Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

The one-bedroom suite was immaculate and tastefully furnished, with a well-equipped kitchen and bathroom. It was 32 degrees that day, and the staff had thoughtfully switched on the aircon before we arrived and left some calming music playing. The surroundings are so tranquil, it feels as if you’re in the middle of a forest. There’s plenty of parking and two EV chargers, though you need to bring your own cable. Booking online was easy, and I got a text on the day asking when I’d arrive. Picking up the keys was quick. They explained how to get into the unit with the gate codes, when the included tour was the next morning, and what attractions were nearby. We’ll definitely come again.

The sanctuary seems well maintained and thoughtfully arranged. There’s a koala-focused walking and education area, plus a hospital with a fully separate section for rescued animals. Visitors can’t enter that area, though there’s a viewing window where you may sometimes see treatments without disturbing the animals or staff. Koalas who can’t return to the wild for various reasons have their own area. I found this a balanced, lovely way to see them up close. There’s information about each resident, and keepers walking around can share interesting facts. The property also has a separate accommodation and leisure area. We didn’t use it, so I can’t really comment, but it seems like a creative way to bring in extra funding without affecting the animals. I can honestly recommend a visit, even with my fairly strict views on animal welfare. This review is about the animal sanctuary only, not the accommodation.

The grounds were neat and tidy, and it was lovely being able to visit the Koalas whenever we and the kids wanted. We took a sanctuary tour the next morning before it opened to the public. The main centre has lots of family-friendly things to do, and the kids loved swimming in the pool. There are other places to visit nearby as well. We had a great family weekend here. The staff were very accommodating when we arrived late on Friday night. Our tent looked new, was clean, and had the A/C running with soft music playing on the TV. We hope to visit again one day.

Definitely worth a visit. The sanctuary is well set up, the work being done is amazing, and the staff were really friendly and knowledgeable. Some koalas seemed bothered by the big diesel generator. With koalas being driven toward extinction by climate change, I doubt they’d be happy about the unnecessary CO2 from the generator either. Please install some panels and a battery!