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Winter Island Nights Made for Two

You’ve just spent a lovely winter’s day exploring the island; but as the sun slips below the water, your island experience is just getting started.

4 minutes

As the sun sets on a dazzling winter’s day, there’s a unique atmosphere to Wadjemup / Rottnest Island that starts to stir. Seize the seasonal opportunity to reconnect with one another and embrace all that’s on offer during an overnight stay.

Golden-tinged clouds at dusk; illuminating night skies; intimate dining experiences… Wadjemup in winter sets a dreamy backdrop to an evening getaway with the one you love. So Sslow down, rug up and ease into the romantic rhythms of island life.

Find a moment of zen together

Reserve yourselves two yoga mats alongside the seasoned yogis at Evolve in You Yoga. Sessions run in the late afternoons, offering yoga, mindfulness and meditation as the soft winter sun slips slowly out of the sky. Feel your breath deepen and mind unwind as you stretch your body in the crisp winter air.

SEE A SPECTACULAR WINTER SUNSET

As the days get shorter and colder, the skies surrounding the island often become brighter and bolder. Surprise your other half with a decadent cheeseboard and a bottle of local red from the General Store in the main settlement or from Geordie Bay. Then, simply sip, snack and watch the sky glow from the comforts of the courtyard, deck or balcony of your accommodation. Or, slip out into the evening with a thermos of warming tea to enjoy the sky-show from a different vantage point.

Best sunset spots:

Bathurst Lighthouse and Pinky Beach: Find yourself a spot at the base of this iconic lighthouse and experience uninterrupted views over the vast Indian Ocean. Pinky’s Rottnest Island is close by for a meal and drinks with a delightful view.

Vlamingh Lookout: Here, you’ll have panoramic views of the island’s rocky headlands transforming into bush dotted with pink-tinted kabikarning (salt lakes). During winter, the revitalising winds add a level of thrill to the experience.

Garden Lake: Pair this show-stopping evening spectacle with a moreish Mediterranean meal from Sunsets Rottnest: the aptly named new restaurant that overlooks Garden Lake. Sip a glass of wine while the shadows and sunset hues illuminate the still waters of surrounding salt lakes.

Remember to Bring a Torch

When exploring after dark, remember to take a torch. If you have children joining you, ensure they are always supervised.

Sunset at Pinky Beach

Vlamingh Lookout at sunset

Sunset over the salt lakes

Share an intimate dining experience

Going out: Enjoy one another’s company over warming winter dishes. Geordie's Cafe & Art Gallery and Frankie’s on Rotto feature classic spreads in a cosy setting. Share a grazing board or small plates while you bond over a beverage. Hearty, wallet-friendly favourites like pizzas, pasta, curries and burgers are also on the menu at these laidback island spots.

For refined flavours and mood lighting, look no further than the Italian fare served at Isola Bar e Cibo or the South East Asian eats available at Lontara. Both venues are fully enclosed and heated for optimum cosiness as you watch the waves lap the shores of Thomson Bay. Sunsets Rottnest also beckons with the warmth of underfloor heating and sheltered seating.

Staying in: Make the most of moody weather with a homemade meal. As rain softly taps the windows, slowly chop, stir and savour a night that demands nothing but your presence. Fresh, local ingredients can be picked up or ordered online from the General Store in the main settlement or from Geordie Bay. Plan ahead and place an order worth $30 or more for free island-wide delivery to your accommodation for your convenience.

Reconnect by the fire

While away a cool night together beside flickering crimson flames. Clear nights call for cosying up by the outdoor fire pits at Bayside Bar or Pinky’s Rottnest Island; beverage in one hand, your partner’s in the other. To make the evening sweeter still, ask the friendly staff at Pinky’s for a few complimentary marshmallows to roast.

The indoor fireplace will also be roaring at Hotel Rottnest, and at the recently opened Sunsets Rottnest. Grab a drink to wind down a day well spent together. When seated around a crackling fire, you can’t help but let intimate conversation flow.

Bundle up indoors

Wrap yourself in blankets and beloved company at your island accommodation. Lay back and discuss the day over a shared drop of wine. Or take advantage of your time away from all responsibilities and languish in bed with a movie. Serene stays for two can be enjoyed at all island accomodation – after all, it’s who you’re with that makes the experience. But for those seeking a haven for deep relaxation, look to boutique offerings such as The Lodge Wadjemup. This newly opened accommodation offers a tranquil retreat alongside the peaceful, picturesque surrounds of Garden Lake. Samphire Rottnest is also a favourite for visiting couples, offering spacious and modern rooms in the coastal surrounds of Thomson Bay.

Mulled wine from Bayside Bar

Cosy meals at Lontara

Hotel Rottnest at night

Frankie’s on Rotto BBQ sourdough pizza

Roast marshmallows at Pinky's Rottnest Island

Bust out a board game

Put the phones aside and stir up some good old-fashioned competitive spirit. Come prepared and bring a deck of cards, or there are board games available to buy at The General Store in the main settlement and at Geordie Bay. Spend hours tucked away indoors as you challenge each other to “just one more round”.

Cosy up in front of a film

After a day exploring in the cool air, come and curl up in front of a good movie in the heritage-listed Picture Hall. Rottnest Movies & Mini Golf run favourite films and brand-new blockbusters throughout the winter season for weary wanderers to while away an evening. Don’t forget to swing by the candy bar first for some warm, buttery popcorn!

Still winter night stargazing

Head out hand-in-hand for a spot of stargazing in the sharp night air. Away from the strong city lights, the skies above Wadjemup sparkle on clear winter evenings. And the serenity of the cool season captures a sense of welcome isolation – you feel like you’re the only people around.

Simply step outside your accommodation to see the show or make an evening of it by setting up a spot at Vlamingh Lookout. Pack a thermos, park up and let all sense of time disappear into the inky skies as you take in each other’s company, and the natural wonder of Wadjemup in winter.