City of Rockingham: Discover Coast, Nature and Culture

The City of Rockingham combines 37 kilometres of coastline with the protected Shoalwater Islands Marine Park and distinctive cultural venues. Beaches and water sports, wildlife watching and history give a stay a variety of possible focuses. As you plan, consider which of these aspects you most want to explore – this can also help you choose accommodation as a base.

Coast and water activities

The City of Rockingham is known for safe swimming in calm, shallow water and for its sandy beaches. A boardwalk connects the Rockingham Beach Foreshore with the beach. The foreshore redevelopment also created an accessible lookout and a Beach Bowl. Along the coast, there are facilities for launching recreational boats, public jetties, free boat moorings and opportunities for beach fishing. So, alongside beach visits, boating and fishing are also part of the coastal scene.

For kayaking, there is the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park Paddle, an eight-kilometre trail along the Rockingham coastline. Another kind of water experience is described by the Churchill Park Dive Trail: this coastal dive trail is about 60 metres of wading from the Rockingham Foreshore. These figures refer to different things – eight kilometres is the length of the kayaking trail, while around 60 metres is the wading distance to the dive trail. At Point Peron, there are opportunities for shore diving and snorkelling among limestone caves and swim-throughs. Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are also among the activities listed for Point Peron. The Pond in Safety Bay is known for windsurfing and kitesurfing.

Wildlife and trails by the water

The protected Shoalwater Islands Marine Park is home to dolphins, seals, penguins and pelicans. From Cape Peron, coastal views stretch across the marine park. Penguin Island is home to Little Penguins, also known as Blue Penguins or Fairy Penguins. They are the only penguin species that lives permanently in Australian waters. The 1.5-kilometre Penguin Island Boardwalk lets walkers encounter the island’s flora and fauna at close range.

At Lake Richmond, the easy Anne Mueller Environmental Walk is a three-kilometre loop around the lake. The trail is rich in birdlife, including Australian Pelicans, Black Swans, Australian Shovelers, Pacific Black Ducks, White-faced Herons and Common Greenshanks. A boardwalk at Lake Richmond also offers views of a critically endangered thrombolite community. Nature lovers can explore a range of different things: birdwatching on the loop trail, views of the thrombolites or encounters with the flora and fauna on Penguin Island.

History, art and events

Day Cottage is one of Rockingham’s oldest surviving houses and a rare example of a colonial-era limestone cottage. The Rockingham Museum is housed in an Art Deco building, the former Rockingham Road Board Building, dating from 1946/47. Numerous exhibitions on Rockingham’s history aim to inform and educate visitors and children. The Rockingham Arts Centre hosts professionally curated exhibitions, workshops and development programs. The cultural offering therefore ranges from the history of a surviving house and museum exhibitions to art and workshops.

The Rockingham Beach Cup is a major event that brings visitors to Rockingham every year. If you would like to include the event in your trip plans, check the dates. This can help you tailor your trip to your interests without making culture and nature competing priorities for the same stay.

Rockingham as a base

Rockingham is a short drive of about 45 minutes from Perth by car or train. When choosing accommodation, you can consider whether you are mainly looking for beaches and water sports, nature watching, or culture and history. When searching for specific accommodation, check its location in relation to the experiences that matter most to you. You can also explore Baldivis, another destination within the City of Rockingham.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: City of Belmont, Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Shire of Denmark, Town of Mosman Park, Shire of Gingin, City of Albany, Shire of Ashburton.

For the broader travel overview: Western Australia.