Perth and the Beauty of Rottnest Island

After spending several weeks working in Cairns and Townsville, I was ready for a change of pace.

Instead of heading straight home to Singapore, I flew across Australia to Perth. I was meeting up with the same friend who had joined me on the Mount Kinabalu climb the previous year.

This time, there was no mountain to conquer and no work waiting for me. We were simply going to spend some time exploring Perth and its surroundings.

I didn’t realise then that this part of the trip would take me to one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

A little time in Perth

We spent some time exploring Perth, although I no longer remember every place we visited.

Fortunately, I still have the photographs.

We visited Kings Park, where the views opened out towards the Swan River and the city. There were gardens, a treetop walkway and plenty of greenery, with Perth’s skyline appearing between the trees.

A freeway curving along the shore of a wide grey river, seen from a wooded height, with the suburbs stretching away under an overcast sky. — The Swan River from Kings Park.

A wet wooden walkway with dark railings running through the canopy of tall trees, with two people under an umbrella in the distance. — The Swan River from Kings Park.

The weather wasn’t particularly sunny. Some of the photographs show grey skies and wet pavements, but that didn’t stop us from getting around.

We also made our way towards the waterfront, where I photographed the Swan Bells, ferries and the area around Barrack Street Jetty.

A tall green glass spire rising between two curved, dark copper sails, under heavy grey cloud, with palms on either side. — The Swan Bells.

Looking at those photographs today, it’s interesting to see how Perth looked in 2013, with construction taking place along parts of the waterfront.

A timber jetty building with a pitched roof and a large number 3, a strip of lawn and a boardwalk, under a grey sky. — Barrack Street Jetty.

Site cabins, fencing and machinery on open ground beside the river, with a hoarding reading “Elizabeth”. — Barrack Street Jetty.

It was a pleasant introduction to the city, but the place that really captured my attention was still ahead of us.

A rough ride to Rottnest Island

One of our plans was to visit Rottnest Island, just off the coast of Perth.

I remember the ferry crossing being quite rough. The boat was rocking noticeably as we travelled across the water.

I can’t remember exactly where we boarded or whether the crossing was rough in both directions, but I certainly haven’t forgotten the ride.

A low rocky islet with a small navigation beacon, surrounded by choppy turquoise water under a blue sky. — Choppy water around a rocky islet.

Thankfully, whatever discomfort there was on the ferry quickly became insignificant once we reached the island.

Rottnest was beautiful.

The colour of the water, the beaches, the coastline and the wide-open scenery were unlike anything I had expected. There was something about the place that immediately made me glad we had come.

Ferries moored at the end of a long rock breakwater, with buoys, a yacht and pale sandy shores across clear blue water. — Ferries at the island's jetty.

Even after visiting many other places over the years, Rottnest remains one of the most beautiful destinations I have experienced.

Exploring the island by bicycle

We explored Rottnest on bicycles.

My friend rode ahead at times, and I still have photographs of him cycling along the island’s roads, with the landscape stretching out around us.

A cyclist in a white top and backpack, seen from behind, riding along a sunny road between trees towards low buildings. — My friend cycling ahead.

There were salt lakes, patches of low vegetation, open roads and glimpses of the coastline. We passed a wind turbine and signs pointing towards different parts of the island.

A low stone causeway running across a pale, shallow salt lake towards green dunes and power poles. — A road across one of the salt lakes.

A wind turbine on a low green hill above the shore of a lake, with Norfolk pines along the ridge. — The island's wind turbine.

A road sign among low scrub pointing to Oliver Hill, 2.3 km, and Thomson Bay, 4.2 km. — The island's wind turbine.

It was a wonderful way to see the place.

Instead of moving between attractions in a car, we were out in the open, travelling through the landscape itself.

I don’t remember our exact cycling route, but the photographs bring back the scenery — the pale roads, the blue water and the openness of the island.

Climbing Wadjemup Lighthouse

Another memorable stop was Wadjemup Lighthouse.

A tall white stone lighthouse against a deep blue sky with white clouds, framed by low trees. — Wadjemup Lighthouse.

We went inside and climbed the spiral staircase to the top.

Looking down a narrow spiral staircase of black iron treads inside a white tower, with a pair of shoes at the bottom of the frame. — The spiral staircase inside.

Green heath and sandy tracks stretching to the sea, seen over a white railing from a height. — The spiral staircase inside.

From up there, we could see across the island, with the lakes, vegetation and coastline spread out below us.

A wide view over low green scrub and sandy tracks to a chain of salt lakes and the sea on the horizon. — Lakes and low vegetation from the lighthouse.

The photographs show just how different the landscape looked from above. The lighthouse stood among the low vegetation, with the surrounding land stretching towards the sea.

It was already a beautiful island to explore at ground level, and seeing it from the lighthouse gave us another perspective.

But we weren’t finished seeing Rottnest from above.

Thirty minutes above Rottnest

We also took a 30-minute scenic flight in a small plane over Rottnest Island.

The photographs show the aircraft on the airfield and then the island unfolding beneath us.

The underside of a white wing seen from inside a small plane on the ground, beside a terminal building and another light aircraft. — On the airfield.

From the air, Rottnest looked extraordinary.

The coastline curved around small bays, with brilliant turquoise water meeting pale sandy beaches. Further inland, the salt lakes formed different shapes and colours against the surrounding vegetation.

Salt lakes of different shades spread across the island, with curved white beaches and turquoise bays along the shore, seen past the wing strut. — Salt lakes and bays from the air.

A sheltered bay with pale sand and turquoise shallows, with the island’s lakes and the open ocean beyond. — Salt lakes and bays from the air.

Some photographs show long stretches of coastline, while others capture sheltered bays and the deeper blue of the ocean beyond.

A rocky headland at the end of the island, with white surf breaking over the reefs and deep blue water around it. — Surf around the western end.

A long stretch of coastline with reefs and turquoise shallows, the sun glinting off the sea. — Surf around the western end.

It was a completely different view from what we had experienced while cycling.

The settlement on a curving bay, with a long jetty, boats at anchor and salt lakes behind, seen from the air. — The settlement and jetty from the air.

Looking at those aerial photographs now, I can understand why Rottnest made such an impression on me. The island was beautiful from the ground, from the lighthouse and, perhaps most strikingly, from the air.

I’m glad I had my camera with me to capture it.

A place I still remember

There are plenty of details from this trip that have faded over time.

I can’t remember every street we walked along in Perth, everything we talked about or even exactly how we organised our day on Rottnest.

But I remember the island.

I remember the rough ferry crossing, cycling around with my friend, climbing the lighthouse and seeing those beautiful bays from the small plane.

What began as my first overseas business assignment had turned into something much more than work. I had spent several weeks in Queensland, met colleagues who made my stay easier, enjoyed a memorable drive from Cairns to Townsville and then travelled across the country to spend time with an old friend.

After Perth, I returned to Singapore.

Of everything I experienced during those weeks in Australia, Rottnest Island is the place that has stayed with me most.

And looking at the photographs more than a decade later, I still think it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.