Established in 1973 and dedicated to the to rescue, rehabilitation and release of wild koalas, the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital also helps visitor learn about this unique Australian animal.
Located in the NSW mid-north town of Port Macquarie, the hospital is a favourite destination for tourists. On arrival, we were pleased to see that a mobile coffee van was set up near the carpark. After a long drive to get here, this was a great way to start our visit. After a relaxing coffee on some chairs under shady trees, we started our visit.
Entry is free, but donations are welcome, which are used to keep the hospital running. The first exhibit is actually another of Port Macquarie’s attractions, one of the Hello Koala statues. Scattered around town at different businesses there are around 80 of these colourful statues.
The Koalas
Near the statue an information board with photos of koalas under care details the threats they face. The main one is habitat loss – something that is totally preventable, but something our state Government seems reluctant to address. Koalas at the hospital suffer from a range of injuries, from road accidents, dog attacks and bush fires.
The koala enclosures hold animals undergoing rehabilitation. Each enclosure has a description of the koala, the injury they sustained and how they are progressing. As koalas sleep a lot (due to the low food value of the leaves they eat – not the intoxicating effects of the gum leaves – that’s an urban myth) they were hard to see, cuddled up into little furry balls in the trees. We managed to spot them all, but most were too far away or obscured to take photos of.
The last place to visit is a small museum. This details koala evolution and their place in the Australian environment. Several stuffed exhibits allow visitors to see what they look like up close.
The Future
Funding has been secured for a first of its kind wild breeding program. The aim is to breed and release 30 joeys each year, offsetting the current population decline. Also involved in the project are Taronga Zoo, the Australian Museum Research Institute and the University of Sydney.
What Did We Think?
If you are visiting Port Macquarie, this is a must-see destination. Not only do you see koalas, but you also learn about their endangered status and what is being done to save them.
Koala StatueInformation BoardEducational areaSleeping koalaInformation boardKoala display in the museumKoala display in the museumSkeleton of a koala compared to other animals
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Modern and spacious, the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra houses animals from around the world, but also includes many from Australia.
Getting There and Parking
Located a short 15-minute car ride from the centre of Canberra, it’s easy to get to. Plenty of on-site parking allows easy access for cars. A great feature is that entrances from different car parks mean you do not need to walk all the way to the front entrance to get in. Just remember which entrance you used!
Getting Around the National Zoo and Aquarium
The zoo’s layout enables all exhibits to be seen by walking a circular path, with a few deviations. Because of this excellent layout you do not need to double back and retrace your steps very often.
Food Outlets
Two main food outlets are placed on either side of the zoo. Near the lower carpark entrance a restaurant serving light meals and drinks is near the monkey enclosures. On the far side of the zoo, next to the open range area, the Rhino Bistro also serves food and drinks.
Vending machines scattered around the zoo allow you to buy snacks and drinks as you go.
If you would rather bring your own food, picnic areas throughout the zoo let you sit and relax while you eat.
National Zoo and Aquarium Exhibits
Housed in large modern enclosures, the animals have plenty of space to move around. This reminded us of a mix between the open range zoo at Dubbo and the Taronga Zoo in Sydney.
African Wildlife
The zoo has a large collection of African wildlife on display. Ranging from lions and cheetahs to elephants and giraffes, most people’s favourites are there. Most of the carnivores had been fed and by midmorning were dozing in the sun. If you want to see them roaming around, early morning is the best time, because this is when they are more active.
The zebras, giraffes and other herbivores were more active, often walking close to the fence. This was great, giving us a much better close up look.
Unlike their African counterparts, the tigers were active and wandering around their enclosure. One of them came up to the large Perspex viewing window so we could get a very close look at him.
Tiger
Meerkats
Meerkats are always fun to watch and the ones here were no exception. Whether they were fighting, eating or just standing guard, they were entertaining.
Meerkat
Birds
Aviaries hold many birds, but the one we like the most was the fairy penguins, because theirs was open to the air and you could see them swimming around.
Fairy Penguin
Reptiles
Located next to the aquarium, the reptile houses a huge number of snakes and lizards. This is a great way to see many of Australia’s poisonous snakes behind a glass wall so that you remain safe. Seeing them out in the wild can be a little more dangerous.
Heat lamps and low lighting keep them active, although most of the snakes were not moving.
Green Iguana
Primates
The primate section was very active, with monkeys climbing along rope and through trees. The lemurs, apes and monkeys had only just been fed, so were out in their enclosures playing and eating.
Cotton-Top Tamarin
Bears
Malaysian Sun Bear
Deer
There were many different species of deer, all in large enclosures so that they could move around.
Wapiti Elk
Australian Wildlife
As expected, the Australian section is one of the largest, with kangaroos, wallabies, emus and koalas.
It was great to see Tasmanian devils there, as they are endangered due to a facial cancer that is destroying their population in Tasmania. Breeding programs and disease free populations have been set up around the country to save them from extinction.
WallabiesTasmanian DevilGoodfellows Tree Kangaroo
Extinct Animals at the National Zoo
A very unusual section of the zoo is dedicated to extinct animals and birds. The first we saw was the dodo, famous for being made extinct by sailors who killed them for food. The Tasmanian Tiger was also there, push to extinction by sheep farmers and graziers.
The message from these displays is that animals can easily be made extinct, but can be brought back again.
Also in the area were a few dinosaurs, showing that life has changed significantly over the last 100 million years. They are also fun for kids to look at because they look quite life-like.
