Island escapes

Rottnest

Western Australia’s Perth has a picture-postcard island getaway that welcomes cyclists with open arms…

Images Daniel Carson

For the two million people who call the Western Australia capital of Perth home, Rottnest Island is a sanctuary akin to Richmond or Central Park. Closed to motorised vehicles ‘Rotto’, as locals know it, feels far from city life, whatever the skyscrapers on the skyline try to tell you.

Just 11 miles off Perth’s coast, the island is a rare tourist hotspot – one that’s just as special to locals. As a tourist you might hire one of the bikes shipped over on the ferry and take in a few laps of the island, or spend a few nights on the island’s white sandy beaches with turquoise waters or spotting the quokka, a marsupial that’s the official mascot of Rottnest.

Where to go

You really can’t get lost on Rottnest, not with a postage stamp-like square mileage of 7.3 and a road network that consists of little more than what you’ll find running close to the island’s coastline. So our first tip is to do a clockwise loop of the island boasting few straights, numerous sharp bends and the constantly rolling hills, which hosted the time trial event at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in 2016. In the west, the Wadjemup lighthouse dominates the skyline at every turn, while Perth is seen from the east.

How to get there

We took the choppy 30-minute Rottnest Express, which runs from Perth and Fremantle year-round. There are, however, numerous travel options. By air, there’s the Rottnest Air Taxi from Jandakot, Mandurah and Bunbury airports, which operates during daylight hours, or Rotorvation Helicopters from Jandakot Airport and Hillarys Boat Harbour.

When to go

Rottnest’s famous winds, blowing in from the Indian Ocean, can add a slight chill to the midsummer heat and are known as the Fremantle Doctor thanks to their cooling powers. April and May, October and November are pleasant times to visit and you should avoid the Australian winter rains and rough seas that are common from June to August.

Where to stay

The island’s only hotel is Hotel Rottnest (breakfast isn’t supplied), while Rottnest Lodge, which is a cheaper option, offers some apartment accommodation.

The most popular choices are two-, three- and four-bedroom houses from the Rottnest Island Authority, with prices dependent on whether you have an Indian Ocean view or not.