Rottnest Fast Ferries

What Rottnest Fast Ferries does

Rottnest Fast Ferries is a private Western Australian ferry and leisure-tourism operator, trading as CM Marine Pty Ltd ATF The RRF Unit Trust and part of the Pinnacle Travel Group alongside Whale Watching Perth, Australian Pinnacle Tours, and Quokka Coaches. The company runs the only locally owned and operated ferry service between Hillarys Boat Harbour and Rottnest Island, with a 45-minute crossing on the MV Harbour Master and MV Ocean Master high-speed catamarans (up to 420 passengers per vessel), supplemented by an older MV Voyager and MV Seaflyte. Its product surface spans ferry tickets, day-tour packages (Grand Island Tour, Bayseeker Island Tour, Bike & Ferry Combo, Bus Pass & Ferry Combo, Best of Rotto Combo, Golf Ferry Package, Luxe Island Seafood Cruise), a 200-bike custom-built hire fleet, 60 sets of snorkel hire, the Quokka Hopper on-island transfer service, private charters, and seasonal whale watching via its sister company. Customers are predominantly leisure travellers — families, couples, solo visitors, groups, and school/educational parties — purchasing direct online, by phone, or at the Hillarys ticket office, with complimentary hotel transfers from ~80 Perth locations and free parking as distribution levers. Revenue is generated entirely through transactional ticket and package sales (per-trip unit pricing, with gift cards as a forward-payment product), with a 1.5% credit card surcharge and fuel surcharge passing through cost inputs. Founded and still operated by co-owners Luke Crispin and James Mulholland, the company runs 51–100 employees and is privately held with no public revenue disclosure.

Name

Rottnest Fast Ferries

Legal name

CM Marine Pty Ltd ATF The RRF Unit Trust

Website

https://rottnestfastferries.com.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Rottnest Fast Ferries is a private Western Australian ferry and leisure-tourism operator running high-speed catamaran services between Hillarys Boat Harbour and Rottnest Island, serving families, couples, solo travellers, and groups with day-tour packages, bike and snorkel hire, and on-island transfers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine passenger ferry transportation

NAICS

Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

High-Speed Catamaran & Fast Ferry Services (THAEAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

High-Speed Passenger Ferry Operators (TLAFALAC), Island & Archipelago Ferry Services (THAEAGAB), Tourist & Scenic Ferry Services (THAEAGAE), Private Cruise Transfers & Tender Services (Water Taxis, Support Boats) (THAEAEAJ)

Keywords

• Ferry passenger transport
• Island tourism services
• Whale watching tours
• Guided day tours
• Bike and snorkel hire

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ferry ticket sales: Core revenue from selling same-day return and one-way ferry tickets between Hillarys Boat Harbour and Rottnest Island. Tickets are priced for adults, concessions, children (4-12), toddlers (2-3), and infants (under 2). Children travel free under promotional offers. Ticket categories include standard fares and online-only special fare types.
2. Day tour packages: Bundled packages combining ferry transfers with island experiences such as the Grand Island Tour (guided 4-hour tour with historic train ride, Wadjemup Lighthouse, Oliver Hill Gun Fortification), Bayseeker Island Tour (90-minute bus tour), Bike & Ferry Combo, Bus Pass & Ferry Combo, Best of Rotto Combo, and golf packages. These generate higher per-customer revenue than ferry-only tickets.
3. Bike and snorkel hire: Bike hire revenue from a fleet of 200 custom-built bikes, with pre-authorisation security deposits ($25 per bike, max $250). Snorkel hire revenue from 60 sets of equipment at $10 per item pre-authorisation (max $100). These add-ons increase average transaction value.
4. Private charters: Private charter bookings for special occasions (weddings, birthdays, corporate events, family gatherings) departing from Hillarys Boat Harbour. Includes catering, gourmet meals, and drinks tailored to preferences.
5. Gift cards: eGift cards sold in denominations of choice (from $25 to $550+), valid for three years from purchase. Redeemable for any product or package online or in-store.
6. Onboard food and beverage: Snacks, coffee, and muffins available for purchase during the ferry journey.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rottnest Fast Ferries operates a high-speed passenger ferry service between Hillarys Boat Harbour and Rottnest Island using the Harbour Master and Ocean Master catamaran vessels, with 45-minute crossings 7 days a week. The company sells bundled day tour packages (Grand Island Tour, Bayseeker Island Tour, Bike & Ferry Combo, Bus Pass & Ferry Combo, Best of Rotto Combo, Golf Ferry Package), equipment hire (bikes and snorkels), private charters, gift cards, seasonal whale watching tours, and complimentary hotel shuttle transfers from Perth.

