Day 4 30/10/2024
Rottnest Island
If you are in Perth for more than a day, a trip to Rottnest is apparently compulsory. Our travel agents booked us on the trip. So, today, we took the trip to Rottnest.
Rottnest is named this way because of a Dutch explorer. He was the first European to land there. He thought that it was overrun with rats the size of cats (some of which had two heads). He had actually met the main inhabitants, the Quokkas,. a rather cute miniature wallaby.
We had an early start to catch the ferry, which left at 9:00. Leaving from Barrack Street wharf we had a cruise down the Swan River. Our guide pointed out the various sights as we cruised down to Fremantle. We saw pelicans but didn’t see any of the black swans that give the river its name.
We picked up some extra passengers in Fremantle. From there it was about half an hour over to Rottnest. We landed in the main town (village?), imaginatively named The Settlement. We had a look around. We found a walking tour led by a volunteer guide, telling the stories of various shipwrecks around the island. After that we had lunch. Edible, but nothing to enthuse about.
The bus tour of the island that followed was more exciting. We saw a couple of Ospreys and some King Skinks. If your eyesight was good, you might have seen some whales breaching beyond the reef. Those with a vivid imagination could have pictured it. We also saw some Quokkas. Apparently, quokka in the local Aboriginal dialect, means “meat”.
The main lighthouse is in the middle of the island at its highest point. The coastline is rugged and reasonably attractive.
Probably, the best way to see the island would be by bike. It is more or less flat. However, wind could be a problem. There are literally hundreds of bikes available for hire.
After we got back from our bus tour, there was time for Diane to have a swim. Then we caught the ferry back to Perth. The way back was rougher because of the onshore breeze. This breeze is known as the “Fremantle Doctor” and it picks up in the afternoon.
To sum up our trip, the Quokkas are undoubtedly cute. The scenery is attractive, but the island is quite crowded, especially around The Settlement. I think that there are probably better options for a day out from Perth.
A Scotsman in Suburbia 