June 16, 2020
Rottnest Island - QUOKKAS
Rottnest Island was connected to the mainland of Western Australia as far back as 50,000 years ago. About 7,000 years ago a rise in sea levels separated the island from the mainland. Aboriginal people on the mainland were not able to cross to the island without boats and the island became uninhabited for several thousands of years. Rottnest Island is Wadjemup in Noongar Aboriginal mythology, meaning "place across the water where the spirits are".
The island was named "t Eylandt 't Rottenest (Rats Nest Island)" by Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh in 1696. He spent six days exploring the island and mistook the quokkas for giant rats.
Rottnest Island is still known as Wadjemup to the local Noongar people, and colloquially as Rotto. The island is an A-class reserve - the highest level of protection afforded to public land. (Reference: wikipedia.org and sealinkrottnest.com.au)
Rottnest Express Ferry Terminal
Rottnest Island - QUOKKAS
Rottnest Island was connected to the mainland of Western Australia as far back as 50,000 years ago. About 7,000 years ago a rise in sea levels separated the island from the mainland. Aboriginal people on the mainland were not able to cross to the island without boats and the island became uninhabited for several thousands of years. Rottnest Island is Wadjemup in Noongar Aboriginal mythology, meaning "place across the water where the spirits are".
The island was named "t Eylandt 't Rottenest (Rats Nest Island)" by Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh in 1696. He spent six days exploring the island and mistook the quokkas for giant rats.
Rottnest Island is still known as Wadjemup to the local Noongar people, and colloquially as Rotto. The island is an A-class reserve - the highest level of protection afforded to public land. (Reference: wikipedia.org and sealinkrottnest.com.au)
Rottnest Express Ferry Terminal
(Northport, Rous Head Harbour, North Fremantle)
Rottnest Express Ferry. We thought we would be boarding this ferry but the company had us board another one that arrived shortly before our departure time.
The ferry trip is about 25 minutes from Fremantle to Rottnest Island. Fremantle is the shipping port for Perth. There are a significant number of ships anchored around Fremantle harbour.
We arrived at Rottnest Island late in the morning.
A couple were fishing at the end of one of the piers. To their side, a pelican waited patiently for them to throw him a tasty snack.
On the way to the main bus stop, we saw instructions on 'quokka selfies'. There are about 12,000 quokkas on the island and they are listed as a vulnerable species. There is a $150 fine for touching and/or feeding quokkas (or any of the wildlife) on the island. Quokkas are very accommodating when it comes to picture taking. All you have to do is sit down quietly. If there are any quokkas in the area, they come to you!
We decided to take a bus around the island. The tour took about an hour. The bus service provided the option to 'hop on, hop off' at any of the 19 bus stops.
The island is 11 kilometers long and 4.5 kilometers wide. Rottnest Island has 20 bays and 63 secluded beaches. The reefs surrounding the island are popular for snorkelling. Rottnest Island also has some of the best surfing conditions and most consistent breaks in Western Australia.
We 'hopped off' at bus stop number 7 - Salmon Bay.
It was a beautiful winter day. The pied cormorants were sunbathing on an outcrop of rocks in the reef.
...and then there was one.
Silver gulls were perched on the stairway to the beach. (Lots of others were hanging around trying to stay out of the stiff breeze.)
The lighthouse is situated to the southwest of Salmon Bay.
On the other side of the bay, a cotillion of lesser crested terns were bathing and playing around at the edge of the water.
While Dave was taking pictures at the beach I was sitting at a picnic table, under a shaded area, close to the top of the stairs. I saw, in my peripheral vision, something scaly heading my way. Of course, first thing I thought of was "dugite snake!!" ...it wasn't lol. When I moved to get a better angle for the video, he spotted me. Poor thing was pretty scared and he moved so quickly I lost sight of him while I was filming him. He is a beautiful example of a King's Skink.
Our first quokka sighting was at the main bus stop in the settlement.
One little guy took his time checking out Dave...
One little guy took his time checking out Dave...
...big feet...
...really tall...
...smells funny...
...Whoa! You mean that's a picture of me??? Boy am I ever cute!!
When we wandered around the settlement area it was getting close to feeding time for the quokkas. We found a few sharing an evening meal with some ducks and doves.
While walking around, we came across the cutest baby quokka eating and hanging with an older quokka.
