Wilson Bay is a quiet, lesser-visited pocket on Rottnest Island's southern coast, offering a sandy beach fringed by limestone reef platforms that create shallow, protected snorkelling terrain when conditions are calm. The bay's reef flat is exposed at low tide — perfect for reef walking — while at high tide the clear, waist-deep water reveals sandy gutters and patch reefs where small reef fish congregate. Its unpatrolled status and off-the-beaten-path feel make it a peaceful alternative to Rottnest's busier bays, best suited to calm-weather days.
Wilson Bay
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.3 mSwell Period 11 sWind Speed 3.6 knPrecipitation 4.9 mmTidal Phase ebb
Last evaluated
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Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Unpatrolled beach
No lifeguards or patrols — swim and snorkel at your own risk.
Low risk: Wind-exposed conditions
Southern aspect is exposed to prevailing onshore winds that can quickly reduce visibility.
Low risk: Shallow reef at low tide
The reef flat becomes very shallow or exposed at low tide, limiting snorkelling access and posing a scraping hazard.
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Wilson Bay is located on Rottnest Island's southern coast. From the main settlement at Thomson Bay, take the island's bus network or cycle south-west along the sealed road network. Access involves a short walk from the nearest bus stop or bike track down to the beach.
Parking & facilities
No dedicated car parking — Rottnest Island is car-free. Bicycle parking is available at nearby stops along the island's bike paths.
Access to the beach is free, but visitors need a Rottnest Island ferry ticket and an Island Entry Fee (charged per person on arrival).
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports