Rottnest Island

 

March 10 - We drove down to Hillarys Harbour, a large marina to board a fast ferry to Rottnest Island. Tons of bicycles boarded with us. Seems like bicycle is the preferred mode of transportation on the island as private motor vehicles are not allowed. Cycling is not for the weak of heart, however, as roads are all up and down. We chose the hop on hop off bus as did the half of Perth without a bicycle did too.

Leaving the Marina

                                     Rottnest on the Horizon

I rode on the top deck under a clear blue sky skimming over blue water for the forty minute trip to the island. The island was inhabited for thousands and thousands of years except for the likes of Quokkas. Quokkas look a little like rats hence the Dutch given name Rottnest. The island was once all pine forest but is now mostly scrub. Nevertheless, amongst the rocky shoreline are beautiful white sand beaches, snorkeling spots and mooring fields. Rottnest is a supreme destination for Perth cruisers; we saw many on moorings, all power, no sailboats

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Power Boats at Anchor

Toes in the Water at one of the Many of the White Sand Beaches

Rocky Shoreline

Due to the unexpected number of hop on hop off riders, we didn't hop off at many really inviting places as we planned to for fear of not being able to hop back on.

  Quokka

                                               Quokka

Quokka by the Tail

Quokkas are nocturnal so are likely to be spotted in the wild only in the early morning or late evening. A few apparently have adopted to modern times and hang out around the food court. 

After our return to the main land, went attended a birthday party at a seaside restaurant for one of Colin and Linda's daughters. Joanne and I split an order of Indian Ocean fish and fries. The both were excellent.