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.

WA might be enormous, but the right insider knowledge brings its mysteries a whole lot closer.

“Western Australia is a land of record-breakers,” says Carolyn Tipper, a Travel Director working on AAT Kings Western Australia tours. “It has the second-longest fault line, the second-largest meteorite crater, the second-fastest flowing river—it just keeps surprising you. And every area has its charm.”

From tropics to deserts, Australia’s largest state is a land of extremes. You can’t see all of Western Australia in a lifetime, but with the right guide, you can discover its hidden pockets of magic.

Carolyn wishes to reach her guests’ hearts. “I want them to enjoy and be in awe,” she says. “I want them to have the holiday of a lifetime.”

1. Mimbi Caves

You wouldn’t expect a Great Barrier Reef in the outback – but that’s what you’ll find at Mimbi Caves. Once part of a 350-million-year-old reef, these caves hold marine fossils, ancient Indigenous rock art, and Dreamtime stories shared by a Gooniyandi guide.

“That’s when the real connection happens,” says Carolyn, who has taken guests through on the AAT Kings Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley tour . “When guests connect, not just with the land, but with the people who have called it home for tens of thousands of years.”

Eye-level view of traveller exploring Mimbi Caves. — Walk through ancient limestone passages. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

2. Kalbarri National Park

Nothing prepares you for the Kalbarri Skywalk: a 25-metre platform jutting over Murchison Gorge, 100 metres above the red cliffs and river below. From July to October, join the AAT Kings Untamed Pilbara and West Coast tour to see over 1000 wildflower species paint the park, and listen as an Indigenous guide shares their uses, bush foods and medicine plants.

“I want our guests to have an emotional experience,” says Carolyn. “It’s not just about seeing the land, it’s about stepping into the stories.”

An aerial view of the Kalbarri Skywalk, one of the secret places in Western Australia, with visitors on the edge. — Stand on the Kalbarri Skywalk in Western Australia. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

3. Hamelin Bay Wines

Margaret River isn’t just a top wine region – it’s a winner in every category. Where the Indian and Southern Oceans collide, granite cliffs rise, limestone caves sprawl and Karri forests tower. It almost distracts from the world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

Almost.

Out of over 100 cellar doors, AAT Kings pick Hamelin Bay Wines as a favourite. Hosted tastings of small-batch wines on the Western Wonderland tour end with a group meal. The menu shifting with the seasons.

“Get off the beaten track to one of WA’s most relaxed venues for some amazing red and white signature wines,” explains Carolyn, “accompanied with upmarket pub food.”

Spectacular views.

A person raising a glass of Chardonnay against a glowing Western Australia sunset. — Sip world-class wines at Hamelin Bay in Western Australia. (Image: Getty)

4. Wildflower Guided Walk, Kings Park

Western Australia is home to 12,000 native plant species – 3000 bloom in Kings Park’s Botanic Garden. Stroll past Kangaroo Paw, Banksia and blooms from the Goldfields, Stirling Ranges and Kimberley. “The diversity of Western Australia is immense,” says Carolyn, who leads guests through on the South Western Escape tour .

Couple enjoying the view from the Lotterywest Federation walkway at Kings Park and Botanical Garden. — Wander among thousands of native plant species. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

5. Hoochery Distillery

Did you know that between Kununurra and Emma Gorge lies the state’s oldest continuously operating distillery? Well, the oldest legal one. Set on a family farm, Hoochery Distillery was hand-built using materials found on the property, conjuring up award-winning rum from local sugarcane, wet season rainwater and yeast.

Today, visitors can sample a hearty nip of rum, along with whiskies and gins – all crafted using traditional, labour-intensive methods. It’s the ideal way to soak up the ‘spirit’ of the Kimberley on the AAT Kings’ Untamed Kimberley tour .

People enjoying a rum tasting at one of the secret places in Western Australia. — Sample award-winning rum. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

6. Geraldton

The wildflowers of the Midwest will make your heart blossom. In Geraldton, the Helen Ansell Art Gallery brings the region’s botanicals to life in vivid colour and intricate detail. In nearby Mullewa, wander bushland trails lined with everlastings and native blooms. Further afield, Coalseam Conservation Park bursts into carpets of pink, white, and yellow each spring. Do it all on the Wildflower Wanderer tour with AAT Kings.

woman walking through Wildflowers, Coalseam Conservation Park — Chase vibrant wildflower trails. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

7. El Questro

Wake up after a night under the stars at Emma Gorge Resort, ready to explore the mighty beauty of the El Questro Wilderness Park. With deep gorges, thermal springs, and cascading waterfalls, time slows here.

Join the AAT Kings’ Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley tour to drift through Chamberlain Gorge, where sheer sandstone walls glow burnt orange in the sun, archer fish flick at the surface, and rock wallabies peer down from ledges above. Then, step into Zebedee Springs, a secret oasis of warm, crystal-clear pools among prehistoric Livistona palms – a moment of pure, wild stillness.

Emma Gorge Resort at El Questro. — Wake to adventure at Emma Gorge Resort. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

8. Lake Argyle

Once vast cattle country, Lake Argyle now sprawls like an inland sea – Western Australia’s largest freshwater lake, created by the damming of the Ord River. Scattered with over 70 islands, its glassy waters teem with life, like freshwater crocodiles, barramundi, bony bream, sleepy cod and over 240 bird species. That’s nearly a third of Australia’s avian population.

Glide across the lake’s surface on a cruise as part of AAT Kings’ Untamed Kimberley tour , where the silence is only broken by the splash of fish and the call of birds. For Carolyn, this place is a perfect example of how WA’s landscapes surprise visitors. “Lake Argyle is a big puddle of water that became a game-changer,” she says. “Seeing it from a boat, coach, and plane is mind-blowing. It puts time, isolation and the sheer scale into perspective.”

Aerial View of Triple J Tours on the Ord River, near Kununurra. — Glide past islands on Western Australia’s largest freshwater lake. (Image: Western Australia)

Discover more of Western Australia’s hidden gems and book your tour at aatkings.com.

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