Rottnest Express vs SeaLink 2026: Which Ferry to Pick

Booking choice: The SeaLink ferry from Fremantle. Book this Tour details

Three companies sail to Rottnest. Rottnest Express and SeaLink both run from Fremantle and Perth; Rottnest Fast Ferries runs from Hillarys, north of the city. They are separate businesses: Rottnest Express belongs to Journey Beyond, and SeaLink's owner, Kelsian, said in August 2026 that it would keep SeaLink Rottnest Island rather than sell it with its other tourism businesses (Business News Australia).

Ask which one is better and you get a dull answer: for most day trips, neither. Pick the boat that leaves when you want, from where you want. Here is what separates them.

The quick answer

Pick on timetable and terminal, not brand. SeaLink has the earliest Fremantle sailing (7:00am), a weekday saver fare on it, and a once-daily Perth boat with free hotel pick-up. Rottnest Express has two Fremantle terminals, including car-only Northport with a large car park, and a Quokka Club for WA kids. Rottnest Fast Ferries is the one to take if you are staying north of Perth.

A morning queue of passengers with backpacks boarding a ferry from a timber wharf — The first boats of the day fill with cyclists and day-trippers.

Which is better, Rottnest Express or SeaLink?

Neither wins across the board. Fares are close, crossings from Fremantle take about 30 minutes on both, and the deciding factors are departure times, terminals and fare rules.

The three operators side by side, from their own pages:

	Rottnest Express	SeaLink	Rottnest Fast Ferries
Departs from	Fremantle B Shed, Northport (car only), Perth Barrack St Pier 4	Fremantle Victoria Quay, Perth Barrack St Pier 3	Hillarys Boat Harbour
Crossing	About 30 min from Fremantle, about 75 from Perth	About 30 min from Fremantle, about 90 from Perth	About 45 min
Perth service	Fewer sailings than Fremantle, plus a seasonal Perth Premium boat	One sailing a day at 8:30am, free hotel pick-up	None
Check-in	Arrive 30 min early; QR ticket and no bags: straight to the gate	Check-in closes 30 min before; boarding closes 10 min before	Barcode ticket: straight to the ferry
Carry-on	Up to 2 items per person	1 item per person	Luggage labels required
Your own bike	Pre-book a space; spaces can sell out	Pre-book; size limits, no tandems, e-bike battery in hand luggage	Pre-book; freight charge applies
Changes	Up to 1 hour before; cancel for a credit note	Up to 60 min before; fees may apply, non-refundable	See the operator's terms
WA kids	Quokka Club	WA Kids Travel Free	Kids Club
On GetYourGuide	Fremantle return: free cancellation up to 2 days before	Fremantle return: free cancellation up to 24 hours before	Hillarys return: free cancellation up to 24 hours before

SeaLink from Victoria Quay: about 30 minutes to the island, admission included, several sailings a day.

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Where does each ferry leave from in Fremantle?

SeaLink leaves from Victoria Quay, a short walk from Fremantle station. Rottnest Express leaves from B Shed on Victoria Quay and from Northport in North Fremantle, which you can only reach by car.

SeaLink's terminal page calls its Fremantle stop the B Shed Terminal on Victoria Quay, while its 2026-27 timetable names O'Connor Landing, Victoria Quay. Check your boarding pass for the exact berth. The blue SeaLink desk is about 5 minutes on foot from the station (SeaLink terminal information).

Rottnest Express's B Shed is at 1 Peter Hughes Drive and is being renovated, which affects road, berth and parking access, so allow extra time. Its Northport terminal sits at Rous Head in the working port: walking, cycling and scooters are not allowed, and you arrive by car or taxi (Rottnest Express parking). It suits drivers; it doesn't suit anyone coming by train.

Passengers with backpacks and a bike boarding a white ferry at a Fremantle wharf — Victoria Quay is a short walk from Fremantle station. Northport is not.

Which ferry has more sailings?

From Fremantle, SeaLink publishes 5 to 10 departures a day depending on the season and weekday, from 7:00am. Rottnest Express runs a similar spread from B Shed plus extra Northport sailings.

SeaLink's 2026-27 timetable shows the pattern: 5 departures on quieter weekdays, up to 10 from Thursday to Sunday between 2 November and 17 December, and 10 every day from 18 December to 31 January. Late returns from the island run at 7:00pm in the summer holidays and at 9:00pm Thursday to Sunday from 2 November to 17 December 2026.

For Rottnest Express, ferry booking sites list about 7 sailings a day from B Shed in mid-October 2026, with the first around 7:30am, plus Northport sailings. The operator says it runs year-round, with peak season from December to February and on weekends (Rottnest Express). From Perth, SeaLink sails once a day, and Rottnest Express runs fewer Perth sailings than Fremantle ones. Check both timetables for your date, because the right answer is whichever boat leaves when you want.

SeaLink's once-a-day Perth boat: 8:30am from Pier 3, a Swan River cruise, admission included and a free hotel pick-up.

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Is one ferry faster than the other?

Not from Fremantle: both take about 30 minutes. From Perth, Rottnest Express is quicker at about 75 minutes against SeaLink's 90. Hillarys takes about 45.

Rottnest Express says about 30 minutes from Fremantle and about 1 hour 15 from Perth; its 2027 fleet brochure even quotes about 25 minutes from Fremantle. SeaLink says about 30 and about 90. Weather changes both. The SeaLink Fremantle listing describes an air-conditioned boat with free WiFi and a bar; Rottnest Express's two largest boats, Starflyte and Eagle Express, each carry up to 485 passengers.

