A PERfect day at Rotto

[JohnM]

Today my younger son, his 3.5yo son and I took the ferry from Fremantle (err, Freo to the uninitiated…) to Rottnest Island (err, Rotto to the uninitiated…) for a boys’ day. My older son and his mate brought their newly-acquired centre-console boat over independently.

Rotto’s here:



Now, Rotto is pretty much PERfect at any time, but it is ultra-PERfect on days when the sea breeze (aka ‘Freo doctor’) is late.

Today was one of those days.

We were on the Rottnest Express ferry from Freo at 0730h, arriving on Rotto at 0800h. Off the to the bike rental for a couple of treadlies and we were on our way.

We confined our bike ride to the NE corner of the island.



First Bathurst Point where one of the lighthouses is - and which overlooks Pinky Beach.

Now, back in the day, Pinky’s did not have the accommodation area so close and it was very dark there at night. I believe that many a PER teenager learnt the skill of navigating by feel there…



Then out past Longreach to Little Parakeet Bay for a swim and mucking around. I have spent time over many summers at Longreach.



We then pedalled back past Herschel Lake to the main settlement at Thomson Bay and out to RTS. The Geronimo skydive bird had just dropped a load and landed. The Cessna Grand Caravan amphibian stood out above the crowd.



I wandered into the terminal and the Rottnest Air Taxi operator was free. Sweet! Let’s do a 10-15 min. joy flight around the island. It’s a PERfect day for it.



Taxiing out – followed by the next Geronimo load. It's all go at RTS.

 

[exceladdict]

Have ridden past the airport many times but never flown to or from! Looks like a blast, beautiful day for it today too

 

[get me outta here]

What a lovely day. I have fond memories of biking on Rotto, such a nice way to travel.

 

[Major]

Haven't been to Rotto since the AFF gathering a few years ago. It was a great day'

I think 2016

I bet your grandson loved the Quokkas

 

[klm597]

I was completely blown away after my first visit to Rotto, despite it being only a few hours. Will be returning as soon as possible.

Good to get a local's perspective on the place!

 

[Daver6]

Where you in 1A for the ferry ride? I presume you needed your passport just to get to Freo

 

[JohnM]

Heading W and past Narrow Neck to approach West End – and the first hints of the sea breeze just hitting the coast at West End. PERfect timing!



Longreach from a different angle and swinging around towards Thompson Bay.



Looking back towards Pinky’s, Longreach and Geordie Bay. The other boys have their boat parked up at the beach in the corner just to the left of the main jetty.

 

[JohnM]

Passing overhead RTS. There was an aircraft lower down out to our left that was swinging around to do a touch-and-go, so we joined the circuit. PERfect- a few extra minutes in the air.



Looking down on Parker Point.



PERfect! Then it was off to the bakery for some lunch.

 

[JohnM]

After lunch, back to my older son and his mate’s boat that we had briefly visited before our bike ride and finally off to the ferry back to Freo.



A PERfect day at Rotto!

 

[tgh]

Love all the gin palaces parked out of the wind… a bit of fun if a change comes through.
Whitsunday is a perfect trap.. PERfect anchorages in the balmy afternoon north easters suck everyone in (not me) to stay the night.
Typically a howling south easter wheels through about midnight and causes absolute mayhem…..

 

[JohnM]

Love all the gin palaces parked out of the wind… a bit of fun if a change comes through.
Whitsunday is a perfect trap.. PERfect anchorages in the balmy afternoon north easters suck everyone in (not me) to stay the night.
Typically a howling south easter wheels through about midnight and causes absolute mayhem…..

Rotto anchorages are pretty well-protected. There are none on the S or W shores which cop the SW sea breeze. Parker Point is seemingly on the S but is well-protected by a headland, becoming a NE-facing bay well-protected against the prevailing strong sea breeze. All others are on the N or E and have extensive reefs off shore with relatively narrow channels in.

There is no free-mooring at Rotto.

(In contrast to yesterday's PERfect conditions, today the sea breeze was in at the coast by about 0900h - meaning it would have been much earlier at Rotto, but it was moderate).

Most of the boating action is around now when the chances of major weather changes coming through are not high. Cold frontal systems, of course, are preceded by NW winds but coming over ocean they don't usually get to the high speeds that can occur in E Australia over hot land in summer (as we have been seeing recently).

Also, it's not too far to Fremantle (the ferry only takes 30 mins), so weather forecasts give timely warning.

 

[exceladdict]

Where you in 1A for the ferry ride? I presume you needed your passport just to get to Freo

Queue dad joke "we're going on an over seas holiday"

 

[jastel]

What? - no Quokkas!!

As an ex Perth boy I can say I was taking pix of Quokkas well before Instabook and Facegram were a thing.
Good to be a trendsetter.

It looks pretty crowded, I know its school holidays etc but is that the "normal" now?

 

[JohnM]

I didn't go there with the intention of doing a TR. It was only after seizing the unplanned opportunity to do the flight that I thought a TR, with that as the focus, might be of some interest.

Rotto is always busy around Xmas-NY.

 

[love_the_life]

Sounded like a great day out for everyone. Though was that a broken arm? That puts a bit of a dampener on things for him.

 

[JohnM]

Sounded like a great day out for everyone. Though was that a broken arm? That puts a bit of a dampener on things for him.

He fell onto his hand before Christmas and they suspect a very fine fracture, so it's in plaster to be sure.

 

[cove]

My eldest son is heading to Rotto this weekend with his girlfriend. He was checking the quickest boat as he is quite capable of getting sea sick. They are going early morning so that should be a smooth run over.
I am told the Veem demonstration boat can do the journey in 12 or 13 minutes and I need an invitation.

 

[ozzguy]

Great photos. I went to Rotto last Thursday, and rode around most of the island. My calves are still in pain from all the cycling (haven't cycled for a while). I didn't quite get as high (as in a flight), but went to the top of the lighthouse in the middle of the island (very windy up the top). The ferry on the way back was very rough ride, a few people looking very green. Loved the beaches.

 

[ozzguy]

My eldest son is heading to Rotto this weekend with his girlfriend. He was checking the quickest boat as he is quite capable of getting sea sick. They are going early morning so that should be a smooth run over.
I am told the Veem demonstration boat can do the journey in 12 or 13 minutes and I need an invitation.

Last week I took the 7.30am ferry over and it was quite rough. Ferry staff handing out airline style sick bags. Hope it's not as rough for your son.

 

[JohnM]

The ride to or from Rotto can be be fun at times...