Why Rockingham, WA is Begging for The Long-Weekend Treatment

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Nyoongar people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview

I’m calling it – Rockingham is Perth’s most adventurous postcode. Never heard of it? Well, it’s time to put it on your radar. The southern suburb offers epic marine encounters such as swimming with wild dolphins and sea lions, calm beaches, rocky islands, reefs, and parklands for leisurely hikes.

My visit to Rockingham proved that life is better when wetter, with a bounty of water activities – windsurfing, snorkelling, SUPing, fishing – right on its doorstep.

About Rockingham

Rockingham is in Perth’s outer southern suburbs, 40km south of the Perth CBD. It’s sandwiched between the popular hiking spot Serpentine-Jarrahdale, industrial district Kwinana, waterside city Mandurah, and the Indian Ocean.

Apart from its natural assets, the laidback coastal hub affectionately known as ‘Rocko’ is great for hip eateries, cultural events, and foreshore happenings. I also found it easy to discover on two feet, making it a convenient and adventurous add-on to any Perth visit.

How To Get to Rockingham

Rockingham is a 45-minute drive south of the Perth CBD. You can also get there via train along the Mandurah Line.

Where To Stay in Rockingham

Rockingham offers a range of accommodation options to cater to all budgets and comfort.

Quest Rockingham

Cost per night: From $223 (two guests)
Suitable for: Couples, friends
Facilities: Apartments with fully equipped kitchenette, modern ensuite bathroom, lounge

Rockingham’s premier hotel, Quest Rockingham, features 96 serviced apartments in the town centre and is only a ten-minute walk to the beach. The high-rise hotel includes an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, and gym facilities if you’re keen to keep up the daily routine. Good on you if so!

Cee & See Caravan Park

Cost per night: From $47 for a powered van site or $150 for a one-bedroom chalet (two guests)
Suitable for: Couples, friends, families
Facilities: Powered campgrounds, laundry, BBQ

Cee & See Caravan Park is a wallet-friendly option for an oceanfront stay. The caravan park offers powered sites (no tents or swags accepted) and simple chalet accommodation.

Rockingham Holiday Village

Cost per night: From $50 powered van site or $140 for an ensuite plus room (two guests)
Suitable for: Couples, friends, families
Facilities: Powered campgrounds, laundry, BBQ

Enjoy leapfrogging between bush and beach with a stay at Rockingham Holiday Village. The caravan park is set in 20 acres of native bushland on Rockingham’s outskirts and is only a short drive to the coast. It offers powered campgrounds and affordable self-contained cabin stays.

Where To Eat in Rockingham

After exhausting my energy with all kinds of outdoor adventures, I needed to refuel and recharge at Rockingham’s coastal dining hotspots.

Rustico Tapas

If you’re chasing a vibe and an upmarket feed, head to Rustico Tapas. The award-winning tapas bar offers an affordable $85 five-course degustation, with the option to pair with wine for an extra $49.

I opted for a la carte, ordering delectable Spanish-inspired share plates such as Fremantle octopus escabeche, barramundi churros (yep, it’s a thing!), and fried goat’s cheese. The friendly service is just as good as the meal itself, making it a great place to treat yourself after a day of activities. 

Café Barco

Dine with the locals at the ever-popular Café Barco. The Safety Bay eatery is open for breakfast and lunch, and offers big servings of the usual café favourites. I was recommended the local fave – fish tacos – and instantly regretted ordering chips as a side since the servings are massive!

The cafe’s outdoor seating area is also a nice vantage point to watch kite surfers taking flight while seated outside. Or stay warm, eating alongside framed pictures of happy dogs on the K9 rescue wall inside.

Things To Do in Rockingham

As I soon discovered, Rockingham is not a place to sit idle. With a marine park, bushlands, and islands on its doorstep, it’s easy to plot an urban adventure on the fly. Or do as I did and let the pros guide you to see the best of Rockingham’s nature on one of the many tours on offer.

Swim With Wild Dolphins

Rockingham’s placid waters attract a healthy dolphin population, making it a top place to swim alongside the grey torpedoes. It was pretty insane to realise that I could experience this just 45 minutes from Perth.

Perth Wildlife Encounters offers half-day swimming with wild dolphins tours onboard a custom luxury boat in Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. Each snorkel was conducted in small groups, which allowed us to have an intimate encounter with dolphins in a safe and responsible manner.

This tour gave me more than a handful of chances to get my flipper fix! As dolphins like to swim in pods, I sometimes had over five dolphins manoeuvring in my presence, some within a metre of my body. The encounter wasn’t silent either, dipping my head underwater meant that I could hear the dolphins’ natural squealing sounds. Listening to their excited chatter was such a thrill!

But the excitement wasn’t just felt in the water. It was just as fun observing dolphins from the boat while other small groups of six had their close encounter. Those of us waiting for our turn watched with anticipation, some dolphins showing off, jumping out of the water or feeding beside the boat.

Post-dolphin swim, there’s the opportunity to learn more about dolphin behaviour from friendly staff, snorkel, and have the option to test out an underwater scooter, free of charge! The tour includes wetsuit hire, GoPro images, and a decent lunch, so we didn’t return to Yacht Club Jetty hungry!

