Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ROTTNEST ISLAND (WADJEMUP)
POP 475
'Rotto' has long been the family holiday playground of choice for Perth locals. Although
it's only about 19km offshore from Fremantle, this car-free, off-the-grid slice of paradise,
ringed by secluded beaches and bays, feels a million miles from the metropolis.
Cycling around the 11km-long, 4.5km-wide island is a real pleasure; just ride around and
pick your own bit of beach to spend the day on. You're bound to spot quokkas on your
journey. These are the island's only native land mammals, but you might also spot New
Zealand fur seals splashing around off magical
West End
; dolphins; and, in season, whales.
King skinks are common, sunning themselves on the roads until you draw near - and then
they're just as likely to scuttle into the path of your bike as they are to scuttle in the oppos-
ite direction.
Snorkelling, fishing, surfing and diving are also all excellent on the island. In fact,
there's not a lot to do here that's not outdoors, so you're better off postponing your day trip
if the weather is bad. It can be unpleasant when the wind really kicks up.
Rotto is also the site of annual school-leavers' and end-of-uni-exams parties, a time
when the island is overrun by kids 'getting blotto on Rotto'. Depending on your age, it's
either going to be the best time you've ever had or the worst - check the calendar before
proceeding.
In early September, the annual
Rottofest
(
http://rottofest.com.au
)
immerses the island in two days
of music, film and comedy.
History
The island was originally called Wadjemup (place across the water), but Wadjuk oral his-
tory recalls that it was joined to the mainland before being cut off by rising waters. Modern
scientists date that occurrence to before 6500 years ago, making these memories some of
the world's oldest. Archaeological finds suggest that the island was inhabited 30,000 years
ago, but not after it was separated from the mainland.
Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh claimed discovery of the island in 1696 and named
it Rotte-nest ('rat's nest', in Dutch) because of the king-sized 'rats' (which were actually
quokkas) he saw there.
