What is Rottnest Island?
Rottnest Island is a car-free island about 18 kilometres off Fremantle in Western Australia. It is famous for quokkas, small smiling marsupials, and for its clear bays and beaches.
Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh visited in 1696 and named the island Rotte nest, meaning rat's nest, because he mistook the quokkas for large rats. The Noongar name for the island is Wadjemup.
The island has around 63 beaches and 20 bays, with turquoise water, reefs and shipwrecks. Snorkelling at spots such as The Basin, Parker Point and Little Salmon Bay is popular in summer.
Quokkas and cycling
Quokkas live wild across the island and are known for their friendly faces in selfies. Feeding or touching them is not allowed. Most visitors explore by bicycle, as private cars are banned.
Ferries run from Perth, Fremantle and Hillarys, and the trip from Fremantle takes about 30 minutes. Accommodation ranges from camping to cottages and hotels.
The island has a dark history: from 1838 to 1931 it held a prison for Aboriginal men and boys, and many died there. A reconciliation process acknowledges this past.
Did You Know?
Rottnest Island's waters are home to dolphins, sea lions and, in spring, migrating humpback whales.