Perth Day Trips 5 Day Itinerary
Five days is our 4-day plan , Rottnest, Fremantle, Swan Valley and the Pinnacles, plus a fifth, lower-key day near Rockingham for dolphins and sea lions. For the plan that finally commits to a Margaret River overnight, see our 6-day plan .
Book these before you go:
- Rottnest ferry and bike hire : summer weekends and school holidays sell out first
- Fremantle Prison True Crime Tour : book ahead for evening torch-lit slots
- Pinnacles day tour : fixed-departure coach seats, book a couple of days out
- Your Perth CBD or Fremantle base : pick a side of the river before day one
| Day | Focus | Distance/travel time from Perth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rottnest Island | Ferry: 25-30 min from Fremantle, 1.5-2h direct from Perth |
| 2 | Fremantle | 30 min by direct Transperth train |
| 3 | Swan Valley | 25 min drive northeast of the CBD |
| 4 | The Pinnacles Desert | 190km/2h drive north via Indian Ocean Drive |
| 5 | Rockingham/Shoalwater Islands | 45 min drive south |
Day 1: Rottnest Island
Ferry from Fremantle or Perth (live times at rottnestisland.com ), bike hire at the terminal, and the quieter western beaches beyond the settlement. Full detail in our 2-day plan .
Day 2: Fremantle
Direct Transperth train, 30 minutes, Fremantle Prison’s True Crime Tour, the Markets, the Cappuccino Strip. Full detail in our 2-day plan .
Day 3: Swan Valley
25 minutes northeast by car, 4-5 cellar doors out of the 40-plus on offer (swanvalley.com.au has a cellar-door map). Full detail in our 3-day plan .
Day 4: The Pinnacles Desert
190km/2 hours north via Indian Ocean Drive to Nambung National Park’s limestone pillars, roughly a 4-hour round-trip drive either by tour or self-drive. Full detail in our 4-day plan .
Day 5: Rockingham and the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park
Drive 45 minutes south of Perth to Rockingham. This used to be a simple Penguin Island ferry day; as of this research the island’s own jetty is closed to vessels because of sand buildup and hasn’t reopened, so skip any Penguin Island landing pitch you read elsewhere. Book the boat-only alternative instead, a roughly 60-minute Shoalwater Islands Marine Park cruise past the same dolphin and sea lion colonies, run by Perth Wildlife Encounters, no jetty needed. Spend the rest of the afternoon at Rockingham Beach or Point Peron before heading back into the city; there’s little reason to linger in Rockingham itself once the cruise ends.
Is Penguin Island even open right now?
Not for a landing. The jetty has been out of action this season due to sand accretion, and DBCA hasn’t given a firm reopening date. Check penguinisland.com.au for the current status before you drive down; the marine park cruise still runs regardless.
Is a fifth day near Rockingham worth it after Rottnest?
Yes, if you want a different wildlife angle rather than a repeat of Rottnest’s quokkas and beaches. Dolphins and sea lions on the water are a genuinely different day, just a shorter and lower-key one than the first four.
Bring a jacket for the marine park cruise even on a warm day, the boat picks up a real breeze once you’re out past the breakwater. For the version that finally tackles Margaret River as the overnight it actually needs, see our 6-day plan , or the full roster in our Perth day trips guide .