Rottnest Island

As with many of the islands we've visited, "Rotto" as the locals call it has had more than one name in its history. The native Australian Aboriginies called it Wadjemup, meaning "place across the water." In 1681, the English "found" the island and christened it Maiden's Isle. The name didn't really catch on apparently and the island remained uninhabitated due largely to the lack of fresh surface water. The Dutch were the next to find the island in 1694. They gave it the name Rottnest-"Rat's Nest"-and that is how it has been known since.What the Dutch seem to have missed was that what they thought were rats were actually marsupials similar to miniature kangaroos. The rats nest was thickly populated with quokkas, not rats.
The Shingleback Lizard and Rock Parrot are just two examples of some of the wildlife native to this part of the world.
This antipodean holiday spot hosts a variety of exotic life, including the still-thriving quokka on its small land area. The island is only 11 km long by 4km wide at its broadest point. It has a total of 19 square km (that is just over 7 miles), so it's a very small space. It is absolutely auto-free and has very few permanent residents. It is a popular snorkeling spot featuring underwater plaques to tell you what you're seeing. There are incredibly poisonous snakes, legless lizards, and myriad birds. Humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins frolic in the water and skinks clamber over the beaches close to dozing fur seals. The place is thriving with life and a fresh water source has been found, making it that much more popular.Still, you can see why people would visit it. I'd go.