How Much Is a Rottnest Island Day Trip?
What a Rottnest day trip costs: ferries from US$61, bike and ferry from US$87, bus tours from US$105, guided days US$140 to US$147 (Oct 2026).
A day trip to Rottnest costs from about US$61 to US$95 a person for the ferry alone, US$87 to US$123 with a bike, US$105 to US$113 with a bus tour, and US$140 to US$147 for a fully guided day with lunch, on GetYourGuide in October 2026; the island admission fee is in most of those prices. A middle option with a guide is Rottnest Express’ Ferry and Bus Day Tour from Fremantle: the ferry, a 90-minute discovery bus tour and the admission fee, from US$113 a person, rated 4.6 from 414 reviews.
The prices side by side
| Tour | Port | From (Oct 2026) | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry and admission, SeaLink | Fremantle | US$63 | Return ferry, admission |
| Same-day ferry transfer | Hillarys | US$67 | Return ferry, admission |
| Bike and ferry, full day | Hillarys | US$87 | Ferry, bike, helmet, admission |
| Ferry and bike day tour | Fremantle | US$89 | Ferry, bike, helmet, admission |
| Ferry and bus tour, SeaLink | Perth or Fremantle | US$105 | Ferry, 90-min bus tour, admission |
| Ferry and bus day tour | Fremantle | US$113 | Ferry, 90-min bus tour, admission |
| Grand Island Day Tour | Hillarys | US$140 | Ferry, 3.5-h tour, tunnels, lunch, admission |
| Grand Island Package | Perth or Fremantle | US$147 | Ferry, 4-h tour, tunnels, lunch, admission |
| Tandem skydive | On the island | US$350 | The skydive only; no ferry |
The admission fee
Every visitor pays it, and it is set by the Rottnest Island Authority, not by the tour operators: from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, A$21.50 for an adult or student day visit, A$11 for a child aged 4 to 16, and A$57 for a family group, with children under four free. An overnight stay costs A$28.50 for an adult. Ferry passengers pay it as part of the fare, so you do not queue for it on the island; the only tickets above that do not list it are on-island activities such as the skydive.
Why is Rottnest so expensive?
Mostly because you pay for a sea crossing and the admission fee before you do anything; the fee is charged by the Rottnest Island Authority, which manages the island. The ferry is the largest part of every package, which is why the bike or the bus tour adds comparatively little on top. Food in the settlement is extra on every tour, so a packed lunch keeps the day down.
Is it worth the money?
Guests on these tours think so: one called the bike and ferry day a must-do when in Perth, another on Rottnest Express’ Fremantle bike day called it the favourite day of three weeks in Australia, and a guest who took the bus on a 39-degree day called it worth every dollar. The value is in using the whole day: an early ferry, the bays, the lighthouse and the West End.
The cheapest way to do it
Take the ferry from Fremantle, bring your own lunch and walk or use the Island Explorer bus, or take a bike package, which costs only a little more than the ferry ticket alone. SeaLink’s ferry and admission ticket is the lowest price here with the admission fee included.
Pick by budget:
Ferry and Bus Day Tour
From Fremantle, a 90-minute bus tour, then free time.
Check dates →Ferry and Admission, Fremantle
The crossing and the fee; the rest is up to you.
See the ferry ticket →Bike and Ferry, Full Day
Ferry, bike and admission for a little more than the ticket.
See the bike and ferry day →Prices and review counts as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026, not a quote.
Check dates and book
Ferry and Bus From Fremantle
Rottnest Express' ferry and bus day tour takes you from Fremantle to the island with a 90-minute discovery bus tour with a guide and the island admission fee, and free time to explore afterwards. Rated 4.6 from 414 reviews, from US$113 a person as of October 2026, with free cancellation up to 2 days before.
Check Ferry and Bus Dates