Rottnest Island (Day 1) - Perth, Western Australia

Yes... Two years later we're back to this beautiful island. You can read about my previous blog here. Rottnest Island is only 11 km long and 4.5 km wide making it easy to explore via bike, bus or foot. We took the 9.30am ferry, arrived Rottnest Island around 10.30am. We bought a return ticket (extended stay) at the price of $68++ per person, departing B-Shed Fremantle. {($30.75 x 2 ways) x 25% discount voucher + $22 (government fee)}

Upon arrival we went to the Visitor Centre to check on our accommodation. We have made internet booking earlier to stay at Thomson Bay South, just less than 10 minutes walking distance from Rottnest Ferry Terminal. Since it's still too early to check in the unit, we decided to take a stroll around the island, find some food to fill up our stomach and hire a bike.

Rottnest Express



Boarding ticket (extended stay)



 Lower deck of Rottnest Express

Not much restaurant selection and we ended up at Dome Cafe. My partner ordered beef burger - 100% grilled beef burger with lettuce, tomato relish, sliced cheddar, mustard mayonnaise, fresh tomato in a toasted focaccia bun and served with chips. Foccacia bun is a type of Italian bread, topped with herbs and other ingredient. Whereas I ordered kids meal, macaroni & cheese - macaroni served with smooth white cheese sauce. Overall the food was ok.

Dome

Beef burger - $18.95

Macaroni & cheese - $8.45 (kids meal)

Address:

Dome Cafe

Rottnest Island

Operating hours: Open 7 days a week 8.00 am - 3.00 pm

After lunch, we head to Pedal & Flipper to hire our bikes. 1 day bike hire (multi geared) - $29 includes lock and helmet. Besides bikes and accessories, Pedal & Flipper offers recreational hire equipment as well such as snorkel sets, paddle board, surf board, wetsuits, dive tanks, beach cricket, beach soccer, volleyball net, basketballs, tennis racquets and many more. They even have electric bikes on hire at $80 per day if you are over 18 years old. The process is very simple. 

First step - select your helmet

Second step - select your bike

Third step - try your bike. Make sure the bike fits your height and the brakes are working. (This is important because it will be a hilly ride in Rottnest Island)

Final step - make your payment at the counter and collect your bicycle lock

Pedal & Flipper

 1 day / 24 hours bike hire - $29 includes lock and helmet

We hired 2 bikes

Address:

Pedal & Flipper

Rottnest Island

Operating hours: Open 7 days a week 8.30 am - 4.00 pm

For inquires or for breakdown service, you can call (08) 9292 5105

We started our cycling journey right after we dropped our luggage in Thomson Bay South. We took the relax 10 km ride passed by Kingstown - Henreitta Rocks - Porpoise Bay - Parker Point - Little Salmon Bay - Pink Lake - Lake Baghdad - Parakeet bay - Geordie Bay - Lake Herschel - Garden Lake - Thomson Bay South. The whole journey took us 4 hours of bicycle ride including photo shooting. I might say this is the longest and most painful cycling journey in my life. 

Half way through the journey it was raining cats and dogs. We were soaked wet from head to toe. Luckily there's no lightning strike. So we took shelter under a tree for few minutes before continuing our journey. What amused me was, we spotted a family of quokka (Quokka is a small marsupial found in a limited number of areas of Western Australia, mainly in Rottnest Island) sheltered under the same tree as well. There's papa quokka, mama quokka and 2 cute baby quokka. I was unable to take photos of the quokka because I do not have a waterproof camera. :(

Anyway, we continued our journey again under the rain and it was in fact fun riding in the rain. Of course the worst part was when the cold winds blows and chills you!!! 

Kingstown

Henreitta Rocks. Can you spot the ship wreck?

Parker Point Marine Sanctuary

Info: Parker point marine sanctuary is home to an incredible diversity of marine life. Below the surface you can discover Rottnest Island's most extensive coral reef. Fishing and collecting of any flora and fauna is not allowed. Boating is not permitted in this special area as well. Enter the water from the sandy shore and avoid walking on the fragile reef top. Never stand on the reef as coral is very fragile and if damaged it will never recover. Take nothing but photographs as all flora and fauna are protected in and out of the water. Last but not least, take all rubbish with you. :)

Jeannies Lookout

Little Salmon Bay (Discover a marine wonderland as you snorkel the brilliant blue waters of Little Salmon Bay)

 Green Island

Lake Baghdad

Info: In early years Lake Baghdad were used for bathing as well as salt production but since then their environmental value has been realised. The lake support delicate and unique ecosystems and provide sustenance for many migratory birds. Freshwater seepages provide an important water source for the organisms which inhabits the lakes. An array of very salt tolerant plant grow around the lakes. The most obvious are the samphires that look like strings of red and green bead threaded on wires. The thick grasses, or sedges, which fringe the lakes provide vital habitat for many animals.

Pink Lake

Info: A microscopic algae called Dunaliella salina is common in the open water of the lakes. It grows on salt crystals. This algae contains beta-carotene, a red/orange substance which is partly responsible for the pink colour of the smaller lakes. Beta-carotene also gives the brine shrimp (sea monkeys) their red appearance as they feed on the algae. The Pink Lake is four times saltier than seawater. The foam which accumulates on the shore in windy weather is thought that the algae dies and breaks down to form organic materials. The organic materials interact with the water to alter its surface tension and acts as a natural foaming agent or detergent, promoting the formation of bubbles.

Little Parakeet Bay

Geordie Bay

Wind turbine

Info: Rottnest Island is an isolated community, totally reliant upon its own resources for the provision of essential services. Up until the installation of the new wind turbine generator in December 2004, Rottnest Island was totally reliant on liquid petroleum fuels for power generation. The wind turbine uses the wind to turn the propeller which drives a generator and produces around 30% of the island's electricity which equates to approximately 11% of total Island energy consumption. 

After completed our cycling mission, we went grocery shopping at Rottnest General Store and manage to complete our shopping list before they close the shop. Variety of goods available in Rottnest General Store such as souvenirs, fresh fruits and vegetables, cold drinks, liquor, ice cream, lollies, dairy, meats and even lotto. We bought steak, garlic bread and lasagne for our dinner. Since we have a barbecue pit, we decided to have barbecue steak for our dinner. Built in oven is available and we used it to heat up our lasagne and to toast the garlic bread. Both the lasagne and steak were good. We kept the left over lasagne and garlic bread as our breakfast for the next day.

Rottnest General Store

Operating hours: 10am to 7pm (Open 7 days a week)

Tel: 9292 5017

Remark: Each Rottnest paper bag cost $0.20

Raw steak (cooking in progress)

Porterhouse steak - $17.54

Garlic bread 2 x 225g - $3.54

Ready chef lasagne beef 500g - $6.99

It was indeed a very tiring day. Both my legs were so painful and I can barely walk. Of course not to mention that my buttock hurts too. One of my to do list in Rottnest Island is stargazing. Sadly I was too tired and decided to call it a day after I had my dinner. Nice cold weather to sleep even without any air conditioning. 

Info: Click here for more beautiful photos of Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island map