Koala spotting in Australia: where and how to see them

Koala spotting in Australia is easiest in a few known places: Raymond Island in Victoria's Gippsland Lakes, the Adelaide Hills in South Australia, and the koala hospital at Port Macquarie in New South Wales. Wild koalas live in eucalypt forests along the east and south-east of the country. They spend most of their time in the trees sleeping and feeding, so you need patience and a sharp eye.

This guide covers where koalas live, two places to look, how to find one, a hospital visit, and the simple rules that keep both of you safe.

Sources for this section: Australian Museum, Koala; Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Koala listing.

Where wild koalas live

The Australian Museum says the koala has a broken, patchy range, from northern Queensland to southern Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. It spends most of its time in eucalypt trees, sleeping and feeding.

The koala eats the leaves of certain eucalypt species, so it lives only where those trees grow. The leaves hold a lot of moisture, and the name koala is an Aboriginal word meaning "no drink". Koalas are solitary animals, so expect to find one at a time rather than a crowd.

Clearing land for housing and farming has cut the koala's range. The museum notes it is no longer as common around Sydney as it once was.

Koalas also get legal protection. The Australian Government listed the koala populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory as vulnerable under national environment law in 2012. New South Wales lists the koala as vulnerable too. That is one more reason to watch from a distance.

Sources for this section: Australian Museum, Koala; Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) listing.

Two places to see koalas

Raymond Island, Victoria

A short ferry ride from Paynesville in the Gippsland Lakes leads to a free 1.2 km koala trail that starts at Ferry Park. Pedestrians and cyclists ride the ferry free, and there is a charge for vehicles, so many visitors leave the car at Paynesville. The trail has an information board with koala facts, and free brochures.

The koalas arrived in 1953, when 32 were sent from Phillip Island as a safeguard against extinction. One visitor report says there are now more than 200. They live in trees above the streets and homes, so look up as you walk.

Cleland Conservation Park, South Australia

Cleland is in the Adelaide Hills. The park service says you may be lucky enough to spot a sleepy koala or two high in the trees. The park also holds Cleland Wildlife Park, Mount Lofty Summit and Waterfall Gully, so a visit can fill a day. Check the park service site for fees and opening hours before you go.

Sources for this section: Weekend Notes, Raymond Island and Koala Trail; Government of South Australia, Cleland Conservation Park.

How to find a koala

Koalas are grey and still, so they blend into the branches. A few habits help.

• Look up. Scan the forks of gum trees for a grey lump. Koalas often sit where a branch meets the trunk.
• Bring binoculars. A pair lets you find koalas and watch them from far away.
• Walk slowly. Stop often and scan the trees on both sides of the path.
• Go with a local guide if you can. A guide or a marked trail beats a random forest walk.

If you see no wild koala, a wildlife hospital or sanctuary is a fair second choice, and the next section covers one.

Sources for this section: Australian Museum, Koala; Weekend Notes, Raymond Island and Koala Trail.

A koala hospital visit

The Koala Hospital at Port Macquarie in New South Wales cares for sick and injured koalas, including some hit by cars. Its site said it would reopen on 1 July 2020 after the COVID-19 closure. Visitors now must book online first, with a name and phone number for every person, and tickets are not sold at the door. The hospital also says anyone with cold or flu symptoms should stay home.

Rules can change quickly this year, so check the hospital site before you travel.

Sources for this section: Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, home page, July 2020.

Respectful viewing rules

Koalas are wild animals, so keep them wild.

• Do not touch or disturb a koala. Stay back and give it space.
• Never feed a koala or give it water.
• Do not wake a sleeping koala.
• Keep dogs on a lead and away from the trees.

Keep your voice low and your photos from a distance. If a koala looks hurt, call the local wildlife rescue or park ranger rather than handling it.

Sources for this section: general viewing practice; Australian Museum, Koala.

Sources

1. Australian Museum, Koala: australian.museum
2. Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) listing: environment.gov.au
3. Weekend Notes, Raymond Island and Koala Trail: weekendnotes.com
4. Government of South Australia, Cleland Conservation Park: environment.sa.gov.au
5. Port Macquarie Koala Hospital: koalahospital.org.au