Australia 10 (19 February 2011) Rottnest Island

GOING TO ROTTNEST ISLAND (19 February 2011)

19th February (Saturday)

It was one of the greatest days in my Australian adventure with my friend Aika.

We planned to go to Rottnest Island cause everyone was speaking about it. Rottnest Island (known locally as Rotto) is an island off the coast of Western Australia, located 18 kilometres (11 mi) west of Fremantle. The island covers 19 square kilometres (7.3 sq mi) in land area, and is administered by the Rottnest Island Authority under a separate act of parliament. 

Rottnest is a popular holiday destination, and there are daily ferry services to Perth, the state's capital and largest city. It has a permanent population of around 100 people, with around 500.000 annual visitors (and up to 15.000 visitors during peak periods).

Pictures into the E-Shed Markets in Fremantle

E-Shed Markets are located waterside on Fremantle's historic Victoria Quay and have some 80 stalls. They offer unique gifts and souvenirs, local arts and crafts, international food court and free entertainment every weekend. E-Shed Markets opens Fridays, Sundays and all Public Holidays.

We took a ferry to Rottnest with Rottnest Express departing from Fremantle.

B Shed - Fremantle: For day-trippers and passengers living south of the Swan River, B-Shed offers a convenient departure point for Rottnest. It’s just an easy stroll from Fremantle train station and you can see the hustle and bustle of a working port in action.

Rottnest Express is Rottnest Island’s largest and most experienced cruise company, operating daily year-round ferry services from Perth and Fremantle

Some pictures in B Shed Rottnest Ferry Terminal Fremantle

E-Shed Markets

 Ready for a leisurely 25 minute ferry ride from Fremantle

Inside the boat :-)

An small and very fast boat

A few minutes before the trip

The captain of the boat. Let's go to Rottnest!!!

Strong wind, high-speed ferry! It was really exciting!!!

Awesome trip!

Other selfies

First picture of the Rottnest... Still far

Much closer

We're arriving!

We're in Rottnest!

Rottnest Island is an A Class Nature Reserve, a region of natural beauty, a world's wonder

We dedicated a day to discovering Rottnest Island by bike. Adventurous spirit

But we couldn't see all the island... too big for one day!!!

My bike and my backpack

First stop on our way!

Beautiful beach :-)

Cloudy but warm

Boats closer to shore

Other beach

Beaches in Rottnest are really spectacular

We parked the bikes and we went to enjoy the views

Enjoying the fresh air, the beautiful views,... Paradise was there!

We stopped to recover energy and rest and then... we found one of the island residents (the place is covered with them). The Quokka's are very tame, and I suppose having people on the island from the mid 1600's has helped

Firstly it ran but...

Finally we became friends

Feeling the breeze in our face using the pedal power to cycle our way

Unforgettable race through some of the world's most spectacular scenery

Energetic cyclist xD

Riding a bike in this island requires a good physical condition... We need to stop again xD

Other tourists

Other  stunning bay to swim

DANGER! Costal risk areaaaaaaaaaaa. There are sharks!!!

Kingstown (education and youth hostel) Rottnest Island Railway Trust

Rottnest is a perfect place to take wonderful pics

 A small recreational craft in action

A colony of Australian sea lions reside at Dyer Island

Aika and me at the Pinky Beach :-)

 Indications on the rock

'Lady Elizabeth': Wooden barque (658 tons). From Fremantle for Shanghai, one life lost. Wreck lies on a sandy bottom in Bickley Bay with the bow wedged into a reef in about ten metres with a portion of her hull and ribs exposed. Some artefacts remain.

'Raven': Wooden barque, 344 tons, 121.1 feet (36.9 m) long. Lies partly buried in the sand at a depth of about six metres.

'Shark': hopper barge reputed to have broken moorings in 1939 and drifted from Fremantle to Henrietta Rocks, below.

Three people snorkeling

More private boards

Wooden stairs lead down to Pinky Beach with white sands and clear aqua...

How beautiful is this paradise

Riding the bikes again!

Both taking pictures!!! Photos everytime! :)

Another nice beach

Heavy clouds

We got into the sea... But it was soooooo coooold!!!!

The weather was hot but the water really cold

Clear seawater

Taking the sun

I would go everyday to these type of beaches... I don't like the beaches in Valencia xD

Floaty Island Playground

Time to rest... enjoying an exquisite White Magnum!

My summer drug!

Cute bird joined us while eating

 Coca-Cola zero much better than Light

Self-portraits with the self-timer

Once again ;)

'Selfie' xD

Next to The Rottnest General Store where We bought coke, ince-creams, etc.

Again at the beach. Behind me, the aquatic playground

Our last pics before leaving this wonderful island

The photo below shows the Rottnest Express Ferry to go back to Perth (bigger and slower than the first one)

A bath before going back home! 

We had enough time to swim but not to see all the island in only one day

Let's swim!

This water isn't too cold

Eating cereal bars after exercise

Australian Pelican is coming! So nice

Listening to music and sad because our time in Rottnest was ending :/

We'll never forget this incredible place

The boat to return home :( The Ferry to Perth

Pictures inside the boat

Enjoying the trip while watching the sunset! Relax!

Arriving

It was an incredible day. We couldn't see everything (probably less than half) but we had a great time in a wonderful island that I'll remember forever. With its Mediterranean climate, native flora and fauna and relaxed pace, it's no wonder the locals want to keep Rottnest Island their summer holiday secret.