Things to do in Rockingham

Rockingham is 45 minutes south of Perth and has some of the calmest swimming beaches on the coast, thanks to the shelter of Garden Island. The foreshore has a playground, grassed areas and cafes, and the ferry to Penguin Island leaves from nearby Mersey Point.

Locals rate it as a family beach day that’s quieter than the city beaches, and the dolphins and sea lions around the Shoalwater islands are the kind of wildlife most visitors don’t expect so close to Perth. The Rockingham foreshore also puts on its own New Year’s Eve fireworks.

Below are my guides to Rockingham, Penguin Island and the surrounding beaches.