South Pacific
Australia
New South Wales
Greater Newcastle
Port Stephens
One Mile
Things to do in One Mile
Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile: Hours, Address, Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary Reviews: 4.5/5

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Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

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Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
4.5
36
#1 of 1 things to do in One Mile
Nature & Wildlife Areas
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
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. Now opened daily, the Koala Sanctuary offers visitors a unique opportunity to see koalas in their natural habitat. A visit to the Sanctuary also supports their long-term rehabilitation, preservation and conservation in the wild. Visitors to the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary will enjoy: A Natural setting Unique experiences with koalas in a natural and idyllic bushland setting Informative Guides All our excursions start off with a tailored educational tour from one of our local guides on care, rehabilitation and what is needed for koalas to survive in the wild. Stay with us Opportunity to stay overnight in a ‘glamping style tent’ within the Sanctuary grounds Preservation A new opportunity to directly contribute to the preservation of koalas in Port Stephens
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Popular mentions
4.5
36 reviews
Excellent
24
Very good
5
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
4
Li M
1 contribution
Truly unique and wonderful
Apr. 2022 • Family
They’ve done a great job with this place, all the ladies at reception/front desk were incredibly warm and welcoming. The glamping tents were really nice, the landscaping, the wildlife, everything made you feel like you were camping, but with the luxuries of air con, tv, space, and an ensuite. It was also really wonderful to see the koalas getting access to mature trees to climb on. Our kids 4 and 1 both had such a lovely time, I’d recommend it to everyone who wants to do something a bit different, while still being close to town, and supporting a great cause (because let’s face it, if we can’t save the koalas from extinction, the rest of our native animals have no hope).
Written 25 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Mero61
Cairns, Australia172 contributions
Peaceful
Apr. 2022 • Couples
Stayed three nights in one of the tents. Great facilities. Wonderful staff. Inspired model to provide support for injured koalas. Lots of other wildlife to watch - birds, possums, land mullets and even a docile snake. Tent large, well equipped. Breakfast and snacks of good quality. Relaxing meals on the veranda. Beware the hungry possum if you get a pizza! Dedicated staff tending to the koala exhibits. Great educational tour exclusive to overnighting guests. Well planned native gardens. Great swimming pool. Only 30 minutes from Newcastle Airport. 10 minutes from the holiday town of Nelson Bay. Highly recommended.
Written 21 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
DavidHolmes22
Rayleigh, UK17 contributions
Beautiful koala sanctuary
Mar. 2022 • Couples
We visited the Koala sanctuary in March 2022 and what an amazing and beautiful place it was. Such a lovely place to visit. They have very friendly staff/volunteers who are happy to spend time talking to you about the vital work of the sanctuary and care provided to injured/ill koalas. Some are returned to the wild, if possible, but some remain at the sanctuary if their injuries at too severe. The care they provided appeared to be second to none. Highly recommend a visit to show your support.
Written 26 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jack B
7 contributions
Koala Sanctuary is a must do in Port Stephens
Mar. 2022 • Friends
This Koala sanctuary is a must do if in the port Stephens area. The best way to get up close to those furry friends. The sanctuary is doing great work!
Written 23 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Nannyjo01
Liverpool, Australia233 contributions
Good but could be great
Mar. 2022 • Family
Stayed one night in a glamping tent. Well set out overlooking a walkway filled with Koala Statues. Park is very peaceful and relaxing but a little boring. After previously staying at Canberra Zoo (where a sleepover offers a lot of extras) or even the Walkabout Wildlife Park at Calga (night tour to meet the nocturnal animals , campfire to toast marshmallows etc) I felt that at 5pm there was nothing but hang out and watch TV. Maybe they could treat the guests to a BBQ dinner or an open air cinema something to make you more inclined to recommend to your friends. Nice but plenty of room for improvement.
Written 11 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
DeniseM
Sydney, Australia210 contributions
A MUST visit !
Feb. 2022
The Koala Sanctuary was a wonderful experience. The whole set up is extremely well set up. We were lucky to have a wonderful volunteer called Jane walk around with us and she is an excellent ambassador for the Koala Sanctuary - full of information and a lovely friendly lady - a real asset to the park.
Wonderful work is being done here for our koalas and we should support them in any way we can so please visit if you are in the area. The recent upgrade is absolutely gorgeous !
Written 20 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Mike P
Sydney, Australia239 contributions
Great place to visit
Feb. 2022 • Couples
This place is connected to the Port Stephens Koala Hospital and is mostly run by volunteers. The place is spacious and not only can you learn all about Koalas you can watch the hospital staff in action. There is a large area where you can see Koalas up close. The staff are awesome, very friendly and helpful. The guide is a great ambassador and so full of knowledge which she is happy to share. All funds raised goes back to helping run the hospital. Definitely recommended to all.
Written 8 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
S W
Port Stephens, Australia32 contributions
What a great cause!
Jan. 2022
The dedication of the staff is amazing. All of the team are super friendly, the food is great for a quick bite (limited choice though). Do the short tour to hear what they are actually doing to support these beautiful animals. Highly recommend for all ages - easy short walk along the path to see the koalas and read/hear their story from the guide.
Written 19 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
karen g
Lake Macquarie, Australia22 contributions
A wildlife service worth contributing to.
Jan. 2022 • Family
Visited the Koala Sanctuary this week while on holiday in Port Stephens. This is a lovely facility that combines visitors and accommodation very well. The staff and volunteers are very friendly, helpful and know a lot about Koalas. It is worth taking your time and learning as much as possible. It is a half day or less experience as a visitor. It is a wildlife service worth contributing to.
Written 15 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
HappyTravils
Sydney, Australia15 contributions
Must do for animal lovers
Jan. 2022 • Family
A very special place. We learnt so much about koalas and also got to see several that were recovering or unable to be returned to the wild due to chronic conditions. I reckon they need a bigger ice cream selection and they should sell PSKS tshirts. Accomm looks really nice.
Written 15 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary is open:
  • Sun - Sat 9:00 am - 4:00 pm