Rottnest ferries this summer, 2026-27

When are the busiest Rottnest ferry dates in summer 2026-27?

The WA summer school holidays (17 December 2026 to 31 January 2027), the Christmas to New Year week, Australia Day and Channel Swim day on 20 February 2027.

The Rottnest Island Authority warns that ferries, tours and activities "can book out fast during peak periods like the school holidays". Rottnest Express calls December to February its peak season, weekends included. Even the discount codes tell you where demand sits: the Telethon Saver fare is blacked out from 24 December to 11 January, on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Channel Swim day.

Australia Day falls on a Tuesday in 2027. Treat it like a summer Saturday.

What does SeaLink's summer timetable look like?

From 18 December 2026 to 31 January 2027 SeaLink runs ten Fremantle departures a day from 7:00am to 6:00pm, and the last ferry back leaves the island at 7:00pm. Perth stays at one sailing a day.

SeaLink has published its timetable to 31 January 2027. Before the holidays, from 2 November to 17 December, the week splits in two: five Fremantle departures on Monday to Wednesday, ten on Thursday to Sunday, with a 7:00pm boat out and a 9:00pm boat back on those long days. Once the school holidays start the pattern flattens to ten a day, every day, with the last return at 7:00pm.

Christmas Day is the exception. It drops to five departures from Fremantle, the last boat back to Fremantle leaves the island at 4:00pm, and the 4:30pm goes to Perth only, so check where your boat lands before you plan a long lunch. Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day run on the normal holiday timetable. The Perth service stays at one departure, 8:30am from Barrack Street, through the whole summer.

Rottnest Express runs its own timetable from B Shed, Northport and Perth, and SeaLink states that its times are "subject to change without notice". Treat any table, this one included, as a guide and check the operator's page the week you travel.

SeaLink from Victoria Quay with island entry included, same-day or extended return, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before on this listing.

★ 4.7 · Same day or longer · departs Fremantle

Book this → Tour details

Are there late-night ferries from Rottnest this summer?

Yes. SeaLink runs a 9:00pm return on Thursday to Sunday until 17 December 2026, then a 7:00pm last boat every day through January. Rottnest Express advertises a 9pm service on Thursday to Sunday over summer.

Late boats started as a WA Government push to keep day visitors on the island for sunset. The 2025-26 announcement had a 9pm boat leaving the island on Thursday to Sunday from late October to January, then Friday to Sunday from February to April. For 2026-27, SeaLink's timetable shows the 9:00pm return on Thursday to Sunday from 2 November to 17 December. Rottnest Express advertises a 9pm ferry service on Thursday to Sunday through summer, with offers at selected island venues, but its page gives no start and end dates, so check its timetable for your day.

Note the dip in the middle. During the school holidays SeaLink's last boat back is 7:00pm, not 9:00pm. February to April times were not published yet when this post went up, so do not assume the Friday to Sunday pattern returns until the operators confirm it.

Our take: a late boat is the best thing to happen to the Rottnest day trip. You get the West End in the soft light and dinner in the settlement, and you skip the crush on the 4pm and 5pm boats. Book it early, because everyone else has worked that out too.

When do summer Rottnest sailings sell out?

Weekend and school holiday mornings out, and late afternoon boats back, go first. Bike spaces on the ferry can sell out before the seats do.

SeaLink's FAQ is blunt: "Popular departure times can sell out, especially over summer, weekends and holidays." Expect the pinch points to be the 8am to 10am departures from Fremantle, when everyone wants a full day, and the last two boats home. If you bring your own bike, book its space when you book your seat. Rottnest Express notes that bike spaces can sell out.

Accommodation goes long before the ferries. The WA Government says island stays can be booked up to nine months ahead through Stay Rottnest, which means the whole 2026-27 summer has been on sale for months. Stay Rottnest also runs monthly open days on the first Wednesday with a virtual queue, and online bookings cannot be made for same-day arrivals. Discovery Rottnest, Samphire, Hotel Rottnest and The Lodge take their own bookings. If you only have a day, the ferry is the thing to secure. SeaLink and Rottnest Express tickets are non-refundable when booked direct, so pick a time you can actually make. Some GetYourGuide listings allow free cancellation up to 24 hours or two days before, depending on the listing.

More on timing your boat in our Rottnest ferry tips.

When is the Rottnest Channel Swim in 2027?

Saturday 20 February 2027. Swimmers start at Cottesloe from about 5:45am, the first arrive on the island at about 10am, and the event finishes at 5pm.

The Rottnest Channel Swim site gives the date as Saturday 20 February 2027, the 37th edition. Waves leave Cottesloe Beach between about 5:45am and 7:40am. The organisers suggest spectators be on the island by 9:30am and warn that ferries fill quickly.

If you are not there for the swim, pick another Saturday. The settlement is packed, Thomson Bay is full of support boats, and the Telethon Saver fare is blacked out. If you are going to cheer someone in, book the outbound ferry as soon as you know you are going and plan to stay late, since the finish area runs until 5pm.

What should you book first for a summer trip to Rottnest?

In this order: accommodation if you are staying over, then your outbound and return ferry times, then a bike space or bike hire, then tours and lighthouse tickets.

Rottnest Express publishes no separate peak fare, while SeaLink uses dynamic pricing. The bigger summer change is the deals. The Telethon Saver code does not work from 24 December to 11 January, and SeaLink's Weekday Saver and advance-booking discounts carry blackout dates that the deal pages do not list. Our guide to cheaper Rottnest ferry tickets covers the weekday early-boat deals and the WA kids' scheme. A good fare on a sold-out boat is no use to anyone.

Check in 30 minutes before departure. On summer mornings the Fremantle car parks fill early, and Rottnest Express suggests allowing 30 to 40 minutes at B Shed. The train to Fremantle is the easier option, and the wharf is a short walk from the station.

• Overnight stay: book the room first, up to nine months ahead.
• Day trip: book a morning boat out and a return you will not have to run for.
• Cycling: bring your bike only with a booked space, or hire one with the ferry.
• Late boat: book the 9:00pm return early on November and December weekends.

Rottnest Express from B Shed or Northport, with two days to cancel for a full refund on this listing.

★ 4.5 · Same-day return · departs Fremantle

Book this → Tour details

Frequently asked questions