True Australian experience - get cuddly with an Australian favourite: koala

Have you ever touched a koala? If you plan to travel to Australia, to pat a koala seems on par with  having a Vegemite sandwich, spotting a kangaroo in the wild or getting a sunburn.

One of the places in Australia to cuddle a koala is at Port Macquarie’s Koala Hospital – a renowned koala hotspot on the NSW mid-north coast. This hospital is the only one of its kind in the world dedicated solely to the care of wild koalas as well as being the world’s leading koala research centre.

You can also join the stunning 9km coastal walk that stretches south along the wild, windswept coast to the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre. Pass through a string of white sandy beaches punctuated by rocky outcrops linked by wooden walkways and staircases. It takes about an hour but the scenery is so breathtaking that you will hardly notice any time has passed as you arrive at Sea Acres, the second largest coastal rainforest reserve in the state. There is a good chance of spotting koalas, along with flying foxes, ospreys and other creatures in the rainforest.

Travel to Billabong Koala and Wildlife Park for one of three daily koala talks, where you get a chance to have your photo taken with – and pat! – the cuddly marsupials.
The park, which in recent years has expanded its menagerie to include spider monkeys, a crocodile, reptiles, albino kangaroos, snow leopards and more, also functions as a koala breeding centre. Owner Mark Stone holds 20 koalas at any given time, passing them on to zoos throughout NSW, Victoria and Queensland to enhance their breeding programs.
This Australian experience is sure to make you feel just like the creatures –warm, fuzzy and, most importantly, like a true-blue Aussie.

Walk & Talk tours at the Koala Hospital are free, 3pm daily. Macquarie Nature Reserve, Lord Street, (02) 6584 1522, koalahospital.org.au.

Guided tours at Sea Acres Rainforest Centre are included in the boardwalk entry price: adults $8, children $4, open 9am-4.30pm daily. Pacific Drive, (02) 6582 3355, nationalparks.nsw.gov.au.

Koala shows at Billabong Koala and Wildlife Park are included in the entry price: adults $22.50, children $13, daily at 10.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. The park is open 9am-5pm daily. 61 Billabong Drive, (02) 6585 1060, billabongkoala.com.au.