Perth, Western Australia hosts a variety of unique and biologically diverse habitats found nowhere else on Earth.[1] Many of these habitats include islands. Islands provide habitat and safe refuge for endangered native fauna as they are free of invasive species and the pressures of human development. Coastal islands of this region heavily feature limestone as their base structure, while the inland islands are predominantly made of serpentine soil.[2]
The coastal islands of the Perth metropolitan region are:
| Name | Location | Locality | Size (ha) | Distance from mainland (km) | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rottnest Island[3] | -32.0061°N 115.6128°W | – | 1,900 | 17 | Home to the largest population of quokkas in the world.[4] | |
| -32.205°N 115.6733°W | – | 1,200 | 2.2 (connected by the Garden Island Causeway) | Home to a tammar wallaby population. One of the Royal Australian Navy's main bases is also located on the island. | ||
| Carnac Island[5] | -32.125°N 115.6628°W | – | 19 | 6.9 | High abundance of tiger snakes.[6] | |
| Penguin Island[7] | -32.3064°N 115.6889°W | 12.5 | 0.7 | Home to the largest population of fairy penguins in the world. | ||
| Seal Island[8] | -32.2933°N 115.6886°W | 1.4 | 0.9 | Home to a small population of Australian sea lions. | ||
| -32.2783°N 115.6881°W | 0.8 | 0.4 | Part of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. | |||
| -32.2958°N 115.6917°W | 0.4 | 0.85 | Part of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. | |||
| -31.8123°N 115.7089°W | 0.1 | 1.9 | Part of the Marmion Marine Park. | |||
| Trigg Island[9] | -31.8759°N 115.751°W | 0.1 | Part of the Marmion Marine Park. |
| Name | Location | Size (m2) | Distance from Rottnest Island (m) | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -32.0188°N 115.5501°W | 7,000 | 730 | Australian sea lions sun themselves on the northern beach.[10] | ||
| -32.0168°N 115.4992°W | 1,800 | 60 | Lies within the Kitson Point snorkelling trail.[11] | ||
| -32.0124°N 115.5552°W | 1,300 | 140 | Known for seabirds resting on the island. | ||
| -31.9875°N 115.5143°W | 800 | 30 | Lies within a popular snorkelling area near Parakeet Bay. |
Inland islands include those located in the Swan River, Canning River, and Beeliar Wetlands.
| Name | Location | Locality | Size (ha) | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -31.9661°N 115.8806°W | 28.5 | Home to a small population of western grey kangaroos. | |||
| -31.9405°N 115.9155°W | 28 | The surrounding wetlands are a Bush Forever site.[12] | |||
| -31.753°N 115.7897°W | 14 | Crucial nesting site for the endangered Carnaby's black cockatoo.[13] | |||
| -31.736°N 115.7836°W | 11 | Part of Yellagonga Regional Park. | |||
| Ron Courtney Island[14] | -31.9211°N 115.9413°W | 1.6 | Good fishing spot for catching mulloway, tailor and black bream.[15] | ||
| -31.9321°N 115.8236°W | 1.3 | Created in the 1960s as a bird refuge.[16] | |||
| -31.9593°N 115.8565°W | 0.6 | Artificial islet in Elizabeth Quay with playground and kiosk. | |||
| Jualbup Island[17] | -31.9589°N 115.8115°W | 0.3 | Used as a feeding, resting and breeding site for a variety of native water birds. |