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Expedition 🇦🇺 Australia

Quokka in Australia

The world's happiest marsupial — a small wallaby with a permanent smile that turned Rottnest Island into a selfie destination.

Quokka

The species

The quokka is a small macropod about the size of a cat, with a round face that appears to smile — a feature that made it an internet sensation. On Rottnest Island off Perth, quokkas have no natural predators and approach visitors with fearless curiosity.

Habitat in Australia

Coastal scrub and woodland on Rottnest Island and a few mainland sites in Western Australia hold quokkas. They need dense vegetation for shelter and open areas for grazing, and depend on islands free from foxes and cats.

Where to spot one

  • Great Ocean Road

    Victoria

    Coastal eucalyptus forest and Kennett River's wild koalas — one of the most reliable places to spot them in the wild.

    View on map →Official site →

  • Kangaroo Island

    South Australia

    Kangaroos, koalas, and sea lions on an island sanctuary off Adelaide — compact Australian wildlife in one place.

    View on map →Official site →

  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

    Northern Territory

    Red centre country where red kangaroos graze at dawn against the backdrop of Uluru.

    View on map →Official site →

  • Daintree Rainforest

    Queensland

    Ancient tropical forest at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef — cassowaries, tree kangaroos, and forest birds.

    View on map →Official site →

Conservation status

VU — Vulnerable

Quokkas are Vulnerable on the mainland due to habitat loss and predation by foxes and cats. The Rottnest Island population is healthy and protected.

Keep exploring

Keep exploring

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Log the Quokka in Australia

Spot one in the wild — scan it in Catch'Um to log your common discovery.