In Queensland we tend to abbreviate place names with a “y” or “ie” – Brisbane becomes Brissie, Rockhampton “Rocky”, Bundaberg “Bundy” and Gold Coast “Goldy”. In the west “o” is the go. Geraldton becomes “Gero”, Fremantle “Freo” and Rottnest Island “Rotto”.

It was an early start to catch the Rottnest Fast Ferry from Hillarys Boast Harbour at 7:30am. Rottnest Island is 19km off the coast from Perth. It is 11km long and 4.5km at its widest point. A protected nature reserve, it is famous for white sandy beaches, secluded coves and home to the quokka.

The Perth skyline shrinks as we head west out into the Indian Ocean.

After 45 minutes, we arrive at Thomson Bay on the sheltered eastern side of the island. Although the island is beautiful, one of the main drawcards are the quokkas.

The baby quokkas usually leave their mother’s pouch in September but this year were early.

The quokkas enjoy eating the fig tree leaves that were planted a century ago.

The island was given the name ‘t Eylandt ‘t Rottenest (“Rats’ Nest Island”) by Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh who spent six days exploring the island in 1696, mistaking the quokkas for giant rats (rodents of unusual size). Inconceivable! He didn’t think they existed!

Despite their abundance, getting a good image proved difficult as they are always on the move…looking for food. It is against island rules to feed them.

The bakery even has quokka proof entry panels to prevent their voracious appetite in search of baked goods.

There are over 45 km of walking trails and 22 km of roads on the island so we travelled on a hop-on hop-off bus. We still managed over 11km of walking on the day. The shuttle bus does a circle around the island. We got on and off at several points. Bicycles are a popular form of transport. There were a number of hills and saw many tyred people by the end of the day.

Parker Point

Osprey nest at Little Salmon Bay

Wadjemup Lighthouse is central on the island on a high point. Wadjemup is the Noongar word – place across the sea.

The lighthouse is about 65 metres tall making it the second highest lighthouse in WA.

The wilder west coast of Rottnest Island

Cathedral Rock is the local seal hangout. They are predated by great white sharks in the ocean.

Their carefree attitude suggests that the sharks don’t access this protected area.

Geordie Bay on the northern side of Rotto.

You are not allowed to touch the quokkas.

But sometimes they climb onto you. This one took a liking to my lens cap.

Longreach Bay

The Perth coastline in the distance.

A very shy Buff-banded rail

We found the local gravitational anomaly. I read a book once on Anti-Gravity. I just couldn’t put it down…

Bathurst Lighthouse – the eastern most of three lighthouses on Rotto.

Australian raven…raven’ on about something.

The introduced Laughing turtledove has made its may to the island.

Male Shelduck on Government Lake at the Causeway.

Before leaving the island we had more quokka time.

An Ocker with a Quokka

The trip back to Hillarys – I could tell you more but it’s just a ferry tale.