Rockingham – a brief history

Welcome to the beautiful holiday destination of Rockingham, located on the Indian Ocean and only a short drive from the city of Perth. Rockingham was one of the earliest European settlements in Western Australia and is closely associated with the explorer Captain Stirling’s first landing on Garden Island in 1829. In the early years the town was a very important port for the timber industry shipping Jarrah and Sandalwood overseas.

These days the nearby port of Fremantle has taken over as Western Australia’s main shipping port and Rockingham, situated in the sheltered waters of Cockburn Sound, is fondly known as the Aquatic Playground with mile after mile of beautiful and award winning beaches with many water related activities available in a relaxed holiday atmosphere.

Rockingham’s Bottlenose Dolphins

If you have a love and a passion for Dolphins Rockingham is the perfect location, offering one of Western Australia’s most unique and natural experiences – swimming with wild Bottlenose Dolphins. At the Rockingham jetty, which is located only 5 minutes walk from our villa, you can jump aboard the Rockingham ‘Dolphin Cruise boat’ before it ventures out into Mangles bay. You can then either watch from the boat, or slip into the water with the local wild Rockingham Dolphin pods just off shore for an experience of a lifetime.

Penguin Island

Penguin Island is Perth’s premier, ‘must do’ ecotourism destination. Located just a 5 minute ferry ride off the coast of Rockingham (45 minutes south of Perth), you will feel miles away as you enjoy perfect white sandy beaches and the crystal clear waters of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park.

The breathtaking coastal scenery provides a spectacular natural backdrop for a vast array of recreational pursuits that draws both locals and visitors from all over the world.

Things To Do

For wine lovers, the Peel Estate Wines is only about 15 minutes drive from the villa, where you can sample excellent wines from the region and an ideal place to get yourself a bottle or two, to enjoy with a picnic lunch at the foreshore.

Boat on Palm Beach

Boating and yachting are popular along Rockingham’s sheltered beaches and nearby Point Peron is a great location for scuba diving. You could also take the ferry across to the Penguin Island Interpretive Centre, where you can enjoy an interpretive tour on Western Australia’s fairy penguins and also view them in close proximity.

At the Rockingham Beach Esplanade you will find a beachfront bar and cafe strip, various quality restaurants, a night-club and shopping strip. For the more serious shopper the major “Rockingham Shopping Centre” is located just five minutes away by car, and is open seven days a week during the summer months.

There are many experiences to be had in the Rockingham area, some of these include:

  • Take the Ferry to Penguin Island to view a colony of fairy penguins.
  • Seal Island to visit a colony of rare Australian Seals.
  • Garden Island is great for picnics, swimming, fishing, surfing and sailing.
  • Carnac Island is home to rare Australian Sea Lions.
  • Marapana Wildlife World, a drive through Deer Park and wildlife sanctuary with kangaroos, emus, water buffalo and koala.
  • Wineries where you can enjoy tasting some of Western Australia’s most celebrated wines over lunch.
  • Swim with wild Bottlenose Dolphins.
  • Many great diving opportunities with an abundance of submerged reefs and shipwrecks throughout the Rockingham area.
  • Play a game of golf at the Rockingham Golf club, or
  • Have a hit of tennis at the Rockingham Tennis Club.
  • Perth. The city of lights is also close enough to visit, take a look at the Perth Zoo.
  • 4-wheel drive adventure tours.
  • Cycle along the foreshore.
  • Swim in the bay.
  • Fish from the Jetty.
Rockingham Lakes Regional Park

Within 3 minutes walk of Megan’s Villa is Lake Richmond, a deep perennial freshwater lake that is home to endangered thrombolites, one of the earliest forms of life on earth. These ancient structures can be seen around the edges of the lake, together with native plants, frogs and over 100 species of birds – including waterbirds, small “bush” birds, seabirds, waders and some birds of prey.

Point Peron

The beautiful and rugged Cape Peron offers romantic sunsets and commanding views of the attractive coastline and the islands of the Shoalwater Marine Park. The Cape is only 5 minutes drive from the villa by car, where you will find secluded sandy coves and submerged coral reefs, that are excellent for snorkelling or scuba diving.

Palm Beach
Three Island snorkel Cruise

During your stay in Rockingham we strongly reccomend at least one boat tour of the beautiful Islands in the area . One suggestion is the 2 hour cruise on crystal clear waters viewing the beauty of Penguin Island, Seal Island and Bird island. The cruise includes flippers, snorkle and mask, a visit to ‘Aladdins cave’ and a swim in the bay of Seal island. You will then cruise around Shoalwater Bay with an informative commentary before visiting the Penguin Discovery Centre on Penguin island.

Please contact us and we would be happy to provide you with further information on the Rockingham area.