Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island is best known for the island’s unique animal, the quokka. The quokka is a small macropod about the size of a large domestic cat, resembling something like a small kangaroo with a rats tail. Early Dutch explorers originally thought the quokka to be rats and named the island “Rat’s Nest”.

The island is only 11km long and is 19km offshore from Fremantle. The island’s eastern coast is built up around the small township of Thompson Bay where most of the shops, restaurants and accommodation can be found.

Local transport

Rottnest Island is surprisingly well served by public transport but cycling is the most popular way to get around.

There is a free accommodation shuttle bus that runs between the main accommodation establishments on the island plus the Island Explorer Service, which runs a circular route around the island. A one-day ticket for the Island Explorer Service costs $20.