A wallaby found in distress 6.2 kilometres off the coast of North Stradbroke island will "swim another day" after being given a lift back to dry land by water police.

The call came through on Wednesday last week from a member of the public who had seen the marsupial, now nicknamed Dawny, in waters west of the island.

Police said it appeared Dawny had decided to go for a swim and got into difficulty. They arrived to find her fatigued and swimming in circles.

Officers then "conducted person-overboard drills" before the "very relieved" wallaby was helped from the water and wrapped in a blanket.

"A passenger safety briefing was conducted and Water Police skipped across the bay transporting the female wallaby ... to the safe haven of Minjerribah," police said in a statement.

"Dawny was released into the scrub to swim another day."