Pinky Beach, Rottnest Island: Australia's #2 Beach for 2026

Tourism Australia's 2026 Best Beaches list placed Pinky Beach at number two in the country, behind only Bate Bay in Sydney. For anyone who's been to Rottnest Island, the result makes sense. For anyone who hasn't, it's a good reason to start planning.

Pinky Beach sits on the northern side of Rottnest Island, about 19 kilometres off the coast of Fremantle in Western Australia. The water is the kind of clear turquoise that gets dismissed as filtered or edited when you see it in photos. It isn't. The sand is white, the bay is sheltered, and the quokkas will walk up to you if you're quiet enough.

What Pinky Beach Is Like

The beach is short , maybe 150 metres end to end , and enclosed by low limestone headlands on either side. The sheltered position means the water is usually calm even when there's wind elsewhere on the island. It's one of the better spots on Rottnest for snorkelling, with the reef system starting in the shallows just off the beach.

It rates 4.7 stars from 558 reviews on BeachCheck, which puts it among the highest-rated beaches in WA. The consistent feedback is about the colour of the water, the lack of crowds relative to Thomson Bay (the main settlement beach), and the quokkas that wander the surrounding area.

The beach has no facilities , no kiosk, no toilets at the beach itself. Facilities are back at Thomson Bay, which is about a 10-minute cycle ride.

How to Get There

From Perth: Take the ferry from Fremantle (30-45 minutes) or Barrack Street Jetty in the CBD (about 90 minutes). Ferries run daily and are operated by Rottnest Express and SeaLink. Book ahead in summer , the island has a cap on day visitors and ferries sell out.

On the island: Rottnest has no cars for public use. Hire a bike at Thomson Bay ($30-40/day) and ride north. Pinky Beach is a short, flat ride from the settlement , follow the path past the main beach at Thomson Bay and you'll hit Pinky within 10 minutes.

You can also walk it in about 20 minutes from the ferry terminal.

Best Time to Visit

October to April is the main season. Water temperatures are warmest from December to March (22-24°C). The island gets very busy over the Christmas-January school holiday period , if you want Pinky Beach without crowds, visit on a weekday in October, November, or early April.

Winter (May-September): The island is quieter, accommodation is cheaper, and the whale watching off the coast (humpbacks migrating north) is excellent from June to August. Pinky Beach is still swimmable , water doesn't drop below 18°C , but the days are shorter and weather is more variable.

The Rest of Rottnest

Pinky Beach is one reason to visit. It's not the only one.

The Basin is the most famous swimming spot on the island , a natural rock pool on the western side of Thomson Bay with exceptionally clear, calm water. It's more family-oriented and more crowded than Pinky Beach.

Little Salmon Bay on the southern side is the best snorkelling spot on the island. There's a marked underwater trail and the fish density is higher than at Pinky Beach. Go early (before 11am) to beat the tour groups.

The Quokka Colony near the settlement is where most photos happen, but quokkas wander the whole island. You'll almost certainly see them at Pinky Beach as well. They're fearless, which is why the photos look staged.

Cycling the island: The full circuit is about 24 kilometres. It takes 3-4 hours at a relaxed pace with stops. The western end of the island , Cathedral Rocks, Narrow Neck, West End , is worth the ride for the scenery and the chance to spot sea lions.

What to Bring

• Snorkelling gear (hire available at Thomson Bay, or bring your own)
• Enough food and water for the day , the settlement kiosk has limited options and is expensive
• Sunscreen: the WA sun at Rottnest is intense, there's no shade at Pinky Beach itself
• Cash or card: some island facilities are card-only, some cash-only

Accommodation

Rottnest has camping, hostel dorms, and self-contained cottages. The cottages book out months in advance for summer. The Rottnest Lodge (converted barracks from the island's colonial history as a prison) is the main hotel option.

Day trips are common and work well if you're based in Perth. Leave on an early ferry, spend the day cycling and swimming, return on the 5pm or 6pm boat.

Getting the Most Out of It

Pinky Beach is best in the morning before the day-tripper crowd arrives around 11am. If you're on a day trip from Fremantle, take the first or second ferry, ride straight to Pinky Beach, swim for an hour, then work your way around the island. By the time you're back at Thomson Bay for lunch, you'll have had the beach mostly to yourself.

The snorkelling is better at the eastern end of the beach, near the limestone shelf. Take fins if you have them , the reef extends further than it looks from shore.

Pinky Beach on BeachCheck , ratings, photos, and visitor reviews. Also see WA's best: Hellfire Bay (⭐4.9), Twilight Beach Esperance (⭐4.9), Eagle Bay Beach (⭐4.9), Little Beach Albany (⭐4.9), Cable Beach Broome, Cottesloe Beach (⭐4.6), Scarborough Beach (⭐4.7). Full 2026 Best Australian Beaches ranking.