Frequently Asked Questions

Do we need to book?

Bookings are essential to guarantee a seat on our boats. Each of our vessels is licensed to carry a certain number of passengers. Pre-Booking ensures that a seat is reserved for you on the departure of your choice. We will still sell available tickets on the day prior to departure, but these are subject to availability.

Is parking available at your terminals?

All of our terminals have access to parking however our Northport terminal is the only one with secure parking. Parking at Northport is $9 a day with the parking lot being walled and gated with regular patrols by the Fremantle Port Authority. Both B Shed and Barrack Street Jetty have access to council parking within a few minutes walk of the terminal. Availability, price and security of parking for these terminals vary significantly depending on where parking is found.

How does bike hire work?

Where do we collect the bikes from? Bike hire can be booked directly with any of our reservations team or online when making a booking. Bikes that are booked are loaded onto our boats at Northport and taken across to the island. When bikes have been booked a voucher will be issued (either over the counter or as an E-Ticket printout). Our crew on Rottnest will then exchange that voucher for the bikes on the jetty. You can simply ride them away, then drop them back off to the boat you are departing on.

How early do we need to get to the terminal?

We advise that all passengers arrive at the terminal 30 minutes prior to departure. This allows enough time to park vehicles, label & load luggage/bikes, and collect your ferry tickets. Final Boarding call is 5 minutes prior to departure. A vessel can not wait for passengers that are not ready to go.

Can departure times be changed?

Tickets can be changed at any point by calling our reservations line on 1300 46 76 88. There is no cost involved, however it is subject to availability. If changes are made prior to departure for Rottnest, tickets will need to be exchanged at the counter at the departure terminal to show the correct times. If a member of a group wants to change their departure/return time.

Can tickets be split?

Tickets can only be split prior to departure from Perth or Fremantle. Once on the island, tickets cannot be split by phone. If someone wishes to come back earlier than those on the tickets, someone will have to come down to the boat with that individual. The crew will manually remove the individual from that ticket, allow them on, and give the ticket back to the passengers returning later. To avoid this situation please book separate tickets for those returning at different times.

What cards are included in the concession fare?

When booking online our concession rate is equal to our adult rate as it is already heavily discounted with our new Flexi Fares system, therefore the online adult rate is discounted below the cost of a counter concession ticket. If purchasing tickets from the terminal a concession ticket is available on presentation of an Australian Health Care Card, Australian Pension Card, Australian Seniors Card, YHA and VIP Backpacker Card, Australian Student Card (High School, Tafe & Tertiary Education) and International Student ID Card.

How easily can lost tickets be replaced?

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the tickets we cannot replace them once they have been issued. Please ensure that tickets are kept safe until your return journey or additional charges will apply. What is the difference between Same day return and Extended Return? A same day return is a ticket valid for a person departing and returning on the same day. An extended return is a ticket valid for a passenger traveling over one day and returning on another day. There are several reasons why there is a difference in price between same day returns and extended returns. The first of which is a difference in landing fee price. The Rottnest Island Authority (RIA) has two separate landing fees for adult. For a same day return the landing fee is $14.50, while for extended it is $18. The reason for this difference is; because those staying for an extended period will use more of the islands’ infrastructure (electricity, toilets, water, etc.) than those just going for the day. Rottnest Express collects this fee on behalf of the RIA. The island landing fee is an important source of revenue for the island enabling the provision and maintenance of vital infrastructure. Similarly there is a $5 loading on the standard adult ferry fare of $45, taking it to $50, as extended stay visitors require more services than someone going for just the day. This is in the form of extra personnel and equipment to handle the collection and delivery of luggage.

How much luggage can we take? What costs are involved?

All luggage, freight and personal items are transported entirely at the risk of the ticket holder. We will always take the utmost care with your belongings, but as we cannot inspect the condition or the method of packing by the ticket holder we do not accept any liability for damage to any items. Each RIA accommodation booking is provided with an allowance of two bags per bed. Colour coded RIA labels will be provided with your RIA welcome pack. Luggage in excess of this amount may incur an excess luggage charge. No piggy-backing of luggage is permitted, ie; attaching a sleeping bag to a suitcase. Each piece of luggage to be delivered requires an individual colour coded RIA label. All hand luggage should be carried onto the ferry. There are no storage facilities in the passenger cabins, so anything taken onboard must be able to placed on your lap and not interfere with other passengers.

What luggage won’t be delivered?

Items such as surfboards, surf-skis, fishing rods, bicycles, dive tanks, craypots and golf bags are not able to be delivered and must be collected and transported by the owner from the main jetty upon arrival at Rottnest.

Can I get a refund if I cancel my tickets?

Rottnest Express does not offer cash refunds. For any cancellations a credit note with one year validity will be issued. Please contact our office before your scheduled departure time for any cancellations. More information available in the Travel info section. Please click here to view.

More information available in the Travel info section. Please click here to view.

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