This Koala Sanctuary Lets You Glamp Among the Gum Trees Just 2.5 Hours From Sydney

 

Wake up with koalas at the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, just a few hours’ drive north of Sydney.

The Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary is first and foremost a home for sick, injured, or orphaned koalas, but it’s also a retreat for people keen to spend a night in nature and witness one of Australia’s most loved marsupials close to Sydney.

Working in conjunction with Port Stephens Council and Port Stephens Koala Hospital, the sanctuary provides in-need koalas with a safe and familiar bush setting in which to roam and rehabilitate. Visitors to the sanctuary have the chance to witness koalas being cared for in the hospital, spot koalas as they walk amongst the towering gum trees, and even spend a night in the natural bush setting in a glamping tent or hotel suites.

Unfortunately, koalas are classified as endangered in NSW, which means there are often very few opportunities for locals and visitors to spot them in the wild. The Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary provides visitors with a chance to see koalas safe and up close. See prices per person for a day trip.

What can I do at the koala sanctuary?

Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary can be visited on a day trip, or as a overnight or multi-night stay with glamping tents situated in the bushland, and hotel rooms sleeping between one to four people. See prices per night.

All visits to the sanctuary begin with an educational guided tour about koala care, rehabilitation, and what they need to survive in the wild. There may also be the chance to witness a koala being cared for at the Koala Hospital through the Koala Viewing Window, although as treatment times differ this isn’t guaranteed.

There are two short walks available;

• the 250m Sanctuary Story Walk is an immersive educational trail that shares the story of the koala
• the 225m Sanctuary Sky Walk is an elevated pathway and platform with a unique tree-top perspective that showcases the koala’s habitat

There’s a scavenger hunt available for kids that winds through the sanctuary and the Wild Light Cafe offers a place to enjoy a bite to eat.

For those interested in a more wellness-focused visit, Wild Light Experiences offers a three-hour sanctuary immersion which includes yin yoga, slow movement through nature, journaling and reflection, and herbal tea and meditation.

For more information on glamping stays, day visits, and wellness retreats, visit the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary website.

Photos supplied by Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary