ROTTNEST ISLAND – Meet the happiest animal in the world

It looks like a mix of a rat and a small kangaroo. That’s how I see it. People’s faces change to disgusted expressions when they imagine it. But no, it’s the complete opposite. Dark eyes in the shape of beads, and fur, its face looks like it is always smiling. It stretches out to you, carefully sniffing and if you give it a leaf, it will take it with its paws and start eating. And you can take a selfie together at that moment. There are people, who think it does not exist and it is being mistaken for similar species. The story about the island, where these animals welcome you just a few steps from the port will show you, that they are unique.

The island is called Wadjemup in the language of Australian aborigines, which means ‘place across the water where the spirits are’. It is located 18 km from the city of Perth in Western Australia and its size is only 19 square kilometers.

The name Rottnest Island was named in 1696 by William de Vlamingh. He stayed 6 days on the island to explore the land and named it Rotte nest – Nest of the rats, because of these animals which he mistaken for rats.

QUOKKA – THE HAPPIEST ANIMAL ON THE PLANET?

Quokka is a mammal the size of a small cat. It can grow to the size of 40-53 cm and weigh 2-4.5 kg, females are a bit smaller. Their natural environment is trees and bushes, but they can swim as well. They are herbivores. Their baby called joey lives in the mother’s pouch for the first six months, the same as kangaroos.

They are considered the happiest animal on the planet because they look like they are always smiling. They are very friendly and curious. There are about 10-12 thousand of them on the island. You can discover them also on the mainland, mainly in the southwestern part of Australia. Their numbers are constantly dropping as the result of the disappearance of their natural environment; therefore they are protected by law.

If you will visit the island, there are simple rules – do not touch, do not feed, do any harm. For their violation, you can get a fee or even go to prison. If you will decide to take a picture with them, do not forget to turn the flash off, as it can scare them.

Many quokkas can be found near the supermarket and restaurant area as well as on the way to the lighthouse on the coast. I found a couple of them near the tourist information office located a few steps from the port on the left.

BEAUTY OF THE ISLAND

The beauty of this part of Australia will impress you already during the ferry ride. You can enjoy the view of the villas built on the coast of Perth. You do not sail on the open sea for a long time, it takes only about 20 minutes from the closest port.

The port on the island is very small. There are restrooms and small boxes where you can pay and leave the things you will not need during the day and pick them up on the way back. If you turn right, you will find a small center with groceries, restaurants, and souvenir shops. It is one of the places where you can see these unusual creatures walking comfortably along with the people.

The interesting thing is that the local shops have movable half-walls from the heavy material which stop the quokkas to enter the shop. The customers have to push them when entering and exiting the shop. However, it did not stop one of the animals to enter the souvenir shop when I have been shopping there. It was walking around the shop and since the people cannot touch them, the shop assistant was gently chasing it away to the exit.

Continue on this road and you will come to the white lighthouse. It is a great viewpoint.

​​I visited the island out of the main season; therefore I did not meet crowds of tourists there. Empty road, trees and bushes in the wild on my left, crystal clear ocean with the pretty beach around every corner on my right. Inland is charming as well. The bike rides take you to the lakes where you can see a lot of birds. If you will make it to the lighthouse in the middle of the island, the reward will be a magnificent view from the top. There is a small stand with refreshments next to the lighthouse where you can relax.

ACTIVITIES ON THE ISLAND

You are traveling alone or with the family, maybe you are looking for adventure or you want to relax during your trip, this island will satisfy even demanding tourists.

You can enjoy swimming and snorkeling on the 63 beaches. Bike trails go around the whole island, or you can only ride the small circuit near the port. You can also go for a walk. Adrenalin junkies can skydive, which can be an unforgettable experience.

There are the spots, where you can see beautiful corals from. You can find also a few shipwrecks around the island.

​The island is a car-free zone. If you don’t want to walk or ride a bike, you can take the tour bus. The route around the island takes 90 minutes and the bus stops in many places. You can take off at the stop which you like, have a walk around and then take the next bus. The timetable can vary according to the season. You can get more information at the tourist office in the port.

If you did not have enough of sailing on the way to the island, you have two options. 90 minutes ferry ride is available in the mornings, and 45 minutes adventurous speed ferry ride is available in the afternoon.

HOW TO TRAVEL TO THE ISLAND

The ferries to the island are offered by these companies:

• Captain Cook Cruises/Sealink – from the port Barrack St Jetty in Perth, the ride takes about one hour and a half or from the port B-Shed in Fremantle*, the ride takes 30 minutes
• Rottnest Express – from two ports in Fremantle, the ride takes approximately 30 minutes
• Rottnest Fast Ferries – faster ferry from the Hillary Boat Harbour, the journey takes about 1 – 1 h 15 mins, it is more expensive than the first two

Alternatively, you can fly to the island by small plane from the airport located 20 minutes by car from Perth. The price of this transport is, of course, much more expensive.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Buy the ferry tickets in advance. It can happen that they will not sell any more tickets on the day in the port as the ferry will be fully booked. This happens often during the summer season, holidays, and weekends when locals go to the island as well.
• If you decide to ride a bike around the island, do not forget to book it when booking the ferry. I have not seen any bike rental in the place. You will get the helmet with the bike as well.
• Pack enough water and food. There are not many places where you can buy them on the island.
• Sunglasses and sun cream are a must during the summer, pack the sun cream with a factor of 30 or more. The sun in Australia is strong and you can sunburn easily.
• If you do not have Internet, take at least the map of the island and try to keep your attention on your location, I got lost a few times.
• Be careful where you step, especially in the wild areas. There are only two species of snakes, and only one of them is venomous. Local spiders are venomous and they are more difficult to spot.

​​The island is an A-class reserve with the highest level of protection afforded to public land. There are 150 residents allowed to live here during the summer season and 100 during the winter season. Surprisingly, there is one primary school, which can be attended by the children from the mainland as well.

The visit to Rottnest Island is one of the must-sees when traveling to Western Australia. Its gorgeous beaches with white sand and free ocean will make you feel like you are in the Caribbean. But in the Caribbean, you will not meet charming Quokkas – cute animals, which make this island unique.

If you like the post and want to know more information about my experience on the island, leave a comment or contact me using social media or email.