathering dinner at Wayfinder. Indulge in a four-course feast by chef Felipe Montiel, which uses produce from the winery’s market garden to enhance a selection of sustainably sourced seafood and meat. But food is just the support act. It’s organic wine that’s the star of the show, generously poured and expertly paired to each dish.

Day 3

Settle in for cabernet at Cape Mentelle Winery.

With a grand total of 20 wines from vintage 2022 to try, it’s a good thing Cape Mentelle’s International Cabernet Tasting kicks off early. Make your way to the estate for a 10:00 AM start, where a global selection of wines will be poured blind, before a long lunch by Tiller Dining is served.

Given that the Margaret River is responsible for more than 20 per cent of Australia’s fine wine production, it’s only right to delve into it while in the area.

Continue exploring the region via taste and terroir aboard Alison Maree, a whale-watching catamaran, as you cruise Geographe Bay . Admire the rolling green hills and crisp white beaches of Quindalup in sunset’s golden light, all the while sipping through the Clairault Streicker catalogue and dining on canapes.

For a more substantial dinner, venture into Busselton for a seven-course British x Australian mash-up , courtesy of Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion) and Oliver Kent (Updown Farmhouse, UK). They’ll be putting their rustic yet refined spin on the likes of local marron, wagyu and abalone – championing the simple beauty of the world-class ingredients.

Day 4

Wrap your fingers around a wine glass and wiggle your toes into the sand at Pair’d Beach Club x Range Rover on Meelup Beach. Sit down to an intimate wine session with sommelier Cyndal Petty – or a four-course feast by Aaron Carr of Yarri – and revel in the open-air beach club, bar and restaurant’s laidback coastal vibe. It’s a whole new way to experience one of the region’s most renowned beaches.

Follow up a day in the sun with a casual Italian party at Mr Barvel Wines . Purchase wines –including the elusive, sold-out Nebbia – by the glass and enjoy canapes with the towering Karri forest as a backdrop.

If you’d prefer to keep it local, head to Skigh Wines for the New Wave Gathering , where the region’s independent wine makers and their boundary-pushing wines will be on show. Street-style eats, a DJ and complimentary wine masterclasses complete the experience.

Day 5

pair'd Grand Tasting — Taste your way through Howard Park Wines. (Image: C J Maddock)

Spend the morning at your leisure, driving the winding roads through the Boranup Karri forest in your Range Rover. Soak in the views at Contos Beach, and call into the small cheese, chocolate and preserve producers along the way.

Make your next stop Howard Park Wines for The Grand Tasting presented by Singapore Airlines . Numerous wine labels will be pouring their catalogues over four hours, accompanied by food from chefs Matt Moran and Silvia Colloca, with live opera providing the soundtrack.

Cap off a big weekend with one last hurrah at Busselton Pavilion. Six ‘local legends’ – chefs Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion), Mal Chow (Chow’s Table), Aaron Carr (Yarri), Ben Jacob (Lagoon Yallingup), Corey Rozario (Dahl Daddies) and Laura Koentjoro (Banksia Tavern) – will be preparing a dish each. Dance the night away as vinyl spins and the sun sets on another day.

Day 6

Ngilgi Cave western australia — Head underground. (Image: Tourism WA)

After a busy few days of wining and dining, it’s wise to observe a rest day. There’s no easier task than unwinding in the Margaret River Region, also famous for its high concentration of world-class beaches.

Relax on the grassy knoll as you watch the region’s most experienced surfers braving the World Surf League break at Surfer’s Point, or don your own wetsuit and try out one of Gracetown’s more beginner-friendly waves. Swimmers will find their Eden at Meelup Beach, Eagle Bay, or Point Piquet, where the sand is brilliantly white and the water as still as a backyard swimming pool.

Not into sun, sand, and surf? Head underground at Mammoth Cave, just one of the region’s many stalactite-filled caves.

Day 7

Burnt Ends event at Pair'd — Farewell the Margaret River.

Pack up your Range Rover with new favourite wines and newfound memories, ready for the three-hour journey back to Perth.

Prebook your discovery journey through the south-west corner of Western Australia with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

The Lodge Wadjemup: A first look at Rottnest Island’s refreshed resort