Product overview

Rottnest Fast Ferries is a ferry and tourism service company operating as the only locally owned and operated ferry service to Rottnest Island from Hillarys Boat Harbour. The core offering is the high-speed ferry service (45-minute journey, daily 7 days a week), supported by an integrated portfolio of day tour packages (Grand Island Tour, Bayseeker Island Tour, The Best of Rotto Combo, Bike & Ferry Combo, Bus Pass & Ferry Combo, Golf Ferry Package, Luxe Island Seafood Cruise), equipment rentals (bike hire with 200 custom-built bikes, snorkel hire with 60 sets), on-island transport (Quokka Hopper private transfer service, Island Explorer hop-on hop-off bus), private charter services, and seasonal whale watching tours via its sister company Whale Watching Perth. The company also provides complimentary hotel transfers and parking at Hillarys Boat Harbour, and sells gift cards as a flexible payment option. The fleet consists of high-speed catamarans including MV Voyager, MV Seaflyte, MV Harbour Master, and MV Ocean Master.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rottnest Fast Ferries Core Ferry Service
• Grand Island Tour
• Bayseeker Island Tour
• The Best of Rotto Combo
• Bike & Ferry Combo
• Bus Pass & Ferry Combo
• Golf Ferry Package
• Luxe Island Seafood Cruise
• Private Charters
• Whale Watching Tours
• Quokka Hopper On-Island Transfer

Quantifiable outcome

• 45-minute ferry crossing from Hillarys Boat Harbour to Rottnest Island, departing daily 7 days a week
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, parent company and core.

• Beaconsfield SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with Beaconsfield School where students served as tour guides on Rottnest Island as part of an educational program developing communication, leadership, and teamwork skills. The event raised $1,500 for Telethon. David Forrest (Rottnest Operations Manager for Quokka Coaches) was the organiser.
• Pinnacle Travel Groupparent companyOthersPinnacle Travel Group is the parent company of Rottnest Fast Ferries. The group encompasses multiple tourism brands including Rottnest Fast Ferries, Whale Watching Perth, Australian Pinnacle Tours, and Quokka Coaches. The group acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land and operates across Australia's tourism sector. Rottnest Fast Ferries operates under the business name CM Marine PTY LTD ATF The RRF Unit Trust.
• Quokka CoachescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company of Rottnest Fast Ferries providing on-island bus tours and educational travel programs. Quokka Coaches organises school excursions and community tours on Rottnest Island, including a partnership with Beaconsfield School where students served as tour guides raising funds for Telethon ($1,500 raised).
• Whale Watching PerthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company of Rottnest Fast Ferries offering 2-hour whale watching tours from Hillarys Boat Harbour (August–mid-November). Uses the MV Harbour Master vessel. Expert marine biologist guides and courtesy coach from Perth CBD. Reservations handled by the same team as Rottnest Fast Ferries.
• Rotorvation HelicoptersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHelicopter operator offering flights from Hillarys Boat Harbour to Rottnest Island (15-minute flight). Available 7 days a week for 2–4 passengers. Rottnest Fast Ferries sells Heli–Ferry packages (helicopter to island, ferry return) as a bundled product.
• Pedal and FlipperminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-island bike hire company referenced for services not offered by Rottnest Fast Ferries, specifically child seats on bikes, child carriers, and bike trailers. Complement rather than compete with Rottnest Fast Ferries' bike hire.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Big Bus Tours: Global hop-on hop-off sightseeing operator with Perth services — comparable bundled transit-plus-narrated-tour business model targeting the same inbound tourist audience, particularly competing with the Bus Pass & Ferry Combo concept.
• Captain Cook Cruises: Established Australian ferry and cruise operator running scheduled passenger services (Sydney Harbour, Murray River), dinner cruises, and tour packages — comparable business model of ferry-plus-tour bundled leisure experiences, though operating in eastern states rather than Western Australia.
• Statue City Cruises: Operates ferry and sightseeing cruises to the Statue of Liberty and around New York Harbor — comparable business model of high-frequency passenger ferry service bundled with tour packages, souvenirs, and add-ons, but in a much larger urban market.
• Australian Pinnacle Tours: Sister company under Pinnacle Travel Group offering Perth day tours (Pinnacle Desert, Wave Rock, Margaret River); comparable bundling of transport + guided experience model targeting the same inbound WA tourist segment.

Regional players

• Perth Water Bus Co: Perth-based water taxi / ferry operator providing passenger transport along the Swan River and to surrounding destinations — comparable small-vessel passenger ferry model serving Perth-area commuters and tourists, but without the destination-tourism bundle.
• Swan River Cruises: Perth-based cruise and ferry operator offering scenic dining cruises and river transport on the Swan River, serving the same Perth inbound tourism market with a comparable ferry-plus-experience bundled product, though operating on rivers rather than open water.

Direct peers

• Horizon West Whale Watching: Perth-based whale watching tour operator departing from Hillarys Boat Harbour during the same Aug-Nov humpback migration season, directly competing with the Whale Watching Perth sister-brand product for the same local and tourist audience.
• AW Bell (Island Explorer Hop-On Hop-Off): Operates the Island Explorer hop-on hop-off bus service on Rottnest Island with 19 stops, directly competing with Rottnest Fast Ferries' Bus Pass & Ferry Combo and overlapping with its Quokka Hopper on-island transfer service.
• SeaLink (Rottnest Express): SeaLink operates the Rottnest Express ferry service from Fremantle to Rottnest Island — the most direct head-to-head competitor on the same destination, using comparable high-speed ferries with overlapping passenger segments (tourists, day-trippers, school groups).

Others

• Rottnest Island Authority: Statutory authority that manages Rottnest Island as a destination — not a peer in the competitive sense but the controlling body that sets island admission fees, manages infrastructure, and is a key counterparty/dependency for Rottnest Fast Ferries' commercial model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rottnestferries

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rottnest Fast Ferries