Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island is one of the few places all Perth locals recommended. It is about a 30–40-minute ferry ride from Fremantle, a suburb of Perth. The island is most known for its quokkas. These small marsupials are about the size for a house cat and are like squirrels in behavior. They are everywhere on Rottnest, particularly anywhere they can get food from people. Quokkas are decidedly cuter than squirrels, with a face that appears to be perpetually smiling. People go nuts for these little guys, trying to pet them and get photos of them on their lap. This is all strictly forbidden, but not enforced. I figure that the quokkas can enforce this themselves – they bite!
One other peculiar thing about Rottnest Island is that all the stores have quokka barriers. Apparently, these little creatures have learned that the tourists get their food from stores, so going directly to the source is easier. The signs at quokka level saying “No Quokkas” must have been ineffective as quokkas can’t read (that we know of), so the stiff barriers had to be put in place instead.
The island can be easily cycled in a day, however when I went most boats arrived around 11 a.m. and left promptly at 4 p.m., giving just enough time to take a clunky cruiser around before heading back to the mainland. If I were to do this trip again, I would bring more people with me and spend time snorkeling on one of the many calm reefs along the shoreline. Dipping my feet into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean was a wonderful treat.
The ferry ride over to Rottnest was one of the roughest rides I’ve ever been on in a boat at sea. The seas had two-meter-high waves. Our boat was a ferry with an upper and lower deck, and the waves occasionally came up to the railing on the top deck. I chose to ride on the upper deck so I could see more stuff. We were instructed not to move once we were underway. This was easier said than done. On my bleacher-type seat sitting parallel to the beam of the boat, I had a great view out the starboard side while also shifting side to side with everyone around me as we went into each trough and peak. Occasionally we would get splashed by the ocean as our boat crashed into an oncoming wave. Being on dry land felt great afterwards.
The crew onboard came prepared with plenty of sea-sick bags and, if someone started looking a little green, would quickly hand them a bag regardless of the motion of the boat. It was impressive.
Leaving Perth behind for the day.
Rottnest Island is absolutely gorgeous.
Rottnest Island.
Rottnest Island.
Storms around Rottnest Island.
Quokkas are kinda cute…
Quokkas. Either they weren’t as photogenic for me, or I didn’t want to get bit by something that looks remarkably like a nutria.