Speed matters most from Perth, where the river leg is long. If you want the shortest possible trip from the city, ride the train to Fremantle instead; the departure guide has the details.

Rottnest Island seen from a small plane wing, with turquoise bays and salt lakes below — Whichever boat you take, the crossing to the island is about half an hour from Fremantle.

How do check-in and luggage rules differ?

Rottnest Express lets you go straight to the gate with a QR ticket and no bags; SeaLink closes check-in 30 minutes before departure. Rottnest Express allows two carry-on items, SeaLink one.

Rottnest Express: arrive at least 30 minutes before. Final boarding is 5 minutes before departure, or 10 if you have luggage or freight, and then the gangway comes off (Rottnest Express). Up to two carry-on items of 600 x 400 x 300 mm each; checked bags up to 22 kg can go to your accommodation for a fee.
SeaLink: check-in closes 30 minutes before, boarding 10 minutes before (SeaLink terms). One carry-on item that fits under your seat; checked bags up to 22 kg, delivered to your accommodation 2 to 3 hours after arrival.
Alcohol: both ferries are licensed. You can't drink your own on board; SeaLink only carries alcohol you didn't buy on board in checked bags.

More on bags, bikes and eskies in the ferry tips.

Rottnest Express Return Ferry from Fremantle

Rottnest Express from B Shed or Northport, with free cancellation up to 2 days before, per the listing. The listing does not mention the admission fee; the operator's own fares include it.

★ 4.5 · Same-day return · departs Fremantle

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What happens if your plans change?

Both operators let you move a booking up to an hour before departure, subject to seats. Neither refunds a regular fare in cash; Rottnest Express gives a credit note, and SeaLink may charge change fees and reprices at current fares.

Rottnest Express: changes up to 1 hour before departure, with any fare difference and possibly a small admin fee; cancel more than an hour before and you get a credit note valid for 12 months. A no-show is charged in full (Rottnest Express terms). SeaLink: reschedule up to 60 minutes before travel; tickets are non-refundable, and if SeaLink cancels a sailing for weather or safety you choose a full refund or a credit (SeaLink terms).

This is where GetYourGuide earns its place. The SeaLink listing has free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and the Rottnest Express listing up to 2 days before, for a full refund rather than a credit.

A busy beach at Thomson Bay with swimmers, umbrellas and boats moored offshore — On summer days, a late change depends on seats being left on the boat you want.

Where does Rottnest Fast Ferries fit in?

It is the Hillarys option: about 45 minutes from a marina in Perth's northern suburbs, with free parking and courtesy hotel pick-ups. Pick it if you are staying north of the city.

Rottnest Fast Ferries sails daily all year from Hillarys Boat Harbour on two catamarans, Harbour Master and Ocean Master (Rottnest Fast Ferries). The same-day return on GetYourGuide goes out at 7:30am or 10:00am and comes back at 4:30pm, with the admission fee included and optional hotel pick-up. The company says it generally runs 2 to 3 departures a day or more, with extra sailings in peak season, school holidays and long weekends.

From central Perth or Fremantle it makes less sense: you would travel north to cross a longer stretch of water. From Scarborough, Hillarys or the northern suburbs, it is the obvious pick.

The northern-suburbs route: about 45 minutes from Hillarys, free parking, admission included, back at 4:30pm.

★ 4.8 · Same-day return · departs Hillarys

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Which ferry packages does each operator sell?

All three sell ferry and bike bundles and guided bus tours. SeaLink adds a Segway tour; Rottnest Fast Ferries adds a bus-pass combo and a Grand Island tour with a historic train.

Rottnest Express: ferry and bike from B Shed with helmet and admission, and a ferry with a 90-minute Discovery bus tour.
SeaLink: ferry and bike via Pedal & Flipper (adult bikes only, not for under 16s), ferry and 90-minute bus tour, ferry and Segway tour, and a Grand Island tour with lunch.
Rottnest Fast Ferries: ferry and all-day bike from Hillarys, a ferry with an Island Explorer bus pass, and the Grand Island tour by bus and historic train, with a light lunch.

The ferry part of each package works like the plain ticket from the same company, so the comparison above still applies.

Passengers stepping off a white island bus parked under pine trees — Every operator sells a bus tour package; the ferry rules come from the company that sails you.

SeaLink's ferry and 90-minute guided bus tour: lighthouse, West End and the island's history, from Perth or Fremantle.

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Frequently asked questions

Is SeaLink the same company as Rottnest Express?

No. Rottnest Express belongs to Journey Beyond. SeaLink Rottnest Island belongs to Kelsian, which said in August 2026 that it would keep it rather than sell it to Journey Beyond.

Which Rottnest ferry is the fastest?

From Fremantle, both main operators take about 30 minutes. From Perth, Rottnest Express takes about 75 minutes and SeaLink about 90. Hillarys takes about 45.

Can I go out with one operator and back with another?

Not on one return ticket: a return is with one company. You could buy two one-way tickets, but you lose any return-fare deal.

Do Rottnest Express and SeaLink leave from the same place?

Both use Victoria Quay in Fremantle, at different berths, and both use Barrack Street Jetty in Perth (Pier 4 and Pier 3). Rottnest Express also sails from Northport, which is car-only.

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