"Our driver Shane was fantastic. He went out of his way to look after everyone"
Perth or Fremantle · 90-Minute Bus Tour · From US$105 (Oct 2026)
Rottnest Island Bus Tour
SeaLink's day on Rottnest: the return ferry from Perth or Fremantle, a 90-minute air-conditioned bus tour with a live commentary out to Wadjemup Lighthouse, Cathedral Rocks and Cape Vlamingh, and free time on the island.
From
US$105
per person (ferry, 90-min bus tour and admission; checked October 2026)
Free cancellation
- 4.6 / 5 1,548+ Reviews
- 90 Min Bus Tour
- Live Commentary
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Rottnest Bus Tour Includes
The return ferry, the island admission fee, a 90-minute bus tour with a live commentary and, from Perth, a cruise down the Swan River.
Highlights
- Enjoy round-trip ferry transfers from Fremantle or Perth to Rottnest Island
- Explore the island with your air-conditioned 1-hour 30-minute bus tour
- Discover the amazing flora, wildlife, and colonial and maritime history
What's Included
- Return ferry tickets
- 1-hour 30-minutes Bus tour with commentary
- Island admission fees
- Swan River scenic cruise (from Perth only)
Good to know: Passengers (excluding infants) are welcome to bring 1 carry-on item per person onboard; additional luggage items or sporting equipment, such as bikes, must be pre-booked and incur a small fee; these items are not allowed inside the main area of the vessel · You may be able to change your service to an alternate departure (subject to availability) with a 60-minute notice · Tour itinerary is subject to changes without prior notice. Travelers are entitled to a full refund for critical itinerary changes. · Not suitable for: People with mobility impairments · Not Included: Food and drinks
How the Rottnest Island Bus Tour Works
Choose Perth or Fremantle, take the ferry, join the bus at the settlement, then spend the rest of the day as you like.
Choose Perth or Fremantle
From Perth the ferry runs down the Swan River past Fremantle; from Fremantle the crossing is about 30 minutes. You pick the departure point when you book.
Free Time First
The listing gives you free time on arrival before the tour, so you can walk the settlement or find the first quokka.
Board at the Main Bus Stop
The guided tour leaves from the Rottnest Island Settlement Main Bus Stop and circles the island in air-conditioned comfort.
The Rest of the Day Is Yours
After the tour there is more free time before your ferry back: swim at The Basin, hire a bike, or sit by Thomson Bay.
Photo Gallery
The Rottnest Bus Tour
Photos from the listing: the ferry, the bus, the bays, the lighthouse and the island's wildlife.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Instant confirmation; cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
The Rottnest Bus Tour Against Three Others
SeaLink's ferry and bus tour against Rottnest Express' Fremantle tour, the grand island package and the on-island bus and train tour. Prices as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026.
| Feature | MOST REVIEWED Ferry and Bus Tour | ROTTNEST EXPRESS Ferry and Bus Day Tour | TUNNELS + LUNCH Grand Island Package | NO FERRY Bus and Train Tour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From (October 2026) | US$105 per person | US$113 per person | US$147 per person | US$84 per person |
| Port | Perth or Fremantle | Fremantle | Perth or Fremantle | None: ferry not included |
| Tour length | 90 minutes | 90 minutes | 4 hours | Bus and train, with the tunnels |
| Oliver Hill tunnels | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Lunch | No | No | Light sandwich lunch | Wrap and cookie |
| Free cancellation | Up to 24 hours | Up to 2 days | Up to 24 hours | Up to 24 hours |
| Rating | 4.6 (1,548 reviews) | 4.6 (414 reviews) | 4.5 (461 reviews) | 4.6 (123 reviews) |
| Check Availability | See the Fremantle Tour | See the Grand Tour | See the On-Island Tour |
Other Rottnest Bus Tours
More Bus and Guided Tours of Rottnest
The Rottnest Express ferry and discovery bus tour from Fremantle, the four-hour grand island tour with the Oliver Hill tunnels and lunch, and an on-island bus and train tour.
ROTTNEST EXPRESSFrom Fremantle: Rottnest Island Ferry & Bus Day Tour
Enjoy a full-day adventure to Rottnest Island with ferry transfers from, a 90 minute discovery bus tour, and free time to explore.
WITH TUNNELS + LUNCHRottnest Grand Island Package with Ferry, Tour & Light Lunch
The Rottnest grand island tour is the most comprehensive guided tour of the island allowing you to explore the stunning beauty of this A-class nature reserve.
ON-ISLAND ONLYRottnest Island: Grand Bus and Train Tour with Lunch
Get a comprehensive overview of the nature reserve of Rottnest Island on an amazing bus tour to all the natural attractions and habitats.
The Guide
What the Bus Tour Is Like, and Who It Suits
Ninety minutes, the whole island, and a driver who knows the stories.
A Rottnest Island bus tour is the way to see the whole island in one go without cycling 22 km: a coach with a driver-guide circles it in about 90 minutes, stopping for the views, and you have the rest of the day free. The one this page puts first is SeaLink’s Rottnest Island Ferry and Bus Tour, with the return ferry from Perth or Fremantle, the island admission fee and a 90-minute air-conditioned tour with a live commentary. It is from US$105 a person (checked October 2026) and rated 4.6 out of 5 from 1,548 reviews.
What the tour is like
The listing names the route: across the island’s woodlands and salt lakes, out to Wadjemup Lighthouse, Henrietta Rocks, the lookout at Cathedral Rocks and Cape Vlamingh at the West End, with the commentary covering the island’s plants and animals and its colonial and maritime history. If you leave from Perth, the ferry first cruises down the Swan River past Fremantle; from Fremantle the crossing is about 30 minutes. You get free time before the tour and after it, before your ferry back.
