ROTTNEST Island is home for Cottesloe couple Beth Bannerman and Peter Gray for the next two months.
The couple has taken advantage of the Rottnest Island Authority’s long stay option for the past five years.
“We’re here for two months this year but stayed four months last year,” Ms Bannerman said.
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READ NOW“The first year we were up at Bathurst but we prefer it here (at North Thomson Bay) because we have a boat and we can keep an eye on it if there’s bad weather.”
The couple creates a home away from home on the island bringing over creature comforts like lamps, rugs and cushions.
Mr Gray does a bike ride around the island every morning – occasionally Ms Bannerman joins him – and he goes crayfishing with other “boaties”.
“We’ve met other boaties who are long stay so it’s like a fraternity for the guys during the crayfishing season,” Ms Bannerman said.
While the men are fishing, Ms Bannerman spends her days typing a diary hand-written by Mr Gray’s great aunty who was a matron during WWI.
“I will be sorry when I’ve finished because it’s very interesting,” she said.
“We spend our days doing what we do at home… checking emails, I do a bit of cooking, it’s very social.”
The long stay season runs from June to September each year.