Choose a Rottnest boat tour by its starting point
A Rottnest boat tour can be an activity during an island stay or a boat trip starting on the mainland. That distinction should come before a comparison of menus or water activities. The seafood cruise departs from the Fuel Jetty on Rottnest, the sailing and snorkelling catamaran starts at Thomson Bay on the island, and the crayfish charter starts at Hillarys Boat Harbour. Arrange the journey to the stated meeting point as part of the day.
The island departures suit a plan that already includes a ferry crossing or an overnight stay. The Hillarys option starts from a mainland harbour and offers a private or shared charter, depending on the selected option. Decide whether the main aim is a meal afloat, sailing with water activities, or a charter with fishing and a barbecue. For transport to an island meeting point, start with the ferry comparison.
Boat trips
The cruise includes a menu, while the Hillarys charter offers private or shared options. The island sailing trip includes kayaks and snorkeling equipment.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in Australian dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Rottnest boat charter from Hillarys
- Private or shared boat charter
- BBQ lunch
- Fishing tackle
Choose a private or shared option; crayfish depends on the catch. The displayed per-person price does not establish the cost of a private charter.
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Seafood cruise from Rottnest
- Four-hour cruise
- Seven-course degustation menu
- Drinks and canapes
A vegetarian menu is available, with swimming or snorkeling as optional activities. Ferry travel to the island costs extra.
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Island sailing and snorkeling
- Snorkelling equipment
- Kayaks and SUP
- Seasonal fruit platter
Guided snorkeling is an opportunity for people who can swim well unaided. Ferry travel to the island costs extra.
Check availability →Cruises, charter and sailing
Compare a seafood cruise from the island, a private or shared charter from Hillarys and a catamaran outing with water activities.
Cruise and charter: food on board
The four-hour seafood cruise uses a three-deck charter vessel and combines lobster fishing with a seven-course seafood, non-seafood or vegetarian menu. A welcome cocktail, fruit, drinks and canapés are included. It leaves from the island Fuel Jetty; hotel transfers and ferry transfers to or from Rottnest are excluded. This is a dining-focused boat activity that needs its own place in an island itinerary, rather than a replacement for the mainland ferry crossing.
The six-hour crayfish charter departs from Hillarys Boat Harbour at 86 Southside Drive. Water, soft drinks, fruit, snacks, barbecue lunch, fishing tackle and sunscreen are included. Fresh crayfish depends on the pot catch. The product offers private or shared charter options, so select the format that suits the travelling party. A displayed per-person starting price should not be used as the price of a whole private boat.
Water sports as part of the boat day
The three-hour catamaran outing starts at Thomson Bay on Rottnest Island and includes snorkelling equipment, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, a seasonal fruit platter, coffee and tea. There is an opportunity for a guided snorkel for people who can swim well without assistance. It suits visitors who want sailing combined with active time on the water. The swimming requirement matters more than whether someone has used a mask on a previous trip.
The seafood cruise also offers a choice to swim, snorkel or relax on floating mats. Bring swimwear and a towel, which are excluded from that product. These activities accompany the cruise and meal; visitors concentrating on time in the water can compare the more focused options on the snorkelling page. Match the experience to the least confident swimmer in the party rather than treating every water activity as suitable for everyone.
Marine wildlife and reserve rules
Wildlife may be encountered from a boat, but marine animals remain free to move and sightings are not guaranteed. Enjoy the coastal setting as a central part of the outing rather than building the whole day around a particular species. Follow crew instructions and leave animals undisturbed. A meal or sailing itinerary can still be worthwhile when no marine mammals appear, because those activities are part of the visit in their own right.
Little Salmon Bay and Parker Point are sanctuary areas where fishing and the removal of plants or animals are prohibited. Fishing equipment on a charter does not change the rules of those places. Reefs must not be walked on. There are also swimming prohibitions between the main ferry jetty and Fuel Jetty, from the T-Jetty and from the end of the main ferry jetty. Boarding near the harbour should remain separate from any swimming stop.
Wind, meals and the return journey
Choose the boat format for the activity you want and keep some room in the wider itinerary for weather. The island guidance favours the coast sheltered from the prevailing wind, but shelter alone does not establish safe swimming conditions. Current weather, local signs and the crew briefing matter on the day. The weather guide explains why monthly averages are not a forecast of the sea state during a booked trip.
If staying on the mainland, place both the outward crossing and the return ferry around an island departure with sufficient time to change boats. Do not treat the end of a cruise as a guaranteed ferry connection. Visitors interested in evening light should read the separate sunset guide, where island bus trips and twilight sailing have different return arrangements. Choose the evening experience only after deciding whether the night will be spent on the island.
Questions about the visit
Do all boats start on Rottnest Island?
The seafood cruise starts at the Fuel Jetty and the catamaran at Thomson Bay on the island. The crayfish charter starts at Hillarys Boat Harbour.
Is fresh crayfish guaranteed?
Fresh crayfish on the Hillarys charter depends on the pot catch. Barbecue lunch, snacks, fruit, water and soft drinks are included.
Can everyone join the guided catamaran snorkel?
The guided snorkel opportunity requires good swimming ability without assistance. Choose activities according to swimming ability and the conditions.