Rottnest Island – a short hop from Perth
Visit Perth and Rottnest Island>>
A visit to Perth should include a ferry trip to Rottnest Island located 19 kilometres off the coast. The island provides everything you need for a relaxing get-away and is great for either a day trip or longer holiday, and is suitable for couples or families.
No private cars are allowed on the subtropical island, which is about 11 km long and 5 km wide. It has a wealth of history, a range of activities, and 63 beaches with white sand and crystal clear water that is perfect for divers and snorkelers.
The best way to get around is to hire a bike. There is also a free bus that you can hop on and off as you choose, and an historic train tour. Activities include kayaking, snorkeling, diving, surfing, swimming, boating, boogie boarding, fishing, walking and cycling. There is a family fun park, scenic flights, guided walking tours, tennis, golf, lawn bowls and the Rottnest Museum.
Rottnest Island was named in 1696 by Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh. The name means “rats nest” because he thought the small marsupial Quokkas looked like giant rats. Quokkas are about the size of a cat and weigh around 4 kg. They hop like other wallabies and are common on Rottnest Island but are rarely seen anywhere else in Western Australia.
At Rottnest Museum you can trace the islands history from the first Dutch visit through to the present. Originally settled by Europeans in 1831 the island was converted to a penal settlement for aborigines from 1839 to 1903. The first lighthouse was built by Aboriginal convicts and was completed in 1849. It was made from stone quarried locally at Nancy Cove and was the first Western Australian lighthouse to be built in stone. A second, taller lighthouse was completed in 1896 to replace it. In WW1 the island was used as a Prisoner of War camp.
The ocean surrounding the island is a marine sanctuary, and no pets, guns or spear guns are allowed on Rottnest Island. In the warm waters and reefs there are around 360 species of fish and 20 types of coral. There are also thirteen shipwrecks close to shore, making the island a mecca for recreational divers and snorkelers. There are safe protected bays for children and surf beaches for the adventurous.
The island also boasts a bakery, a-la-carte restaurants, take away outlets, a café, general store and a hotel. A great beach-side venue to watch the sunset is the Quokka Arms pub.