An Adventure For Everyone
Fremantle Rock Lobster Tours depart from the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour during summer and offer a range of different tour options to suit everyone..
Fremantle
Fremantle or Freo as the locals call it officially 'began' in April 1829 when the ship HMS Challenger arrived in the waters off the Western Australian coast near the mouth of the Swan River. Soon after Captain James Stirling arrived from England to begin the Swan River Colony of Perth (in 1829) and he names the port settlement Fremantle which was the name of the Captain on the ship HMS Challenger.
Fremantle is the port city of Perth and is located at the mouth of the Swan River where it joins the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Western Australia. Its about a 30 minute drive from Perth and can also be accessed via train. The Fremantle Train Station is about a 30 minute walk to the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour.
Fremantle Rock Lobster Fishing Tours depart from a small jetty at the beginning of the Fremantle Fishing Boat harbour called the Sardine Jetty on Mews Road. The Fremantle Fishing boat harbour is a short walk over the Esplanade Oval on the western side of Fremantle. Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour has just been awarded in 2017 the prestigious national award of “Best Public Boat Harbour in Australia”
At the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour you will find the famous local fish and chips shops, restaurants, cafes and a famous boutique brewery called Little Creatures.
The harbour is a fully operational fishing port and the perfect location for you to embark on your Rock Lobster Fishing tour on the Lady Grace.
Western Rock Lobster
The Western Rock Lobster or Crayfish or if you prefer the scientific name Panulirus cygnus are an absolute delicacy of the sea and are found in the waters off Fremantle. They are identifiable by a single white dot on the outside (lateral) edge of each tail segment.
The lobsters can live more than 20 years and use their long antennae for navigation, self-defence and communicating.
When temperatures are cooler they mature at six to seven years old, when their carapace reaches a length of about 90 mm. In warmer water they mature at smaller sizes, usually at about 70 mm.
The Western Rock Lobster is a seafood lovers delight and are a true delicacy of the sea.
Carnac Island
Carnac Island is a 19-hectare (47-acre), A Class, island nature reserve about 10 km south-west of Fremantle and 3.5 km north of Garden Island in Western Australia. Cruising on the Lady Grace to Carnac Island takes about 25 minutes.
Australian sea-lions use Carnac Island as a haul-out area during the non-breeding season. This animal is the rarest sea lion in the world, and the only one found solely in Australia.
All the sea lions found on Carnac Island are males. Breeding takes place on offshore islands about 200km north of Perth for four to five months every 17.5 months. After the breeding season is over, the males migrate south to islands off the Perth metropolitan coast. Entry onto the island is not permitted, the Sea Lions can be viewed on anchorage a few hundred metres from the beach. All tours to Carnac Island are boat based. Carnac Island also is an important nesting habitat for seabirds such as little penguins, wedge-tailed shearwaters, pied cormorants, pied oystercatchers and Caspian, bridled and crested terns.
Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island or Rotto as the locals call it , is only 23 kilometres off the coast of Fremantle – Rotto has it all. Famous white sandy beaches with turquoise waters to swim or snorkel in, restaurants and pubs nestled in the white sand dunes , meandering walkways and the iconic Quokka – that cute cuddly marsupial that everyone wants to take a #quokkaselfie with.
The Quokka is the only mammal which is native to Rottnest Island , there are about 10000 of the friendly smiley cuties and they can be found almost everywhere on the Island. It is mainly nocturnal. This means that it is mostly active at night, preferring to rest or sleep in the shade during the day. The Quokka bounds and hops along the ground although it can climb trees if it needs to. It will sit on its hind legs to look around and will also use its front paws to search for and pick up food.
The waters surrounding Rottnest also boast the famous Western Rock Lobster and dining on a freshly caught Lobster on the deck of the boat anchored in a secluded bay at Rottnest will definitely gain a tick on your bucket list – things to do in Western Australia.
Rottnest Island offers visitors a Western Australian casual atmosphere with picturesque scenery – best of all its not overcrowded - there is a very good chance that if you visit the beaches north of the island you may well be the only one the beach. With just a short cruise less than 1.5 hours on the Lady Grace from the Fremantle Fishing Harbour , Rottnest is the most popular island destination in Western Australia.
Boasting 63 beaches , 20 beautiful bays and many coral reefs and wrecks, Rottnest Island is a marine paradise. You can spend your days exploring some of the most spectacular swimming spots, diving and surf breaks in the world. Heading below the surface to explore the snorkel trails is also a must, with over 135 species of tropical fish and 25 species of coral to discover. If your lucky enough to book the 8 hour Ultimate Rock Lobster, Rottnest , Quokka tour with Fremantle Rock Lobster Tours then you can also add dining on Rock Lobster to your day.
There’s plenty to experience out of the water too, from meeting the world famous Quokka to exploring the excellent bike and walk trails that traverse the island.
Rottnest Island ‘s Aboriginal heritage of Wadjemup, which is the name for Rottnest Island in the Noongar language and means ‘place across the water where the spirits are’ can also be explored and discovered on the island, to learn more about the important Aboriginal Heritage book your guided tour from the Rottnest Visitor Centre at the end of the main jetty at Thomsons Bay.
You can also discover the island’s military history and the important role it played in Australia’s World War II defence system as you explore underground tunnels, the lighthouse, Oliver Hill, and Bickley Battery.
As an A-Class Reserve and with almost no cars on the island, cycling is the best way to get around. Or, for a different pace, there’s a hop on / hop off bus service that regularly runs around the island, stopping at some of the more secluded beaches and surf break.