Located just 18 kilometres west of Fremantle off the coast of Western Australia, Rottnest Island is a magical place where you can kick off your shoes, dig your feet in the sand, and appreciate the simple things in life such as picnics on the beach, bike rides, nature walks, and spectacular sunsets that will leave you in no doubt that you are in one of the most beautiful holiday destinations on earth.

Popular with both national and international visitors, Rottnest Island offers a Mediterranean-style climate, with beautiful white sandy beaches, indigenous flora and fauna, and a whole menagerie of weird but wonderful Australian wildlife. Whether you decide to spend your days relaxing on the beach, or heading inland on an adventure, this island paradise will not disappoint.

Rottnest Island is a Grade-A Nature Reserve, and so the only way to get around is by bus, bicycle or on foot, but at just 19km², it is not big by any stretch of the imagination. You can easily make your way around using the recommended cycle paths and hiking trails, and by doing so you’ll get to see the very best of the island.

Accommodation on Rottnest ranges from camping to luxurious lodges, so there is something to suit every taste and every budget. There are plenty of eateries including cafés, bakeries, restaurants and bars too, so you’ll never have to go far for your next tasty treat.

Just a short boat ride from Fremantle, Western Australia’s most cosmopolitan hub, Rottnest Island belongs on every travel itinerary, and if you are planning on visiting Western Australia anytime soon, this island retreat should be right up there on top of your bucket list.

Here’s what our trip to Rottnest Island looked like…