PESA WA: Rottnest Island Field Trip

PESA WA: WADJEMUP (ROTTNEST) FIELD TRIP –

Corals, Calcareous aeolianites & Quokkas – By Bike

PESA WA is hosting a field trip to Rottnest Island in September 2026.  This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the region, engage directly with field activities, and deepen your understanding of the area’s geological context.

Wadjemup (Rottnest Island) is dominated by the Tamala Limestone, an extensive unit of Pleistocene carbonates that outcrops along large parts of the West Australian margin between Shark Bay and Esperance. It contains the one of the world’s most significant deposits of carbonate aeolianites (wind-blown carbonates, deposited in dunes) which can be clearly seen in many of the outcrops. However, Pleistocene to Recent sea-level fluctuations have left behind a variety of other deposits and features – in-situ corals, shallow marine sediments, elevated platforms and notches, salt lakes, dunes and modern coral reefs.

A c. 17 km cycling tour of the island, taking in sights at Salmon Point, Fairbridge Bluff, the Lighthouse, Mt Herschell Quarry, and Geordie Bay will enable us to examine these different features. We will follow a circular route, with a scenic stop to eat our packed lunches (please bring your own) and return back to the settlement in time for refreshments before the ferry returns to Perth.

Please note that for insurance reasons this trip is only open to members. If you are not currently a member you will need to sign up before booking.

Getting there:

The trip begins at 09.20 at the signpost outside the visitor’s centre at the entrance to the pier.  However you travel, you must be at this meeting point, with your bicycle by this time.

If you are coming over on the ferry for the day, the recommended ferries are:

Various discounts are available on ferry bookings through certain memberships (RAC, HBF, entertainment book etc.)

Fieldtrip Leader: Chris Elders and Mark Taylor

Cost:

• Attendance is open only to PESA members.  Non-members must join PESA to attend.
• $30.00 per person (Note: This price is for the instruction only. It does not include ferry fares, bike hire or food for the day. These need to be arranged separately at your own cost).