The drivers carry the reviews. Guests this October name Shane, who “went out of his way to look after everyone”, and another driver whose commentary was “very knowledgeable and proud of the island” and “very funny”; one guest who came from Perth praised the ferry captain’s commentary on the river as well.
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits anyone who does not want to cycle: older travellers, families with small children, and anyone visiting in the heat of summer. One guest chose a bus tour on a 39-degree December day and was glad of it. It is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, according to the listing, and it does not include food or drink, so bring lunch or buy it in the settlement.
Three other bus tours to compare
From Fremantle with Rottnest Express: the Ferry and Bus Day Tour adds a 90-minute discovery bus tour with a guide to the Rottnest Express ferry, with pickup from selected Fremantle hotels if you book 24 hours ahead. With the tunnels and lunch: SeaLink’s Grand Island Package is a four-hour tour with the Oliver Hill guns and tunnels and a sandwich lunch, from Perth or Fremantle. Already on the island: Australian Pinnacle Tours’ Grand Bus and Train Tour with Lunch has the historic train to Oliver Hill and the tunnels tour, but no ferry, so add a ferry ticket.
Pick the bus tour that fits:
Most reviewed
Ferry and Bus Tour
Perth or Fremantle, 90 minutes on the bus, free time either side.
Check dates →From Fremantle
Ferry and Bus Day Tour
Rottnest Express ferry and a 90-minute discovery tour with a guide.
See the Fremantle tour →With tunnels and lunch
Grand Island Package
Four hours with the Oliver Hill guns and tunnels and lunch.
See the grand island tour →Prices and review counts as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026, not a quote.
Is there a hop-on hop-off bus?
Yes, but it is not a tour. The Island Explorer is a hop-on hop-off bus that loops the island past 19 stops, and an all-day ticket lets you get on and off as often as you like; it is sold on the island and in some ferry packages. Its operator says it is not a tour, and there is no commentary. If you want the stories and the stops chosen for you, book a bus tour; if you want to swim at three different bays, the Island Explorer or a bike does it better. The bike or bus guide compares them.
Before you book
Free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before the start on the SeaLink tour, as listed in October 2026; the Rottnest Express tour has a two-day window. Bring a hat, water and sunscreen for the stops, and a lunch or the money to buy one in the settlement.
Guest Reviews
What Rottnest Bus Tour Guests Say
4.6/5
from 1,548 verified guests
"Great driver and side kick. Simple and entertaining as all good things are."
"The SeaLink ferry captain was very knowledgeable on the Swan River cruise to rottenest island. The explorer coach guide on rottenest was excellent, great knowledge of the island and history, stopped at all the best locations for photo opportunities and his comedy throughout was amazing. Highly recommended and will defo return again on our next visit to Perth."
"The coach driver/ commentator was superb. Very knowledgeable and proud of the island. His delivery was interesting and very funny, keeping wveeyone engaged throughout."
"Had a great day on Rottnest will definitely go again"
"It was an incredible experience! Completely exceeded expectations. Already keen to come back again. Beautiful sights and the bus tour was so much fun and the guide was so knowledgeable and funny! The sights were picturesque and the atmosphere on the island was so relaxing and refreshing. Could not recommend it enough Got to tick off a bucket list item in meeting a Quokka! So cute"
"Be careful to ASK for specific location instructions to catch YOUR bus… most buses look alike AND YOUR bus does NOT move up to the Main bus stop but sits about 20 metres away next to a portable sign sitting on the ground. This was not made clear in the initial booking. Not a problem once we knew where to look … but only because we are not afraid to ask the local staff on the island."
"We had an awesome time at Rottnest island. The bus tour with our guide explaining every aspect so clearly was the highlight. Wish we had more time to spend there"
Read all 1,548 verified reviews
See All ReviewsThe Whole Island Without a Bike
SeaLink's ferry and bus tour takes you from Perth or Fremantle to Rottnest and round the island on a 90-minute air-conditioned bus with a live commentary, past Wadjemup Lighthouse, Henrietta Rocks, Cathedral Rocks and Cape Vlamingh. Rated 4.6 from 1,548 reviews, from US$105 a person as of October 2026, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Starting from US$105 per person (ferry, 90-min bus tour and admission; checked October 2026).
Check Bus Tour DatesCan't Make These Dates?
Browse More Available Options
Find a tour that fits your schedule. Check each listing's cancellation terms: some dates are non-refundable.
Rottnest Island Bus Tour FAQ
The questions people ask about the Rottnest bus tours.
Yes: SeaLink and Rottnest Express both run 90-minute bus tours with commentary, sold with the ferry. SeaLink's ferry and bus tour leaves from Perth or Fremantle.
90 minutes on the SeaLink and Rottnest Express tours, 1.75 hours on Rottnest Fast Ferries' tour, and three and a half to four hours on the grand island tours. The four-hour Grand Island Package adds the Oliver Hill tunnels and lunch.
From US$105 a person with the ferry and admission from Perth or Fremantle, on GetYourGuide in October 2026. Rottnest Express' ferry and bus day tour from Fremantle is US$113.
Yes: the Island Explorer loops the island past 19 stops with a paid all-day ticket, but it is not a tour and has no commentary. For the commentary, book a bus tour such as SeaLink's ferry and bus tour.
The listings name Wadjemup Lighthouse, Henrietta Rocks, the Cathedral Rocks lookout and Cape Vlamingh at the West End. The SeaLink tour boards at the Settlement Main Bus Stop.
Yes: it is air-conditioned, and one guest who took it on a 39-degree December day called it worth every dollar. That guest was on Rottnest Express' ferry and bus day tour.
Still have questions? Email us at info@rottnest-island-tours.com