The Great Koala Detour

We had one more look at the main town beach on our way out of Foster while we waited for our coffee and pumpkin scones from Beach Bums… I think we’re in for a bit of rain today.

As we drove over the bridge and out of Foster we read that there were a lot of BIG things to see in Taree… turns out, there isn’t, but we did see the BIG oyster – which is now a car dealership…

We’re headed north to Port Macquarie where Felicity had spent time over the years with her grandparents. We missed out on the Koala Santurary in Nelson Bay, so wanted to make sure we saw them here in the Port. We also wanted to try and see as many BIG things as we could along the way.

Next stop – the BIG axe. Yep… you heard me correctly.

This was in Kew or “Far Kew” as most of the gift shop’s merch had on written it. There was a bit of shenanigans to be had with the BIG axe. This is where we chose to stop and eat our pumpkin scones purchased at Beach Bums in Forster and they had to have been the best scones we’ve both ever eaten! BIG call I know, but I stand by it.

After the BIG oyster and the BIG axe… we were keen to see the BIG koala.

So we headed to Wauchope where we new the koala hospital had been moved to while it’s original home in Port Macquarie was being renovated… while we were there Fliss wanted to relive some youthful memories and do a drive by of Timbertown. She remembered sitting on a huge log with her sister wearing matching white jumpsuits, but alas it closed it’s doors about a month ago.

So, onto the koalas…. Guulabaa Place of Koala

They have 7 koalas in the exhibit area for people to see. These ones have been assessed as being too vulnerable to be returned to the wild. The next section is blocked off to the public where they have koalas who are being nursed back to health and they want to keep them away from humans so they can be taken back to the wild when they are well enough. Then they have koalas who are ‘wild’ but fenced in.

When koalas have been rescued, they allow the person who found them to name them, then they are called the area they were found followed by their new name…. So today we met:

Campbelltown Phil 😂.

Out on the lookout deck we met a volunteer guide who knew everything there is to know about koalas. She was great – very knowledgeable and clearly in love with every koala in the place.

We couldn’t see all the koalas in the viewing area, but here’s who we did see:

Video:

From here we headed into Port Macquarie to Sea Acres Rainforest Centre where Felicity assured me there would be huge Monitor Lizard creatures that could possibly mistake you for a tree and run up your legs. I don’t know why she gets such joy out of frightening me so…. but the joke was on her, as we didn’t see any lizards of any type, although I did freak out a little bit at the slight movement of a bush turkey. It was scary, alright…. whatever, you weren’t there.

A little explore along the Breakwater… people have painted all the rocks – there are some with family names, some are memorials to loved ones who have died and some have words of advice and wisdom to live by: