Rottnest Island

If you ever visit Perth then you must also visit Historic Fremantle. Fremantle is at the mouth of the Swan River, a leisurely one and a quarter hour river cruise downstream from Perth. (See the Kings Park and Botanic Garden article).

Fremantle is a shipping port which in 1987 hosted the America’s Cup yachting challenge. Australia won the cup previously in 1983.

It is from Fremantle that you can travel by ferry to Rottnest Island (‘Rat’s Nest Island’, marsupial quokkas actually, not rats), a once notorious prison island and now the holiday destination of Western Australian families.

It is made of limestone and is surrounded by the bluest water. It boasts two lighthouses and numerous beaches which are great for snorkelling.

There are no cars on the island except for the bus and service vehicles. We were dropped off by the island bus opposite the road up to the Wadjemup Lighthouse. On the hot long walk up the hill I found Eucalyptus erthrocorys in flower (artwork #162).

It’s a sparse weather-beaten landscape, but if you love lighthouses (and we do) you may be lucky enough to book the lightkeeper’s cottage adjacent to the Bathurst Lighthouse at the north of the island.