RAT'S NEST ISLAND

Just on three hundred years ago, a Dutchman a long way from home thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. In late 1696 Willem de Vlamingh was cruising around the western coast of a yet unidentified landmass. His brief was to try to locate a missing ship, and at the same time learn more about this new land and check out its trading possibilities. 

Instead he landed on a small sandy island, home to little else but strange rat-like creatures that hopped rather than ran. Perhaps suspecting a little too much Christmas indulgence (it was December 29th) he quickly dubbed it rather unflatteringly 'a rat's nest' and left shortly afterwards. But the name stuck, Dutch-spelt as Rottnest, and those strange little creatures are still there today, friendly and cute enough to regularly tempt a bus-load of tourists into feeding them pieces of fruit.

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This article continues with details of Rottnest Island, near Perth, Western Australia, and its history as well as information on accommodation provided, local food and cuisine, things to do and see.

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(finishes…)

Although just 1 1/2 hours from Perth (or about 30 minutes from Fremantle) today's Rottnest is so relaxed you feel transported much further. Even with the skyline of Perth plainly visible on the horizon, the ambience is drowsily Mediterranean.

Perhaps some of the charm is the  lack of vehicles on the island. Most locals  (around 250 of them) and the day visitors (up to 9000 in peak season) get around on bicycles, adult-sized trikes or on foot. It's a healthy place too with plenty of water sports, tennis, golf and bowls, yet there's no law against snoozing on your weekender veranda overlooking the bay at Kingstown either.

Others come to study the abundant wildlife – 51 species of birds and 141 indigenous plants at last count, whales, huge coastal eagles and sea creatures. Then there are the wrecks and coral reefs offshore that beckon divers with the lure of beauty and, perhaps, Dutch guilders!

Thankyou Captain de Vlamingh . You may not have known a quokka from a rat, but you did manage to put Rottnest Island on the map. 

 ©Sally Hammond 2006

Picture Credits: ©Gordon Hammond 2006

(Sally and Gordon Hammond travelled independently to WA)

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