The 37-kilometre coastline gives City of Rockingham a clear focus on the water. It is also home to a protected marine park, special opportunities to observe wildlife and places where you can discover the city’s history. When planning your trip, it’s worth deciding first whether you want to focus on water sports, coastal scenery, wildlife or culture.
Coast and water: a range of activities
The Shoalwater Islands Marine Park Paddle is an 8-kilometre kayak trail along the Rockingham coast. Another option is the Churchill Park Dive Trail: a coastal dive trail located about 60 metres’ wade from the Rockingham Foreshore. Point Peron offers opportunities for coastal diving and snorkelling among limestone caves and swim-through caves; kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are also mentioned here. In Safety Bay, The Pond is a spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
There are also options for anyone wanting to use recreational boats or fish from the beach: the Rockingham coast has facilities for launching recreational boats, public jetties, free boat moorings and opportunities for beach fishing. City of Rockingham is also known for its sandy beaches and safe swimming in calm, shallow water.
Marine park, birdlife and special walks
The protected Shoalwater Islands Marine Park is home to dolphins, seals, penguins and pelicans. Cape Peron offers coastal views across the marine park. Penguin Island is home to little penguins—the only penguin species that lives permanently in Australian waters. They are also known as blue penguins or fairy penguins. The 1.5-kilometre Penguin Island Boardwalk gives walkers the chance to encounter local flora and fauna up close.
At Lake Richmond, a boardwalk provides views of a threatened thrombolite community. The Anne Mueller Environmental Walk is an easy 3-kilometre loop around the lake and is rich in birdlife. Species include Australian pelicans, black swans, Australian shelducks, Pacific black ducks, white-faced herons and common greenshanks. Its loop route and birdlife make it different from the shorter Penguin Island Boardwalk.
History, art and events
Day Cottage is one of Rockingham’s oldest surviving homes 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 from 1946/47. Its many exhibitions cover Rockingham’s history and aim to inform and educate visitors of all ages. Professionally curated exhibitions, workshops and development programs are among the offerings at the Rockingham Arts Centre.
A redevelopment of the Rockingham Beach Foreshore created an accessible lookout and a Beach Bowl. A boardwalk connects the foreshore to the beach. If you’re interested in an event, consider including the Rockingham Beach Cup in your travel plans: this major event brings visitors to Rockingham every year. Check the event dates when planning your trip.
Getting there and finding accommodation
Rockingham is a short drive of about 45 minutes from Perth by car or train. The activities and sights mentioned offer practical points to consider, without requiring any one attraction to shape your entire itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Baldivis, Shire of Ashburton, Shire of Carnarvon, Shire of Williams, Shire of Harvey, City of Mandurah, Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, City of Melville.
For the main travel overview: Western Australia.
