Off the east coast of Western Australia, lies a small island called the ‘Rottnest Island’.  

Home to a unique, marsupial, called Quokka, Rottnest Island is located about 19 kms off the coast of Australian city of Freemantle, the island quite small, with just 11 kms in length and about 4.5 km wide.  

One of the main attractions for the Western Australians, the island is classified as an ‘A Class Reserve’, meaning that there are strict rules guarding the island regarding the preservation of its beauty and heritage and hence, no private ownership is allowed on it.  

But a few inhabitants, who are mostly hospitality workers and those too, reside in or near Thomson Bay, the main settlement on the island.  

Rottnest Island have some historic buildings as well as pleasant beaches, all are which withing walking or cycling (common mode of transport) distances from each other.  

Among some of the popular sites are Stark Bay, Salmon Bay and Strickland Bay which offers some of the most beautiful reef displays off the islalnd.  

During the WWII, the island also served as a Military Installation, guarding the Australian coast against possible Japanese and German attack. It has been a holiday attraction for the last 50 years.