Wadjemup – Land across the water where the spirits go.
Rating: 1,000 Frequent Bio Points
Plus 500 Bonus Frequent Bio Points every time you walk or ride to a bay away from the settlement!
19 Kms across the sea from Fremantle, Western Australia.
Rottnest Ferry services are available from Perth and Fremantle.
Rottnest Island is an A Class Nature Reserve preserving flora, marine and wildlife.
Cars are not permitted on the Island and bicycles or walking are the main means of transport.
Rottnest is a place of natural attractions and healthy activities.
Rottnest is the home to the quokka, a small marsupial with a pouch similar to Kangaroos and Wallabies. In 1696 de Vlamingh thought that quokkas were “a kind of rat as big as a common cat” and he named the Island ‘Rotte nest’ (meaning ‘rat’s nest’).
The traditional and Indigenous name for Rottnest is Wadgemup.
After colonization Rottnest was used for a time as a prison for convicted Aboriginals. These convictions were often only for very petty crimes. The conditions on the Island have been quoted as being horrific; ‘squalid, cramped, dank and dark’. This was a shameful period in the recent history of the Island. A memorial centre is to be built and at least some proper respect will be paid to those who lost their lives there.
There are many walks on the Island including guided walks and bird watching walks
The Island is surrounded by beautiful and often secluded bays.
The waters around Rottnest as crystal clear and perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
October and November are best times to see the many humpback whales heading past Rottnest towards the Southern Ocean.
Accommodation is basic but clean. It is a safe place for children and families.There are facilities for disabled and elderly visitors. This has become a place for all people to enjoy.
Developers want to get their hands on the Island and build 5 star hotels and resorts.
Locals do not want the Island to become a place just for the wealthy.
My mother has Parkinson’s disease.
We have just spent a lovely week at Rottnest.
We were well looked after on the ferries and on the Island.
Mum says she felt so much better after having spent a week in such a healthy environment.
Her appetite was good, she slept well, and there was an obvious improvement in her health each day and throughout our stay.
Rottnest is a pristine environment and a natural wonderland.
Highly recommended!