Isle be back
Along the South West Coast of Western Australia, just off Esperance, lies a group of more than 100 islands, all offering stunning rustic landscapes and a host of wildlife...
Only a handful of the islands in this area, known as the Archipelago of Recherche, are accessible.
The best known is Rottnest Island - a car-free zone 30 minutes cruise from Fremantle Harbour, just west of Perth.
Rottnest Island is where the locals go to swim at white-sand beaches, snorkel in turquoise water over shipwrecks, or kick back and go fishing.
Rotto, as it's known locally, boasts historic stone buildings set against a backdrop of spectacular surf and coral reef. Small marsupials called quokkas hop around at dawn and dusk, adding to the island's unique charm.
Hiring a bike is the best way to get around - and to find those secluded beaches and secret surf spots on the other side of the island.
Your first stop should be the Rottnest Island Visitor Centre. Here you can stock up on maps and information on every aspect of the island's environment, history, services and attractions.
Once used as an Aboriginal prison, the island has a fascinating history, including early colonial buildings, a lighthouse and underground tunnels to explore at Oliver Hill.
There are also 63 sheltered beaches to choose from -Little Parakeet Bay is the perfect spot for a secluded swim or snorkel.
Isles apart
Near the coastal town of Rockingham you'll find Penguin Island, home to the largest colony of little penguins on the west Coast.
You are most likely to see them in the wild between May and October or you can go and watch them being fed at the Penguin Experience Island Discovery Centre.
The appealing sounding Garden Island and Seal Island also lie west of Perth. On Woody Island, you can snorkel among sea-dragons and explore famous dive wrecks. For a desert island escape, visit the eerie Abrolhos Islands off the Coast of Geraldton.
With over 19 shipwrecks in its waters, including the famous Batavia shipwreck of 1629, you'll find some of the finest diving in Australia.
Twitchers and divers will be in seventh heaven here as the birdlife is spectacular and the Acropora Family Coral rivals that found at the Great Barrier Reef.
Further north off the Coral Coast are the beautiful Montebello Islands which stretch from Onslow to Karratha. This group of over 100 limestone islands was named by the French explorer Baudin in 1801 and lie in the same area as the Muiron Islands and the Dampier Archipelago.
The Dampier Archipelago is very popular with game fishermen and hosts the large Dampier Classic fishing competition each August. The islands are also home to seabirds, green and loggerhead turtles and the legless lizard Aprasia Rostrata.
These islands are a perfect destination for fishing, diving and swimming in sheltered bays.
Just off of the North Coast of Western Australia, more islands can be found, including Adele Island, Augustus Island, Bigge Island, Cockatoo Island and the Heywood Islands. You can travel to Cockatoo Island from Derby and stay in the luxurious Cockatoo Island Resort.
Further west, a fair distance from the Western Australia coastline, lie Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands. Both islands are beautiful and have a strong Asian feel to them, although they are expensive to visit.
Picture of Rottnest Island by PascalSubtil