Take a Sea Kayak Tour of Penguin and Seal Islands

Cruise Rockingham’s clear blue waters using paddle power on a kayaking tour. Capricorn Seakayaking offers guided half-day tours on a double kayak around Shoalwater’s famed islands – Penguin and Seal – spotting abundant birdlife, including pelican colonies, and sunbathing sea lions along white sandy shores.

All day, I’d been tempted to jump in the clear water, and when I finally did it was bliss. While temperatures were in the mid-30s, it didn’t feel as hot thanks to the sea breeze and being able to cool off with multiple snorkel sessions. 

The last stretch of the tour includes enjoying a healthy lunch spread (DIY meat salad wraps) on Penguin Island. It’s a scenic spot to feast with birds constantly flying overhead. If you’re luckier than me, you may be able to spot a penguin. It’s pretty rare, but not impossible!

Stretch the Legs on a Walking Trail

Keen to give your legs a workout? Rockingham has multiple walking trails, all within different landscapes. Head to Baldivis Children’s Forest Trail. Despite the name, the 20-hectare reserve can be enjoyed by all, with trails in Tuart woodlands and a conservation category wetland.

For a cultural fix, embark on the short and sweet Nyoongar Trail, accessible via Baldivis Road, near the Don Shepherd Nature Reserve. The 575m trail depicts the six Nyoongar seasons with informative panels dotted along the paths. 

Another kind of cultural immersion can be had on the Rockingham Waterfront Heritage Trail. It weaves through heritage landmarks, public art, and community gardens.

Only four minutes drive from Rockinham’s CBD is Lake Richmond. There’s an easy 3km walking trail which allows you to see the lake from every angle, along with a huge variety of native Australian birds. It’s also one of only a handful of places in the world where it’s possible to see critically endangered thrombolites, thought to be one of the oldest forms of life on Earth. Pretty amazing eh!

Explore Point Peron

I continued my seafaring adventures with a visit to Point Peron. It’s renowned for being one of Perth’s top snorkelling destinations with its limestone cliffs and hideaway beaches, attracting avid snorkelers who like a challenge. Swimming among seagrass to spot marine life such as sea urchins, spider crabs, Nudibranch, and sting rays darting through the green, definitely meets the brief!

Beyond coastal waters, head to the point’s fringing reefs filled with colourful sponges and hard corals. Keen to go deeper? Located 150m offshore from Long Reach Beach are bigger swim-throughs and caves suited for scuba divers to explore.

Understand Rockingham’s Indigenous history

Go on a walkabout in Boya Kaarla/Point Peron with Whadjuk guide Steven Jacobs of In Culture Tours. On the 90-minute walking tour, you’ll learn about Nyoongar culture and Point Peron’s significance in ancient lore and the Dreamtime stories of the Derbal Naraa.

Essential Gear for Rockingham

• Reusable water bottle
• Electrolytes
• Hat
• Snorkel
• Fins
• Reef shoes
• Towel
• Fishing rod
• GoPro
• Rash shirt
• Marine-friendly sunscreen
• Mosquito repellent

Read more: A Guide To Reef & Ocean Safe Sunscreen

What It’s Like to Visit Rockingham

Rockingham can often be overlooked for neighbouring Fremantle and Mandurah. But, for those chasing cheap thrills, this coastal hub is the perfect choice. Unlike elsewhere in Perth, I discovered it has many wildlife spotting opportunities, water-based activities, and relaxed seaside living in one, budget-friendly place. 

After conquering outdoor activities, I spent an afternoon on the Rockingham Foreshore. It overlooks Rockingham Beach – a calm beach perfect for wading without waves or taking the SUP out. I did the latter, keen to sightsee the beach on my SUP and was even joined by a small stingray for a bit!

Once I was done making a splash, I chilled out on the vibrant (and shaded!) boardwalk.

The foreshore is a great spot to acclimatise to Rockingham’s chilled pace of life. It’s often the scene for unique coastal events such as sculpture awards, symphony concerts, and a horse beach cup supporting the welfare of retired horses. 

Still full of beans? Throw an event yourself! Churchill Park is a popular spot to fire up the BBQ and I was tempted to make a dash to the local supermarket just so I could join in on the picnic fever that seems to take over the foreshore nightly.

With its low-key vibe and ease of adventure, you’ll be plotting your return to this part of the coast before you’ve even left.

Tips For Visiting Rockingham

• There’s limited accommodation in Rockingham, so booking in advance to avoid disappointment is a great idea
• Rockingham has an exciting lineup of events. To see what what aligns with your getaway, check out the events calendar
• Rockingham offers free parking, giving you more cash to spend elsewhere!
• The relaxed vibe is awesome but it’s hard to catch on a one day visit. Stay for a weekend to really understand what Rockingham is all about

Rockingham FAQs

How far away from Perth is Rockingham?

Rockingham is a cruisy 45-minute drive from Perth CBD.

How long do I need to stay to see Rockingham?

While a trip to Rockingham is an easy day out from Perth, a single day doesn’t do the location justice. In an ideal world you’d come to stay, but realistically three days and two nights is about right.

What are the best things to do in Rockingham?

From swimming with dolphins to snorkelling, to kayaking, and lazing your days away on the beach, there are plenty of water-based activities to enjoy. On land you can enjoy hiking trails, beautiful waterfalls, or BBQ’s in one of the many parks. Plus so much more!