Cycling Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island WA

Rottnest Island is located 18 km west of Perth and can be reached by plane in less than 15 minutes or 2 hrs by water. This picturesque 11km x 4.5km island is an ideal holiday or day trip destination of pristine beaches and bays, historic buildings and interesting flora & fauna, most famous of which is the furry native marsupial quokka of which there are about 10 000. Original inhabitants were the Nyungar Aborigines who named the island Wadjemup and there is evidence of their habitation here 7 000 years ago when the island was still connected to the mainland.  Rottnest came about as a name when an early Dutch explorer mistook the quokkas for rats and named it ‘Rottenest Island’ (rat’s nest). An early settlement was established in 1829 and Kingston was proclaimed a town two years later. However the settlement failed and from 1838 – 1903, the island served as an Aboriginal prison.  Over the years it was also used as a pilot station, internment camp and military post. No private cars are allowed on the island so getting around is done by bicycle, walking or limited bus services. There is a lot to see here and various heritage trails cover different parts and site of the island. Vincent Way Heritage Trail (2 km) walk including the Old Settlement and its many fine historic cottages and buildings dating from 1840s. Cape Vlamingh Heritage Trail (1 km) visits the Kiryo Maru shipwreck, Bridge Rock, Blow Hole and various flora & fauna including the poisonous dugites snake. Oliver Hill Battery Heritage Trail (1.5 km) takes in the gun battery (1937), observation posts and flora & fauna. A light railway operates up Oliver Hill for those not wishing to walk. Vlamingh Memorial Heritage Trail (1 km) stretches from the Lodge to Garden Lake including a small cemetery and old limestone quarry.  Rottnest Wrecks Heritage Trail a water ‘trek’ taking in 14 shipwrecks between 1842-1984.  Fishing, surfing, diving, snorkeling and swimming are all popular pastimes and regular events include Rottnest Channel Swim (Feb), Rottnest Kite Surf Classic (Mar), WA Surf Industry Cup (Aug), Marathon and Fun Run (Oct) and Rottnest Swim Through (Dec).