See the Quokkas of Rottnest Island
Visit the Rat’s Nest (Rottnest Island)
Updated Apr 2022
The Dutch
The Dutch were the first people to explore Australia starting in 1606. The British did not reach Australia until 1688. The Dutch explored the area for 150 years, but it was Captain Cook who first established colonies and claimed the land for Britain.
The Dutch named the two landmasses New Holland and New Zealand. Zealand is a province in the Netherlands. The name New Zealand never changed, but the British renamed Australia from New Holland to New South Wales. New South Wales is now one of the states in Australia.
Evidence of the early Dutch explorers can easily be found in Australia today. Although New Holland was renamed New South Wales, one of the most common birds in Australia today is the New Holland Honeyeater. The island state of Tasmania was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman.
Today there are about 200 places in Australia with Dutch names. One of them is Rottnest Island. When the Dutch discovered the island, they encountered a strange animal that they thought was some kind of large rat. They named the place Rottnest, which in English means rat’s nest.
The Rat
The animal that the Dutch discovered is not a rat. Although it has the face and tail of a rat, the body in between is that of a kangaroo. The animal is a Quokka, a marsupial and not a rodent. It hops like a kangaroo and carries its baby in a pouch like a kangaroo. It is, in fact, a cat-sized member of the kangaroo family.
Quokkas were once common in Western Australia, but now they are rare on the mainland due to predation by introduced dogs and foxes. So the only place to see them is Rottnest Island. They are quite common and tame in the settlement of Thomson Bay but shy and difficult to find on the rest of the island.
Rottnest Island
Rottnest is a very popular holiday resort for people from mainland Western Australia.
Besides getting your photo taken with a Quokka, there are many other things to do on the island.
- In summer, spending the day at one of the many pristine beaches is most people’s destination.
- The most popular thing to do on Rottnest is to explore the island by bicycle. There are vehicles in Thomson Bay, but it is rare to encounter one outside the town. However, you will see hundreds of bicycles and a tour bus about every 45 minutes.
- If you don’t want to peddle a bike, there is a hop-on, hop-off tour bus that you can use to explore the island.
- There are tours of the lighthouse and the World War Two gun emplacements at Oliver Hill, although the bus does not go to Oliver Hill, and you will have to walk to get there or take the tram from the settlement.
- You can tour the island by bus, aeroplane or speed boat.
- Several adventure activities to choose from include snorkelling, boating, parachuting, and more.
Getting there and Accommodation
Just south of Perth, Freemantle Village offers camping and cabins for rent. They can arrange the ferry trip for you and book accommodations. A bus will pick you up and bring you back upon your return. If you have a vehicle, you can leave it here while you are away. You can also go from Perth, but that takes an extra 60 minutes and costs more.
Most people go and return the same day. The ferry is very expensive at almost $80. If you wish, you can rent bicycles and snorkel equipment from the ferry company. Although the ferry is expensive, the best deal is a package that includes the ferry, accommodation and a great breakfast at a place called the Quod for $141 (at the time of writing – prices often change). Considering that the ferry is almost $80, the hotel and breakfast package is a good deal.
Prison
The Quad was once a prison for Aboriginal people from all over Australia. In the 1800s, they would be given lengthy sentences for even minor offences. The room that we stayed in once housed five aboriginal prisoners.
Most of the buildings in Thomson Bay date from the 1800s and are all painted alike. It reminds me of a little Mexican village.
When to go
During Christmas and Easter holidays, Rottnest will be packed, and you will be lucky to find a place on the beach to put your blanket. School graduation week (in November) should also be avoided. All the graduating students from the Perth area go to Rottnest to celebrate. In winter, it is too cold for swimming and cold at night, but the days can be lovely, and you might have a beach all to yourself.
Go to Rottnest
If you are in the Perth area, you should go to Rottnest Island, even if it is just for the day to see the Quokkas and rent a bike for a few hours. It is a great place to spend a day or two of your holidays.