Tours

There's a narrated 90-minute coach tour of the island's highlights, including convict-built cottages, World War II gun emplacements, salt lakes, and the remote West End. Tours depart daily from Main Bus Stop. The Oliver Hill Railway made its debut in the mid-1990s, utilizing 6 km (4 miles) of reconstructed railway line to reach the island's World War II gun batteries. Information is available from the Rottnest Island Visitor Centre.

Discovery Tour. For those not keen on biking or hop-on, hop-off buses, Rottnest Express runs a popular Discovery Tour that gives an overview of the island's activities, history, environment, and wildlife as it circumnavigates the island in about 90 minutes. Highlights of the tour are the salt lakes, Wadjemup Lighthouse, convict-built cottages, World War II gun emplacements, and the remote West End. Tours depart daily from the Main Bus Stop at 11 am and 1 pm; tickets are available online. Thompson Bay, Rottnest Island, Western Australia. 08/9372–9732; www.rottnestexpress.com.au. A$45.

Island Explorer. This service, which runs on a continuous hop-on, hop-off island circuit, picks up and drops off passengers at the most beautiful bays and beaches. Day tickets are A$20 and can be purchased from the Rottnest Island Visitor Centre, online, at ticket machines on the Island, or through bus operator, Adams (www.goadams.com.au). Buses run 8:30–3:30, hourly in winter and half hourly in summer until 4:30. Timetables are posted at all bus stops and within the Essential Guide found on the Rottnest Island website. The Island Explorer is free from Geordie Bay to the Main Bus Stop in Thomson Bay. Thomson Bay, Henderson Ave., Rottnest Island, Western Australia, 6161. 08/9372–9732; www.rottnestisland.com. A$20.

The Oliver Hill Train. Known as the Captain Hussey, the Oliver Hill train is an ideal way to see the island. The route from the Main Settlement to Oliver Hill runs daily at 1:30 and connects with a guided tour of the historic Oliver Hill gun battery. The fare is A$9 for train only and A$29 with a guided tour of the World War I tunnels. Tickets are available at the visitor information center. Thomson Bay, Rottnest Island, Western Australia, 6161. 08/9372–9732; www.rottnestisland.com. A$29.