Three months after welcoming its first guests, The Lodge Wadjemup hotel on Rottnest Island has made Time magazine’s 2025 World’s Greatest Places list. The Rotto hospitality venue was the only WA entry and only Australian hotel on the survey of the 100 most extraordinary places to visit and stay in the world, published March 13. Time contributor Michelle Tchea paid tribute to the island’s Indigenous history, beaches and quokkas: “a small Australian marsupial sought after for selfies because it always looks like it’s smiling”.
She added that “while it’s tempting to spend most of one’s stay at the lodge . . .
travellers would be remiss not to lope past colourful salt lakes and picturesque lighthouses on one of Rottnest’s scenic bike paths or explore Noongar ancestry via a cultural tour at the Wadjemup Museum”. Following a $40 million redevelopment of the former Rottnest Island Lodge, The Lodge Wadjemup reopened in December with 63 refurbished rooms, as well as the Sunsets bar and restaurant, and takeaway kiosk Pelican. Forty-six more guest rooms are due to open by mid-2025.
In a statement, the Time editors said they sought out “one-of-a-kind spots and experiences around the globe” for their annual list of the world’s hot spots. The Lodge Wadjemup is in good company alongside the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, Alta Sanctuary in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, Richard Branson’s luxury Kasbah Tamadot hotel in Morocco and HX Grand Greenland Cru.
