I love animals, like to watch them, but not in the zoo. I prefer to see wild animals in the wild. Of course not everything you can see in the wild, as sometimes it is not so easy to find them. But if there is possibility to do it I’ll do it. It is not so hard to spot kangaroos or wallabies in Australia.
Koalas are not so widely populated as kangaroos and it needs more effort to see them. Closest place to Sydney I found was The Jean Shaw Reserve at Hawks Nest. I wasn’t lucky when I was visiting that place in hope to see koalas and locals were smiling asked about were I can find these animals. I understood I can’t expect to see them hanging on any tree in the town.
Next place I hear is good for koalas spotting is in Victoria on Great Ocean Road. It is called as one of the best places in Australia to see koalas in the wild.
Koala in Australia
You may be will need turn into Grey River Road in Kennet River in case you won’t be able to spot koala on Great Ocean Road. But first you should check the place on the right in this map:
View Koalas in Australia in a larger map
There is parking on the side of the road (switch to satellite view and you’ll see cars parked there). Scroll along the road and may be you will see the same koala pictured in the above picture. When I was there I could spot 5-6 koalas eating, sleeping on trees.
You have even better option to see koalas up close if you are not in rush on day trip from Melbourne to see The Twelve Apostles. You can stay overnight at Bimbi Park.
koala on the ground in Bimbi park, Victoria, Australia
And you will be able to see koalas coming to your tent or cabin.
I spotted about 10 today on Reynolds Island, just into Victoria across the border, a couple of days drive from Sydney. There is a good amount on that island as well as big kangaroo’s and some rare birds (plus it’s free to get the ferry too when you arrive)
Bob, where is exactly that island? Can’t find it on the google map. Also I heard there are a lot of wild life on Kangaroo Island, South of Adelaide, but hadn’t been there yet.
we found kangaroos almost everywhere while we spotted heap of koalas along the Great Ocean Road especially on the road to Cape Otway sleeping on top of the eucalyptus’ trees and at Noosa National Park up in queensland, they are so cute!
My apologies I got the name completely wrong, such is my poor memory!
The island is called Raymond Island not Reynolds. *slaps head*
Heaps of Koalas at Kennett River on the Great Ocean Road. You dont even need to get out of the car!
We spent a couple hours on Raymond Island and saw tons of koalas. You can drive or walk around and they are right in the trees of people’s front yards! It was well worth the trip if you are in the Bairnsdale, VIC area.
Annie, thanks for sharing. I passed by Bairnsdale on my way from Sydney to Melbourne, but didn’t know you can see koalas there.