New Hostel Open on Rottnest Island : This chunk of land, which means ‘rat’s nest’ in Dutch, is a favorite Australian getaway spot.

So where do you go once you’ve managed to reach the world’s most remote capital city? When the people of Perth, Australia, want to “get away from it all,” many head to a small chunk of land about 13 miles out in the Indian Ocean called Rottnest Island.

The good news for foreign visitors to the area is that the island’s first youth hostel was recently opened. There’s also a small museum, and some of the historic buildings still stand, but what draws most people to the island is its white-sand beaches and relaxed atmosphere. Swimming, snorkeling, diving and fishing are the most serious concerns there today.

Rottnest Island was first visited by Europeans in the mid-17th Century. In 1696, a Dutch mariner named Willem de Vlamingh gave the island the unusual name of Rat’s Nest because he thought he saw numerous huge rats scampering around the place. It’s likely that he spotted quokkas, a species of wallabylike creatures that are unique to this piece of land, which is believed to have split from the mainland about 7,000 years ago.

The island’s name evolved to Rottnest, and the friendly, furry little quokkas now appear to delight in scampering up to stopped tour buses, nibbling food from fingers and posing for pictures.

The earliest visitors to the island were farmers. Then, in 1839, it became a prison for Aborigines from the mainland. During World War II, it was used as a military establishment because of its strategic location.

You can reach the island economically from Perth by taking the daily Star Flyte ferry service from the No. 4 Pier, Barrack Street Jetty, for about $28 U.S. round trip. This includes a ride up the Swan River to Fremantle on the coast.

If you want to catch the ferry in Fremantle, the price for the 30-minute ocean crossing to Rottnest and back is about $25. Air service is also available from Perth on Execair for about $60 round trip.

The island is about seven miles long and three miles wide. Privately owned cars are not permitted. This creates an ideal situation for cyclists; if you don’t have your own bike, there are more than 1,200 for rent. Rottnest Bike Hire is just a short stroll from the jetty, just past the pub.

The new youth hostel is in two buildings of the Rottnest Island Environmental Educational Centre, which is less than a mile from town. You can check in between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. This complex was originally owned by the army.

The former barracks have been transformed into a youth hostel dormitory and family accommodation, with a common room, kitchen and dining room. Beds are available for up to 37 visitors in men’s or women’s rooms; one room has been set aside for family use.

Overnight rates are $10 per person. You can call 372-9780 from the mainland to check for room availability before heading over.

An alternative for cheap accommodations is Tentland, telephone 292-5112, which has preset tents for rent and places where you can pitch your own equipment. For more information on accommodations and services, call the Rottnest Island Board (from Perth) at 372-9729.

For more information before you leave home, contact the Western Australian Tourist Commission, 2121 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1210, Los Angeles 90067, (213) 557-1987.