The Basin Tours

The Basin is a very popular swimming and snorkeling spot on Perth’s Rottnest Island. The picture-perfect beach, with shallow reefs and gentle swells, is sheltered from rougher surf by two rocky outcrops. Enjoy the calm and shallow waters closer to shore and deeper waters full of fish and coral further out.

Grab your towel, swimwear and snorkel mask and hit the beach. The sandy stretch is only 650 feet (200 meters) long and quite narrow in parts, but there’s plenty of space to relax up on the grass behind the beach.

Visit during summer and while the tide is out for the best swimming conditions. The waves will be small, the water warm and the weather perfect. If it gets too busy for your taste, wander eastwards over the small bluff to find a more secluded spot.

Spend some time lying on the sand with a good book before you jump in the water to cool off. Kids can play safely in the shallows near the sand while strong swimmers will find deep waters only a short way off shore. Take it easy and wade out over the sand or walk along the edge of the reef and dive straight in.

Put on your snorkeling mask to see dozens of species of fish and coral. The Basin is a perfect place for novices to learn, and there are some great spots along the deeper reefs for more experienced snorkelers.

Pack a picnic and enjoy your lunch as you look out over the Indian Ocean. Consider bringing a beach umbrella, because there is little shade. There’s a shelter near the lawns at the western end, but it can get crowded.

The Basin is just over half a mile (about one kilometer) from Rottnest Island’s main settlement at Thomson Bay. The only way to get there is on foot or by bike, as shuttle buses don’t service the area. You’ll find change rooms and toilets across the small road behind the beach.