Family Fun: 9 Rainy Day Island Activities
Bundle up and bring your most adventurous selves; rainy days on the island are designed to ignite your sense of winter wonder.
5 minutes
Cloudy island landscape
When temperatures fall and summer crowds thin, the possibilities for unchartered family adventure awaits on Wadjemup / Rottnest Island. Winter on the island invokes curiosity, with every puddle a portal; every path providing fresh perspective.
The weather on Rottnest Island during winter is refreshing, but often pleasantly mild. Expect crisp days filtered with subtle sunshine, in-between gunmetal skies that replenish the land. If unexpected showers set in, embrace a different kind of holiday – less bustling, more connected, and filled with space to make memories for seasons to come. The following rainy-day activities are sure to leave eyes wide, cheeks rosy and cups full.
Explore the wonders of the outdoors
As rainclouds drift dreamily overhead, equip everyone in wet weather gear for an invigorating expedition. Damp Wadjemup days are perfect for path following and puddle-jumping beneath brooding skies. Make your way to the balyan boodja (wetlands), where the earth is renewed after seasonal sprinkles. As you follow the short track from the settlement, each splash in the rain’s reflective pools sends up a spray of giggles. Water ripples under feet, big and small, as satisfying stomps land into passing puddles.
Around the wetlands, listen out for bursting sounds of life amongst the patter of raindrops. The call of the kwiya (squelching froglet) and kwooyar (moaning frog) are unmistakeable, as are the rising revs of the kooboolong (motorbike frog). Stand in stillness as you eavesdrop on amphibian chatter, gleefully guessing the source of every sound.
Spot active quokkas between showers
Winter is a special time on Wadjemup, for both its visitors and the creatures that inhabit the island. During the cooler months the iconic kwoka (quokka) is most active, presenting ample opportunities for sightings. Join the Rottnest Voluntary Guides on a free guided quokka tour that offers insights about these iconic marsupials as you walk short distances to spot them from close, but safe distances. Sightings of joeys in their mothers’ pouches will warm hearts of all ages; a spectacle that occurs from August every year.
Ascend the stairs of Wadjemup Lighthouse
Join the Rottnest Voluntary Guides and climb this  towering structure as a group. The lighthouse winds up 155 steps to bring you 38 metres above sea level. Take your time, especially if little legs are joining, and listen to enthralling tales shared by your guide along the way. At the top, gaze out at the glistening green land beneath you. If you pause long enough, you might spot local birdlife soaring through surrounding skies as cool air nips at your cheeks.
Travel back in time with an Oliver Hill Gun & Tunnel tour
But first, travel there by train on the historic Captain Hussey. Enjoy window seats and uninterrupted views of the passing scenery as you click-clack along the railway tracks to Oliver Hill. Here, you can slip out of the elements by going underground with the Rottnest Voluntary Guides. Join an underground tour and slink around the tunnels that lead to the gun’s ammunition supply and engine room. Examine the 9.2-inch naval gun and observe the newly installed and interactive replica Ghost Engine, which is sure to excite with its loud rumblings.
Enjoy a warming winter meal
All that exploring is bound to whip up an appetite. Casual dining is readily available around the island, featuring cosy indoor nooks to escape passing showers and outdoor seating to perch at when the winter sun sneaks out.
Swing into Frankie’s on Rotto in the main settlement for hunger-busting homemade pizzas and other Italian-inspired fare. Over towards the cobalt-tinged waters of Thomson Bay, the familiar aromas of Dome waft out to mingle with the salty sea air. Grab a table here and sample the seasonal menu featuring fluffy pancake stacks and crowd-pleasing toasties. At Geordie Bay, Geordie's Cafe & Art Gallery is serving up all-day classic eats, like fish and chips and flavour-bursting burgers. Relish in a moment of calm as the kids unleash extra energy on the outdoor playground. The shade structure overhead can capture drizzles of rain, allowing the fun to continue.
Get cosy and competitive
Tuck yourselves away and chase the thrill of a winning streak. Think: a merry game of ‘Snap’ in between sips of creamy hot chocolates at Dome. Or slip back into the cosy surrounds of your accommodation to bust out everyone’s favourite board game. Rain falls slowly on your roof, blankets are bundled tightly, and laughter fuels an afternoon or evening of game play. Bring games over to the island with you or grab extra games or a new deck of cards from The General Stores.
Reflect out of the rain
As rain trickles and the ground glistens, Wadjemup Museum  presents a journey into stories, traditions and cultural significance. Exhibits carefully tucked within the museum date as far back as 40,000 years and hold deep meaning. Allow the rich history held here offer a contemplative contrast to the grey day beyond the glass.
Win prizes under the neon arcade lights
Inside the arcade at Rottnest Movies & Mini Golf, there’s a bright kaleidoscope of colour that draws you in when skies are silver. Let your brood loose for hours of full tilt winter fun. There are retro pinball machines to take you back in time and teach the young ones a few tricks, claw machines to grab prizes, and racing games to get everyone buzzing. Here, warmth comes from the joy of playful chaos and the making of shared memories.
Curl up and catch a film
As an intermission to island explorations or to wind up an adventurous day, slip into the cotton deckchairs inside Rottnest Movies & Mini Golf. Family-friendly flicks are showing daily at the historic Picture Hall. Unfurl your blankets like sails and settle in for a few hours of blissful escapism – complete with handfuls of warm buttered popcorn and sweet treats from the candy bar.
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Tips for a time well spent
Make your visit even more meaningful with helpful advice from those in the know.
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