Cycle and snorkel around scenic Rottnest Island

If picturesque coastlines, wildlife encounters and relaxing bike rides are your kind of adventure, put a cycling tour of Rottnest Island high on your bucket list.

- Sarah Stanley

Just a 25-minute ferry ride from Fremantle in Perth, Rottnest Island is home to more than 60 beaches and "the world's happiest critter": the quokka.

One of the most popular ways to explore the island is by bicycle. Ms Laura Holmes, 34, founder of tour company Laura the Explorer Bike Tours, conducts a 10km guided bike tour on Rottnest Island for groups of up to 20 participants almost daily.

Highlights of the tour include stops at Parker Point and Little Salmon Bay - snorkelling spots teeming with marine life - and iconic coastal sites like Parakeet Bay and local favourite Pinky Beach.

"Exploring the island on a bicycle lets you take in its beauty at a slower pace. Imagine seeing the sunlight hit the crystal-clear waters when you come up on every hill. It's paradise," says Ms Holmes, who grew up in Perth.