8 Ways to Celebrate Koala Month in September

September is Save the Koala Month, with Save the Koala Day on Friday 30 September 2023. To celebrate, here are a few ways to appreciate and support this marsupial cutie. You can try to spot a koala, adopt a koala or even learn more about them. The main threat to koalas is loss of habitat. It’s estimated that, since European settlement, more than four fifths of original koala habitat has been destroyed. Now, more than ever, koalas need saving.

Visit koalas at Blackbutt Reserve

Get up close to koalas by visiting the koala enclosure at Blackbutt Reserve. The wildlife exhibits are free to enter and are open daily (excluding Christmas Day, Good Friday and before 1pm on ANZAC day) from 10am to 4.30pm. The boardwalks make it easy to push a stroller and let little ones safely view the koalas up close.

For more information, read our article on Everything you need to know for a great visit to Blackbutt Reserve.

You can also see koalas at Hunter Valley Wildlife Park (formerly Hunter Valley Zoo) and Oakvale Wildlife Park. You can get your photo taken inside a koala hug at both!

Spot koalas at Tilligerry Habitat

If you want a unique day trip with the family, then head to Tilligerry Habitat in Port Stephens. It’s one of the best places to spot koalas in the wild. Although it’s not guaranteed you’ll spot one, it’s a lot of fun to try. Best tip to spot a koala? Look for their scats (poos) on the ground and then search the trees above that area. August and September are great months to visit as the wattle in bloom is splendid to see.

Adopt a koala

Want to support the koalas? Adopt a koala for yourself or as a gift for someone special by making a 12 month donation to the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie. Your adoption helps with the rescue and treatment of sick and injured koalas and release back to their home range where possible. Your adoption also assists with the conservation and expansion of habitat, collection of information for research and to provide educational material to increase public awareness of all aspects of the koala. You have a choice of 14 Koalas which are available for adoption. They have 7 exhibit koalas who live permanently at the Koala Hospital so you can also visit your koala if you’re in the Port Macquarie area. The cost for an adoption within Australia is $70 per year.  eAdoptions are $50 per year and are emailed to you.

Follow the Koala Trail in Port Macquarie

If you’re near Port Macquarie this month, follow the Koala Trail. Spot koalas all around Port Macquarie-Hastings region as part of the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail. There are over 80 hand-painted one-metre high koalas along the trail. Each Hello Koalas sculpture has its own unique character and personality, and everyone has a favourite koala. To find them, download the Koala Trail map. If you happen to be in the area on the 27 September – 30 September 2023 you can join in the 7th annual Hello Koalas Festival & Treasure Hunt.

Visit the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie

Visit the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie to see the work that they do in caring for koalas. The Koala Hospital is a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility as well as a scientific research, training and education centre. The Koala Hospital is open every day (except Christmas Day) from 8.30am to 4pm. Entry is free and there is no need to book. A volunteer guide is usually available to enhance your visitor experience.

Plant a koala food tree

A major threat to koalas is the loss of their habitat and subsequently food. The Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie experience this on a daily basis as they need  fresh leaf to feed the injured koalas which are in the hospital. To help alleviate this problem in the future, they have embarked on a project to plant koala food trees. Koalas feed on a variety of eucalypts, the more common being Tallowood, Swamp Mahogany and Forest Red Gum. You can help them – and the koalas – by making a donation for tree planting.

Read books about koalas

Celebrate koalas by reading books with your kids about them. There are lots of wonderful books to read about Australia’s cutest marsupial.

Tippy and Jellybean – Younger children will love Tippy and Jellybean by Sophie Cunningham, illustrated by Anil Torto. It tells the true story of a young koala and her brave mum saved in the 2019/2020 bushfires. This inspiring short story is accompanied by adorably beautiful illustrations and proceeds from the sale of the book support the Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund.

Other books include Koala Lou by Mem Fox, Koala Bare by Jackie French, Koala by Claire Saxby and the touchy-feely That’s not my koala by Fiona Watt.

Visit the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Port Stephens Council in partnership with Port Stephens Koalas has created a Koala Sanctuary to ensure first-class care to sick, injured and orphaned koalas. The centre, open daily from 9-4pm, offers visitors a unique opportunity to see koalas in their natural habitat. It also supports their long-term rehabilitation and preservation. Meander along the Sanctuary Story Walk and view the koala sculptures, view the Koala Hospital, spot the koalas from the treetops on the Newcastle Airport SKYwalk viewing platform or even stay overnight in a glamping tent.

For more information, read our article on Visiting the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary.