Rottnest Island Historical Train and Tunnel Tour from Hillarys Boat Harbour

Perth, Australia

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

7 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

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Overview

There’s more to Rottnest Island than sandy beaches and beautiful bays, including a fascinating military history. Begin by taking in coastal views on a roughly 40-minute cruise from Perth. Next, take a train to the top of Oliver Hill and venture into the island's historic WWII tunnels with a guide, for insight you'd miss if exploring by yourself. When it’s time to leave, simply head back to the jetty to catch your return ferry.

Explore beyond Perth with hassle-free, round-trip transport
A guided tour adds context you'd miss if exploring independently
A local guide provides plenty of insider insight into the history of Rottnest Island
Prebooking your tour ensures your spot on the ferry

What's Included

All taxes, fees and handling charges, including Government Landing Fees
Local guide
Guided Tour
Train to Oliver Hill

Lunch

Lunch is not included, however, their is a great selection of restaurants and cafes in the Main Settlement at Rottnestt

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Courtesy Coach transfers available from hotels in Perth CBD, Northbridge and Scarborough. Please notify us at the time of booking if you require this service so that we can book in a pick up from your closest hotel.

Meeting point

56 Southside Dr, Hillarys WA 6025, Australia
Shop 56 Southside Drive. Free parking is available if self-driving. From Perth CBD head north on Mitchell Freeway then exit left when you reach Hepburn Avenue. Continue to the end and enter through the main roundabout. Turn left onto Southside Drive and follow the signs to 'ferry terminal'.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.10:00 am

Itinerary

Hillarys Boat Harbour

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Rottnest Fast Ferries - Day Tours

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Rottnest Island Train Station

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Oliver Hill Battery

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Rottnest Island Visitor Centre (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Infants must sit on laps
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level

Children must be accompanied by an adult
Please note that this is a physically demanding 45-minute tour with approximately 700 metres walking and 240+ uneven steps (equivalent to a 8-storey climb). There are no rest stops and no backtracking once inside. No carrying of children is permitted except for small infants in baby carriers (which allow the accompanying adult to have both hands free for the railings in the tunnels). Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. The tour takes place in enclosed tunnels - please watch for low ceilings, uneven surfaces and other trip hazards - and follow guide instructions at all times.
Not permitted for travelers with mobility issues and children needing to be carried due to the large number of steps (approximately 240) to be climbed and descended as well as uneven surfaces.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Amanda_R

Watch out for the seagulls at lunch time. A very friendly island. The ferry and train tour was a great and the staff polite and knowledgeable.

Reviews

4.1

based on 21 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Rottnest Island day trip including train and tunnel.

Duane_N, Mar 2026

Study the map before arriving to the island. Got lost trying to find where the train was from the jetty. Get the train and do the tunnel tour. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and train driver very funny. Great experience with the quokkas around you while having lunch. Ferry ride was great.

great tour

Christine_L, Oct 2025

It was one of the best tours we have done .... thank you we have done tours all over Europe ... this tour was one of the best we have done

Well worth experience

Amanda_R, Sep 2025

Watch out for the seagulls at lunch time. A very friendly island. The ferry and train tour was a great and the staff polite and knowledgeable.

Book with another tour provider.

Elisia_D, Feb 2025

No full dialogue on the website about what the trip entails. The reception where you get the map and tickets doesn’t explain anything, and the map that you get is confusing. Don’t get off at stop 4 on the hop on/ off bus-stop 4 on the map refers to a different service not noted on the map. Reception is slow and not extremely helpful. Please ask island staff well ahead of time👌

Read the description closely!Tour???

Barry_H, Jan 2025

Our pic up was 1.5 miles from our hotel!At pickup hotel ,no description offered by company.Pickup was 1.5 hours before ferry sailed.The only guide on this “tour “ is a volunteer on the Guns experience,there are no other guides of any kind.Only return time offered was printed on the ticket that is given to you at Hillary’s office.Isalnd experience is as just OK,we would not book again!

Recommend

Angela_J, Jan 2025

The train ride was scenic and my son loved being able to drive and press the horn. The history tour of tunnels was informative.

A great trip, well worth the money.

elizabeth_b, Apr 2024

The island is beautiful. The train journey was fun. The tour of the gun and tunnels was very interesting and the guide extremely knowledgeable. Overall a great trip.

Ok - just

Christopher_E, Mar 2024

The admin staff for the tour were excellent, can’t fault their customer service. The train and tour was absolutely 5 star , very enjoyable and amazing guides. The ferry experience was ‘ mass transit’ nothing individual or special about it- think rush hour in a school bus out and a cackle of drunk pre-adults back. The transport to the ferry from the CBD was ok- the way back was terrible , took 90 mins , mostly with the brakes on maximum or jumping over speed bumps .

Disapointed about no train but still very good.

Carolyn_G, Nov 2023

Train was overheating so did mot operate, bus replaced. Tour guide well knowledged and very interesting.

A great trip.

Kathleen_D, Aug 2023

Loved seeing the Quokkas and visiting the historic gun emplacements. A really great experience and well worth it.

Very cool

SAMUEL_W, May 2023

The tour of the tunnels and the gun emplacement was very well done. The weather was a bit rough but still a good trip. Would have been nice if the lighthouse was included as there's down time between drop off at the island the afternoon tour of the installation.

Unsung heroes

Gary_R, May 2023

Informative guide, this site is fascinating what a wonderful history. To think all of this was achieved without modern equipment.

Back in time. Something different.

SophieC, Feb 2023

Well worth tour. Informative. Staff so friendly and welcoming. Another aspect of Rottnest Island. Great to do when taking a break from the sun. Something for the kids.

This was a really great day...

Elva_B, Feb 2017

This was a really great day unfortunately we had very heavy rain so the ferry was rough and we were saturated. Or tour guide Ann was great, very informative and took us to all the places she could. The train ride was fun and the tunnels were fascinating, there was a feeling of what really went on waiting for the enemy. We will repeat this tour when return to Perth.

This was such a great tour and a good...

Ash, Jan 2017

This was such a great tour and a good day out. A slow paced and easy going tour.

Had an absolutely awesome day...

Brian C, Jul 2016

Had an absolutely awesome day. Everything ran as smoothly as planned. Our tour guide Carol was exceptional and made sure our group were well informed and did everything possible to make sure we enjoyed the day. Can't fault anything from morning tea, ferry ride, lunch tour of island and train trip. Superb day! Thank you

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