This sandy island, 19km (12mi) off the coast of Fremantle, is home to small indigenous marsupials known as quokkas.
July 7, 2006 (Press Release) --
Rottnest Island
This sandy island, 19km (12mi) off the coast of Fremantle, is home to small indigenous marsupials known as quokkas. These were mistakenly identified as rats in 1696 by the Dutch explorer de Vlamingh, who named the island 'Rats Nest'. The Rottnest settlement was established as a prison for Aborigines in the 19th century, but by 1920 the prison had fallen into disuse and the island had become an escape for Perth society. There is virtually no motorised traffic on the island - bicycle is the main means of transport. The beaches are superb with some of the southernmost coral reefs in the world and crystal-clear waters.
There are a couple of places to stay, including a campground, on Rottnest, and a few restaurants. You can get to Rottnest by plane from Perth, or by ferry from Perth or Fremantle.
Fremantle
Known as 'Freo' to the locals, the port of Fremantle (though a town in its own right with a strong local identity) has been absorbed into Perth's urban sprawl. In 1987, the port was the site of the unsuccessful defence of what was, for a brief period, one of Australia's most prized possessions - the America's Cup yachting trophy. Fremantle has been substantially revamped and is now filled with outdoor cafés, old buildings and lively markets, and is imbued with a laid-back arty ambience. It continues to attract hordes of daytrippers on weekends.
There are plenty of places to stay and eat in Freo, and the city buzzes like a fridge at night. A shuttle runs to Freo from Perth airport; there's a train every 15 minutes between Perth and Freo, or you can catch a ferry.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
This sandy island, 19km (12mi) off the coast of Fremantle, is home to small indigenous marsupials known as quokkas. These were mistakenly identified as rats in 1696 by the Dutch explorer de Vlamingh, who named the island 'Rats Nest'. The Rottnest settlement was established as a prison for Aborigines in the 19th century, but by 1920 the prison had fallen into disuse and the island had become an escape for Perth society. There is virtually no motorised traffic on the island - bicycle is the main means of transport. The beaches are superb with some of the southernmost coral reefs in the world and crystal-clear waters.
There are a couple of places to stay, including a campground, on Rottnest, and a few restaurants. You can get to Rottnest by plane from Perth, or by ferry from Perth or Fremantle.
Fremantle
Known as 'Freo' to the locals, the port of Fremantle (though a town in its own right with a strong local identity) has been absorbed into Perth's urban sprawl. In 1987, the port was the site of the unsuccessful defence of what was, for a brief period, one of Australia's most prized possessions - the America's Cup yachting trophy. Fremantle has been substantially revamped and is now filled with outdoor cafés, old buildings and lively markets, and is imbued with a laid-back arty ambience. It continues to attract hordes of daytrippers on weekends.
There are plenty of places to stay and eat in Freo, and the city buzzes like a fridge at night. A shuttle runs to Freo from Perth airport; there's a train every 15 minutes between Perth and Freo, or you can catch a ferry.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
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