The Lodge Wadjemup on Rottnest Island opened in stages: bookings for early-2025 stays began in December 2024, and the completed development was reported in August 2025. Rottnest Island Authority now describes it as a 109-room property with a functions and events centre for up to 140 guests. The current official project page puts the development cost at $40 million+, not the $23 million in the original headline.
What is The Lodge Wadjemup?
The Lodge is an accommodation and hospitality development behind Rottnest Island’s main Thomson Bay Settlement, overlooking Garden Lake. The site is between the settlement and the salt lakes, near the corner of Kitson Street and Digby Drive. It includes guest accommodation, dining, a pool precinct and an events centre.
The Rottnest Island Authority says the development cost $40 million or more. That is the figure on its current redevelopment project page; Tourism WA also used $40 million in a 2024 overview. The $23 million figure in the earlier headline is not supported by those current official sources.
When did The Lodge open?
Opening happened in stages rather than on a single date. The Rottnest Island Authority’s completion update says accommodation bookings opened on 6 December 2024 for stays from early 2025. The Sunsets Rottnest restaurant and bar and Pelican kiosk opened to the public on 19 December 2024.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
Stage Two, which added poolside rooms, a pool, conference space and the Gathering Ground, was completed in July 2025. A later Authority update in August 2025 described the full development as complete. The first stage had 63 refurbished rooms available to book in December 2024; the completed property now has 109 rooms, reflecting different stages of the project rather than conflicting totals.
What accommodation and facilities are available?
The completed property has 109 rooms, including interconnecting family suites, and a pool precinct reserved for guests. Its functions and events centre can host up to 140 guests, according to the Authority’s 2025 completion update.
Room categories
The official Rottnest Island visitor listing groups rooms as Courtyard, Lake and Poolhouse. Available layouts include Queen, King and bunk configurations. Some rooms have lake or pool views; selected layouts connect to other rooms or offer accessible features. Check the listing and booking details for the specific room’s configuration and features.
Food, pool and events
The development includes the Sunsets Rottnest dining yard and bar, the Pelican coffee and gelato kiosk, a guest pool and the functions and events centre. The Authority’s project description says the Gathering Ground is intended for public and private events, ceremonies and cultural sharing with the Noongar community.
What should guests know before booking?
The visitor listing gives check-in from 3 pm and checkout at 10 am. Minimum-night requirements vary by season, so check the conditions for your dates. Availability, rates and booking terms can change; the official Lodge website and visitor listing are the relevant places to check current booking information.
If ferries are cancelled on your departure date, the Lodge may be able to help with an extension or rescheduling, subject to availability and possible extra costs. That is not a guarantee of accommodation or a no-cost change. Check directly with the Lodge and ferry operator when disruption occurs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How did the project develop?
- March 2020: The Rottnest Island Authority called for expressions of interest to redevelop the site.
- Mid-2021: A preferred proponent was appointed; formal community consultation followed in September.
- 2022–23: The Authority describes redevelopment commencing in August 2022. Its staged timeline separately records site handover and forward works in mid-2022, followed by construction and refurbishment from mid-2023.
- December 2024: Accommodation bookings opened for early-2025 stays, followed by the restaurant, bar and kiosk opening to the public.
- July–August 2025: Stage Two was completed in July, and the Authority described the overall development as complete in August.
What is the Lodge’s cultural and heritage context?
The redevelopment is identified by the Authority as an initiative under the Rottnest Island Management Plan 2023–28. The Lodge operator acknowledges the Whadjuk Noongar people as Traditional Owners of Wadjemup and recognises their continuing connection to the island and its waters.
The Lodge site is next to the former Aboriginal prison building known as the Quod, but the Quod is not part of the Lodge redevelopment. The Authority says Whadjuk Noongar people will lead consultation about the Quod’s future through the Wadjemup Project. The distinction matters: the accommodation project and the work concerning the Quod are separate.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →How does it compare with other Rottnest accommodation?
The Authority names Samphire Rottnest, Hotel Rottnest and Discovery Resorts as other venues complemented by the Lodge. The official sources cited here do not provide like-for-like current prices or feature comparisons, so a price ranking would be unreliable. Compare the same dates and check total nightly cost, room capacity and layout, accessibility, included meals, pool access, cancellation terms and flexibility during ferry disruption.
The Authority also reported more than 823,000 ferry visitors to Rottnest Island in 2023–24. That is an island-wide annual visitation figure, not a measure of Lodge occupancy or guest numbers.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
