WATCH THIS before heading to ROTTNEST ISLAND. Is it even worth visiting? Western Aus Travel VLOG
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ม.ค. 2023
- Welcome back!
This week we continue our roadtrip down the Western Australia coast with our GWM Cannon & caravan. We head over to Rottnest Island to see if its really worth the hype.
Let us know in the comments what you thought of Rottnest Island if you have been before. Would you head back again?
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Thanks legends!
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If youre not from perth, its better to go from Perth elizabeth quay earliest ferry in the morning and book the last return ferry to fremantle. That way you get the longest time on the island and see all of the river in the morning - which is bigger than most people realise. When you get back to Freo catch the bus straight down canning hwy (sit on the left for the views from the hill in applecross/attadale) then get off at canning bridge train station to get the train back to elizabeth quay.
Also, the ferry from perth should get you a bike.
Which beach to go to depends on the wind. Early morning go to the south side FIRST - bickley bay and parker point. Then cape vlamingh. Because the fremantle doctor - the afternoon wind - comes from the south west and can be a howling wind. After that go wherever you like. If the wind is easterly - late feb/march - just dont go to thompson bay. If the wind is in the east you want a fly screen for your faces because the flies get blown to the island from the deserts and its unpleasant. It looks like you guys had an easterly wind. Ironically the bus probably saved you the worst of the flies.
Also, point walter in the morning - on the river near Fremantle - is great for kids. Go when the tide is low so you can walk all the way out along the sandbar. Preferably in the morning when there is no wind. Penguin island is also good. Perth people traditionally walk to penguin island on the sandbar but a lot of tourists have drowned there so tourists should probably stick to the penguin island ferry that only operates in summer. The sandbar is shallow and safe in the mornings. The penguin sanctuary is on the island, where kids can get up close with rescued penguins, but in summer there are moulting penguins all over the island too.
If youre feeling more cerebral a walk around UWA in crawley is worth it - UWA is considered the most beautiful university campus in Australia. You can finish that with a swim at matilda bay across the road, and you can picnic there or grab something at the cafe. If youre feeling a bit more formal you can hit the restaurant. Do that on a saturday from lunchtime and you can watch the boats head out to race from royal perth yacht club matilda bay.
All of these are super kid friendly (except crossing the sandbar from penguin island back to the mainland in late afternoon, which sometimes requires a little bit of swimming). Tourists are usually completely unaware of these little gems.
You’ll need a car to get to rockingham to cross to penguin island though. If you drive there its probably worth stopping at waikiki beach in rockingham. Lots of restaurants and cafes and super kid friendly too - that beach is protected from wind and waves by garden island, which is a big island with a naval base. You can get to the north end of garden island and spend the day there if you can find a boat. Thats really more of a local thing though. There are natural hot springs on the north end of the islamd that you can swim in (but you will smell of sulfur for a bit afterwards). Theres a giant sand dune on one beach at the north end of garden island thats well worth sliding down on a puece if cardboard if you have one handy.
Also, dolphins can be seen daily in mandurah, just near the entrance to the marina theres a local pod that always fish off the rocks there. I see them every weekend. Theres usually around from lunchtime onwards except for a couple of months around september/october.
Ps i grew up in a rural area east of perth and im pretty sure a wedgetail ate one of my mum’s cats.
Hi DG, thanks for the tips. Will definitely be back in Perth one day so these will be helpful!
Waikiki beach is not within cooee of Garden island. Wrong side of Point Perron for that. Cockburn Sound is protected by Garden Island.
Very impressive island trip video, really enjoyable thanks for sharing 👌👌👌
Thank you too
Very thorough coverage of the Island. What time of the year was it? was it during school holidays?
Talk about busy, watched the line up going to Frazer Island in another vlog couldn't believe the traffic
Great video ! If you leave from Hillarys boat harbour parking is free , also you can hire bikes on the day they just have a certain number already booked out online . Keep up the good vids !
Great vid,yeah it gets busy at Rotto on school holidays. If your heading to Walpole,Denmark area I suggest having a look at an American style diner at Bow Bridge called Sly Fox Diner. Hidden Gem.
Cheers David, thanks for the tip!