The Smile That Sailed Away

A Quokka Fairy Tale from Rottnest IslandGunnar Habitz

Length1h 10m

About this audiobook

A smile that travels. A journey across land and sea. A quiet truth about happiness. Kaya is a quokka from Rottnest Island, famous for her smile and believed to have everything she needs to be happy. But when a question begins to stir inside her – is happiness real beyond the island? – Kaya does something no quokka ever has: She follows her curiosity, boards a boat, and sails into the unknown. Her journey carries her through bustling harbours, glowing festivals, city gardens, and unexpected friendships. Along the way, Kaya discovers that joy can be shared, kindness can travel, and small creatures can leave a lasting mark. A heartwarming modern fairy tale for children and grown-ups who believe that curiosity, courage, and a gentle smile can change the world – and sometimes lead you home.

Audiobook details

GenreFairy Tales and Folklore, Children's Literature

Length1 hr 10 mins

Narrated bySelect Your Own

FormateBook with Audio

Publish dateJan 26, 2026

LanguageEnglish

1Introduction

11Chapter 10 – The Girl in the Blue Hat

2Chapter 1 – The Island of Smiles

12Chapter 11 – Kaya Goes to School

3Chapter 2 – The Decision

13Chapter 12 – The Gift and the Garden

4Chapter 3 – The Crossing

14Chapter 13 – The Letter from Rottnest Island

5Chapter 4 – The Deep and the Dolphin

15Chapter 14 – A Roo Named Rosie

Show all chapters

6Chapter 5 – The Backpack and the Koala

16Chapter 15 – The Big Escape

7Chapter 6 – The Harbour and the Ibis

17Chapter 16 – Across Land and Sea

8Chapter 7 – The Keeper and the Question

18Chapter 17 – The Island is Calling

9Chapter 8 – The Secret of the Shell

19About the Author

10Chapter 9 – The Festival of Light

About the author

Gunnar Habitz

Gunnar Habitz is a social media expert and an author based in Sydney. He blends his corporate work in SaaS marketing technology partnerships with his passion for storytelling, travelling and digital content creation. The Swiss author with roots in the German fairy tale city of Bremen has published numerous tour guide books and travel articles about the heart of Europe, New Zealand and Australia over the past 25 years. Besides his modern fairy tales, he writes business books such as 'Connect & Act', 'Lead Not Manage' and 'Happy Habits'. He talks about book publishing on his Substack blog.View all by Gunnar Habitz