Western Australia · Australia
Where to stay in Rockingham
Rockingham is a city in Western Australia, Australia, home to about 15,000 people. This guide covers 1 aparthotel in Rockingham, with about 97 rooms between them.
- Places to stay in this guide
- 1
- Best months
- March, April and October to December
- Nearest airport
- PER44 km · Perth International Airport
- Currency
- AUDAustralian dollar
- Time zone
- Australia/Perth
- Language
- Auslan, Australian English, English
About
About Rockingham
Rockingham is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 47 km south-south-west of the city centre. It acts as the primary centre for the City of Rockingham.
The City of Rockingham covers 257 km² and is home to over 133,000 residents (2018). It has grown incredibly rapidly: a mere 12,000 people lived here in 1971, and 70,000 in 2001. But its history begins over 45,000 years ago, when Binjareb Noongar people settled in the area. European arrivals started in the late 1847, but there was little interest in the area until the timber jetty and railway were established in 1872. The port continued to operate until 1908, when it was closed due to competition from port in better locations with better rail connections.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Rockingham
See
The biggest reason most people live in and visit Rockingham it for its beaches. The entire northern and western edges of the city form one long stretch of sand facing the Indian Ocean. While parking is difficult at the foreshore, most other beaches have ample parking, and some are served by bus. Swimming and snorkelling opportunities are available almost everywhere, but the best snorkelling spot is the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, although there are some access restrictions in this area. Bush walkers and hikers will find Rockingham a paradise. There are many bush walks and nature trails, both official and unofficial, within the city.
- Rockingham Beach
- Penguin Island
- Point Peron
- Lake Richmond
- Mandurah Hill
- Rockingham Museum
Do
Festivals: Rockingham is home to several small but growing festivals each year. The biggest and most popular take place at the Waterfront Village, including the International Food Festival and Cast Aways sculpture display. Other events, such as the Baldivis Fair, are scattered around the city. Sports: Like the rest of the country, Rockingham residents love their sort. The biggest drawcard is the annual Beach Cup, a charity horse race run on the sand at Rockingham Beach. Local football, soccer, and rugby teams can be found all over the city, and horse riding schools can be found in Baldivis, and the beach near the grain terminal is open to horses.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Places to stay in Rockingham
1 place to stay from the chains this guide covers, each linked to its own website.
| Place to stay | Rooms |
|---|---|
| Quest Rockingham aparthotel | 97 |
Schematic: the city centre in orange, each place to stay as a dot, distance rings in kilometres.
Where to stay
Which part of Rockingham to stay in
Like many cities in Australia, Rockingham is split into suburbs. Some of these suburbs, in turn, have distinct neighbourhoods within them. Some are worth exploring, while others have very little for visitors to see.
There are a few hotels and serviced apartments in the city, but they are mostly concentrated near the city centre or the waterfront. A number of Bed and Breakfast businesses have appeared in the last decade, usually near the beach. Do your research and you'll find something to suit your taste and budget.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
More hotels in Rockingham
3 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Manuel Towers, Shoalwater | 2.5 km | |
| Mundijong Hotel | 1897 | 24.4 km |
| Anchorage Guest House and Self-contained Accommodation | 1.2 km |
All 4 hotels in Rockingham, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit Rockingham
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Rockingham are March, April and October to December. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C; July is the wettest, with about 167 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Rockingham: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Perth International Airport (PER), about 44 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting in
Several major highway pass through the city. National Route 1, which circles Australia, passes through the city. The route follows Patterson Road, Ennis Avenue, and Mandurah Road. It is often busy, but provides good connections to Mandurah and Fremantle. Mundijong Road connects the city to the Darling Scarp via Kulija Road. The Kwinana Freeway runs north to south through the rural sections of Rockingham, but provides direct access to the city from Perth, the Peel Region, and the southwest via the Forrest Highway.
Getting around
Before arriving, you need to decide how to get around. Rockingham might not be dense or highly populated by global standards, but it is huge in terms of size. For comparison, the city's total land mass is two and half times bigger than San Francisco, California, with thousands of kilometres of roads to navigate. A good GPS or mapping service is highly recommended regardless of how you get around. Deciding what transport mode to use is a game of trade-offs.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
PER · Perth International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Rockingham
Eat
Not surprisingly, seafood, especially fish and chips, can be found almost everywhere. Some can be bought at suburban delis for next to nothing, while seafood sold from restaurants will cost a lot more, especially if that restaurant serves tourists. A higher price does not always mean higher quality. In most cases, the best fish and chips can be found at delis. Thanks to its English heritage, staples such as roast meats, pies, sausage rolls, and sandwiches can be found everywhere, also at different prices. The Chiko roll - mashed vegetables deep fried in a pastry shell - is an Australian invention that can be found in various locations.
Drink
Coffee is everywhere, but it's also expensive. Both coffee chains and independent cafes sell coffee and tea, but don't forget about Maccas, which also sells surprisingly good coffee. The city is also full of bars and pubs catering to those who like to drink something a little stronger.
Stay safe
Rockingham has a very low crime rate, the lowest in the entire metro. Violent crime is almost unheard of, and the chances of you falling victim are next to zero. But low crime does not mean no crime. Just like in any city, visitors should take precautions regarding vehicles and valuables. Some isolated beach carparks are targeted by thieves looking to steal from unattended vehicles. The best way to avoid having your car broken into is to do what the locals do and "Look, Lock, Leave": Look and see if you can spot any valuables from outside the car. If you can, thieves can too. Lock your car, and double check it is locked before you go. Don't leave until completing both these steps.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Good to know
Accessibility, parking and families in Rockingham
How many places to stay in this guide offer each, in their operators' own words.
of 1 place
of 1 place
of 1 place
of 1 place
of 1 place
of 1 place
Questions
Rockingham: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Rockingham?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Rockingham are March, April and October to December. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C; July is the wettest, with about 167 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Rockingham?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Perth International Airport (PER), about 44 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Are there accessible hotels in Rockingham?
1 place in this guide list accessible rooms.
What currency is used in Rockingham?
Australian dollar (AUD).
Nearby
Destinations near Rockingham
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.