Bus Tour on Rottnest Island
After our adventure boat ride, we hopped on a bus for our tour of the Island on dry land. I guess it was too late for some, we were the only two people on the bus.
Salt lakes occupy ten per cent of the area of Rottnest Island.
As an A Class Nature Reserve, Rottnest Island preserves and protects its natural beauty; spectacular flora, abundant marine life and wildlife and many unique species.
Cars are not allowed on the island, so biking is a popular method of getting around. Rottnest Island Bike Hire is the largest facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere with over 1,300 bikes and specialty equipment available for hire.
Since the first Europeans visited the west coast of Australia in the 17th century, Rottnest Island has seen numerous shipwrecks. The 11 kilometre long and 4.5 km wide island is surrounded by hidden and partly exposed reefs whilst being buffeted by the Roaring Forties. It is situated 12 km west of the port of Fremantle meaning that much of the maritime traffic to Western Australia’s major port passes close by.
Our guide pointed out that their trees resembled broccoli.
We were told that because of recent, but unusual, rains, we were seeing the tea trees all green, they had not been so green the week before.
A view from the Island to the waters around it. Approximately 400 species of fish and twenty species of coral occur within the Marine Reserve. Fish include the Western Australian dhufish, baldchin groper, harlequin fish, cobbler, flathead, leatherjacket, samson fish, tailor, butterfly fish, moon wrasse, blue devil and migratory fish such as marlin and tuna. The Island is also a popular area for migrating humpback whales, bottle-nose dolphins and Australian sea lions.
Can you spot the Osprey nest? We didn’t see one near the nest, we did see one or two later.
Bathurst Lighthouse is one of two lighthouses on Rottnest Island, the other being Wadjemup Lighthouse. It is located on Bathurst Point, in the north east of the island, and was activated in 1900. The lighthouse was erected in response to a series of shipping disasters in the area, which included the loss of the City of York in 1899.
Rottnest Island’s famous marsupial, the quokka. I knew they existed on the island, but didn’t know we’d get a chance to see any!
A bunch of them were under an olive tree eating away at any that were on the ground.
We reached the west end of the Island.
On this side of the island, the lighting made the waves coming in take on a silver color.
Another lovely view from the west end.
Too many things to look at, waves always mesmerize me.
Rottnest Island beaches were awarded top Australian beaches by Australia’s prestigious travel guide ‘Explore Australia 2007’.
Home to some of the finest beaches and bays in the world, visiting Rottnest Island will be an unforgettable holiday experience, with a choice of over 63 secluded beaches and 20 bays.
