Fast ferry to Rottnest Island, Perth, Western Australia/ Family Travelogue 19 November 2016

approaching Rottnest Island

Our second day in Perth started with buffet breakfast at the hotel.  We then prepared for our today's adventure,  to the many amazing beaches on Rottnest Island.

We booked our tour a month before online through Adams Pinnacle tour.  Check out below our tour booking.  The fees include round trip fast ferry to Rottnest Island and Grand Island tour.

Grand Island Tour coverage:

Historic Train ride to Oliver hill Guns making and Tunnel Tour

Coach to the pride of this island, its many beautiful beaches and bays

light lunch and bottled water

Local informative guides

Perth City: Swan River and Elizabeth Quay 18 Nov 2016 Kings Park 20 Nov 2016/ Family Travelogue

Boat Mooring at Elizabeth Quay and the Perth CBD

Fremantle, Western Australia: Fishing Boat Harbour, Bathers beach, Shipwreck Museum, Fremantle Prison, Fremantle Markets/ Family Travelogue 18 November 2016

Fremantle is a port city in Western Australia, half an hour away from Perth City.  It was founded in 1829 when the ship HMS Challenger (British ship)  arrived near the mouth of Swan river.  Fremantle was named after the captain of the ship, Capt Fremantle. 

Fremantle  was at first a free colony.  It was populated by English people who migrated by choice.   Parmelia, 36 meter vessel, was chartered by the English govt to carry the first settlers from England to Western Australia.  The voyage took four months.

Settlement in Fremantle was not good in the first 20 years, England decided to make Fremantle a penal colony despite the great concern of the current settlers then.  Convicts from New South Wales were transported to Fremantle  and in the later years, mixed with convicts from India.  The convicts were used as labour for the construction of buildings and public works.  The Fremantle Prison, a World Heritage site, was constructed using convict labour.  The convict era period started in 1849 and transportation of convicts ceased in 1868.  The Fremantle Prison was used for the local prisoners till 1991.