This is one of the best zoos we have seen, and we have visited a lot of them. So much space for the animals. Great location, no issues with parking, and plenty of spots to sit down and have a snack or sit down to order food. A must if you love this stuff!
For other places to visit in the Australian Capital Territory click here
Located in the central west of New South Wales, Dubbo was our first main stop during our road trip. A five hour car trip from Sydney, or a three and a half hour trip from our home in Singleton, stops along the way are needed. The first European settlement was established in 1828, but aboriginal history dates back over 40,000 years.
With so many attractions to visit in the area, we planned a two day stay here, to see as much as we could, without rushing.
Attractions
Dubbo Visitors Information Centre
Our first visit was the Visitors Information Centre, so that we could get a map of a street walk of historical buildings in town. Only available here, it was also a good chance to see if anything else was happening in town, that had not been mentioned online.
Outside the visitor centre is an information board detailing the dwarf planet Pluto. This forms part of a giant solar system model, centred on the Siding Springs Observatory in Coonabarabran. We passed the position of Neptune at Dunedoo.
Outside the centre is a medicinal garden growing plats that the Wiradjuri People used. An information board describes the uses of the plants.
Pluto Information Board
Medicinal Garden
Town Centre
Following the Dubbo Heritage Trail, we got from the Visitor Information Centre, we found some nice old buildings spread through the centre of town. With 37 buildings and locations, there is a lot to see, but we decided to only find ones that interested us.
Of interest was the old post office, which was designed by the famous architect James Barnet. Another great building was the Old Bank, which is now a pub and restaurant, where we had dinner.
Dubbo Courthouse
Colonial Mutual Building
Old Dubbo Post Office
Westpac Bank Building
St Brigid’s Catholic Church
Catholic Presbytery St Brigid’s
Street Art
Spread all over town, is a variety of street art and sculptures. We noticed them while driving around, but were not aware how many there were.
Aboriginal Street Art on the Overpass Near the Visitor Information Centre
More Aboriginal Street Art on the Overpass Near the Visitor Information Centre
Aboriginal Street Art on the Overpass Near the Visitor Information Centre
Cockatoo Art Work at the Visitor Information Centre
Aboriginal Street Art in the city centre
Statue of William Ferguson, a Champion of Aboriginal Rights
Sheep Silhouettes in the City Centre
Rhino Statue at the Entrance to the Airport
Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Taronga Western Plains Zoo is the most popular tourist attraction in the Dubbo area because of its collection of endangered animals in an open range setting. To view all of the exhibits, we spent a full day at the zoo, walking between enclosures. Your entrance ticket is valid over two days, so you can return the next day if you want to see more. To read our full blog about our visit, click on the link above.
Black Rhinoceros
Old Dubbo Gaol
Old Dubbo Gaol is one of the locations on the heritage trail and is a popular attraction for many tourists. Maintained in excellent condition and easy to access from the centre of town, it’s a fun place to visit and learn about the gaol’s past. The buildings are all close together, so a visit here only took us an hour. The blog of our visit can be found here.
Male Prison Building
Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden
If you like Japanese gardens, you will love this one. Rated one of the best in Australia, the Shoyoen garden is beautiful to walk around and very relaxing. The other section of the Regional Botanic Garden display’s local flora, so if you want to see some without bushwalking, this is a great place to visit. Our full blog can be found here.
Japanese Gardens
Old Bank
The Old Bank Restaurant and Bar is, as the name suggests a converted bank. Bookings are essential, as we were lucky to get a table when we arrived. To read our blog on the Old Bank, click here.
Main Meal Lamb Rump
Western Plains Cultural Centre
The Western Plains Cultural Centre is a combined museum and art gallery, showcasing local talent and history. From high school students’ art, international artists, aboriginal artefacts, and old horse drawn carriages, there is something here for everyone.
Wilkins Kennedy and Spence Coach Builders Buggy
Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre
The RFDS Visitor Centre is a new, state of the art museum which details the RFDS history. Not only does it have old equipment and two aircraft on display but uses large screens and interactive video to tell its story. We enjoyed our visit and spent longer than we had originally anticipated because it had so much to offer.
de Havilland Fox Moth VH-UQM Replica
War Memorials
As with most towns across Australia, a war memorial commemorates those who were killed fighting for their country. Dubbo is no exception, but’s its Shrine of Remembrance is huge and surrounded by several other memorials. One of these is in memory of a local pilot who earned the Victoria Cross flying a bomber during World War Two. Although he was killed, he saved the lives of five others onboard, while flying the plane home despite being severely wounded.
Shrine of Remembrance
Memorial to Pilot Officer Rawdon Hume Middleton, who was awarded the Victoria Cross (V.C.) in World War Two.
Macquarie River and Emile Serisier Bridge
Located near the Visitor Centre, the Emile Serisier Bridge caught our attention because of its solid steel work construction. It spans the Macquarie River, so while looking at the bridge, we had a look at the river too.
A better view is available on the opposite side of the river, where you can walk under the structure.
Rail Bridge Over the Macquarie River
Rail Bridge Over the Macquarie River
The Macquarie River
Dubbo Observatory
We booked tickets ahead if time for the observatory, opting for the 10:30PM to 12:30AM visit. This allows visitors to use their own cameras on the telescopes to take photos. Unfortunately, the sky was cloudy so our session was cancelled(with a full refund), so next time we are in Dubbo we will try again.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
