Source: 123rf
At Fremantle, 19 kilometers from the Australian coast, Rottnest Iceland hosts some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
Perth is located a little further north, which makes this small island easily accessible. But, beyond the cities in Australia that you intend to visit, a stop on Rottnest Island (which the locals call "Rotto") is an opportunity that no one should miss. How to reach it? The most panoramic way isplane, or thehelicopter: 12 minutes on the Rottnest Air Taxi ($130 return from Perth). Or, you can take one rental boat or ferry: the island is in fact connected to Perth City, North Fremantle (Rous Head), Fremantle (Victoria Quay) and Hillarys Boat Harbour. Trips last between 25 and 90 minutes.
Once landed on Rottnest Island, you can enjoy a unique panorama. And of an extraordinary nature. Starting from the beaches (63) and the bays (20), reachable by bicycle or on foot thanks to the quiet paths. Beautiful places, which make the island the perfect place for diving, snorkeling and water sports. Among the most beautiful beaches it deserves a mention first and foremost The Basin which, with its clear and crystalline waters, is only 10 minutes from the main settlement and is a real natural swimming pool, to be explored with a mask and snorkel. Then there are Little Salmon Bay, a very white stretch of sand ideal for snorkelling among fish and corals, and Cathedral Rocks, perfect for spotting seals. TO Parakeet Bay, instead, you sunbathe next to the quokkas, sweet marsupials considered "the happiest animals in the world".
Trekking lovers can't miss the Rottnest Island Wadjemup Bidi, a 45 kilometer long route divided into five stages, which passes next to the most beautiful beaches, lakes and which - above all - crosses the splendid vegetation of the island. Thesalted needles, above all, are the real peculiarity of this area: 7 permanent and 5 which dry during the summer, have a salinity level four times higher than that of the sea. The most spectacular are the smallest ones, which take on a very particular look pink coloring due to the Dunaliella Salina algae, which contains a lot of beta-carotene and which - to the water - gives an almost surreal colour. A true unicum, on an island that is already unique in itself.
