Around Perth

• Fremantle
• Rottnest Island
• Diving on Rottnest

Fremantle

Fremantle (or freo to the locals) may seem like a suburb of Perth but it is most certainly its own town. Head down there to chill out in this laid back town. Get the Fremantle train at platform 7 at perth train station. Fremantle train station is right near the town centre, as is the ferry terminal. Fremantle is situated at the mouth of the Swan River. Get a shuttle from the Airport for roughly $20.

Drink coffee along the cappucino strip in South Terrace.There's also plenty of pubs such as Rosie O' Gradys (23 William Street), Little Creatures Brewery (40 Mews Road), check this place out as they brew their own beer, Sail and Anchor (64 South Terrace), Norfolk Hotel (47 South Terrace), National Hotel (Market and High Streets), La Bog Inn has backpacker nights on Thursday nights. Newport on South Terrace has some good live bands.

If eating out check out these places. The Dome Cafe, the Mexican Kitchen, Bellas, on South Terrace. Clancys Fish Pub on Cantonment Street, which has backpacker deals. Ciccerelos, down at the fishing boat harbour has great fish and chips.

There are markets on the corner of South Terrace and Henderson Street. Just behind the markets is Fremantle Prison. It was only closed in 1991 as a maximum security prison and is well worth a look. Try to do a night tour if you can, it adds to the eerie feeling you get as you walk around the prison looking in the tiny cells and even the gallows where they hung the death-row prisoners. Also, during the day there may be small children on the tour and the tour guide will hold back on the ghastly stories. The tour really gives you an idea of what prison would be like.

There's also the WA Maritime Museum, the Shipwrecks Museum, the Fremantle History Museum, and the Fremantle Motor Museum.

If you're looking for a bit of adventure you can go diving with All Water Adventures, E-Shed, Victoria Quay. They also do deep-sea fishing and other water activities. Go sailing in the Leeuwin, a tall ship, with Leeuwin Ocean Adventures, also on Victoria Quay.

Rottnest

Hop on a ferry at Barrack Street Jetty in Perth (oceanic cruises $60) or Fremantle ($46) and head over to the beautiful Rottnest Island. Rottnest literally means rats' nest, but the rats are actually quokkas, small marsupials. Rent a bicycle ($22.50 + $20 deposit), and some snorkelling gear ($16.50) and tour the island, stopping off at one of the many beaches when the fancy takes you. The beaches here are fantastic, some of the best in Australia. There are barely any cars on the island so it's perfect for cycling. Make sure you go there outside of school holidays time as it will be packed.

If you fancy doing more than just swimming there are a few things to do. Check out the Oliver Hill Gun Placement. There's also a museum detailing the islands' brutal past. There's Vlaminghs' Lookout on Lookout Hill. There's diving and snorkelling (contact the visitors centre), as well as glass botom boats. Climb to the top of the lighthouse (wadjemub) for around $10 for the best views of the island.

Thompson bay is the main settlement and this is where you will get off the ferry. There is an information centre right in front of the jetty and shops, cafes, restaurants, and ATMs in the area. You can hire the bikes here and the snorkel sets.

Head south from here in the morning as the wind should be with you. Check out the shipwreck at Henrietta Rocks, it's just off the shore. Jeannies Lookout has a nice beach, and is a good palace to snorkel. The beaches on the north-west side ie from shark bay to Parakeet bay are very nice. You might see some eaglerays in Geordie Bay. They come into the shallows to feed. They are gentle, placid creatures. Despite what happened to Steve Irwin, rays will rarely use the venomous barbs on their tails unless they feel threatened.

The last ferry to leave Rottnest will be at 6pm in the summer, until around mid-April when the last one will be at 4.30pm. The earliest ferry leaving Perth is at 8.30am, meaning you won't get to the island until 11am. There's a ferry leaving Fremantle at around the same time, meaning it will arrive there much earlier, giving you a longer day on the island. The cruise from Perth is quite enjoyable however.

Diving

The diving on Rottnest is first class and it's well doing a few dives here. In the settlement of Thompson Bay alone there are six old shipwrecks right off shore, home to an incredible diversity of marine life. There are some big fish here, bigger than you would find in much deeper water in other places around Rotto. These wrecks include the popular Denton Home, a cargo ship, and the Macedon, a steamer. There is also the Janet, a small schooner. Most of the wrecks happened in the late 19th century before the current lighthouse was built. Rottnests' reefs and rocks were a deadly obstacle for ships delivering supplys to the fledgeling colony

The caves in Porpoise Bay are a must, they are underwater caves full of specacular marine life. Also check out Jackson Rock, a huge monolith rising from the seabed. Its' summit is just three metres below the surface and is home to a massive amount of fish. You can only dive here on calm days as there can be big swells here.

Swirl reef also has a spectacular tunnel, it opens up into a magnificent grotto. It's off the north west coast of the island. Also there's north point reef with a canyon cutting through its' centre.

One of the islands most famous wrecks is the City of York, which is just off the bay that shares its' name. It's around 400 metres from shore.

All in all Rottnest Island is a must do when in Western Ausralia. It's a great day out, cruise over on the ferry, cycle around, swimming and snorkelling on the beautiful beaches, have something to eat and drink in the pub and cruise back to Perth or Freo on the ferry. Or even better, stay there a few days.