One of the reasons I headed to Port Stephens was to suss out the local wildlife, specifically the koala population (ok, full disclosure, I also headed up for the newly opened Bannisters Hotel - having had a love affair with their Mollymook property for many moons I wanted to try on their PS property for size and was not disappointed), but it was totally and utterly about the mother fluffies (and the cocktails 😉).
As soon as we pulled into Port Stephens, we headed straight for the koala habitat at Tilligerry - and I do mean 'as soon as'; no time to check in, no time to unpack bags, no time to look around, just heads down bums up, camera bags on and out into the grey, drizzly day. Got to see the fine art of distraction being employed by one of the volunteers on duty though when I quizzed him about how long ago the last koala sighting was. In the very same breath he not only was able to advise me that it had been quite a few days and it wasn't a great time for them but also did I know that "this very building that we are standing in is constructed from straw bales and here, come watch this video on its making and consider the depth of the recessed windows".
Nice try dude but I am not easily dissuaded, have a serious obsession with the fluffy little guys and headed out into the weather regardless. And found exactly ZERO koalas (the place itself is STUNNING though, full of wildflowers and boardwalks and overlooking the bay in spots and well worth a visit regardless). Next stop on my carefully curated koala tour was Mambo Wetlands, which lived up to its name because as soon as we started heading down the pathway, the heavens opened up and we had to run for the shelter of the car. Another strike. Now I don't want to give the impression that on day one, only a few hours after arriving I was already panicking but I was totally already panicking. Still, nothing a glass of wine on the balcony couldn't cure...until the next day of course, where I was up ridiculously early and bouncing off the walls ready to go.
Mambo Wetlands is a unique environment. It covers about 175 hectares of land, is surrounded by houses on the outskirts and is totally and utterly gorgeous, particularly when you leave the concrete footpaths along the edge and head into the wetlands via the sandy paths that snake through the middle of the land. Once inside, you can no longer hear the distant traffic or the goings on of life of the nearby locals, just the sound of various birds, a few cicadas which had begun their emergence and the wind in the many gums and banksia trees. Oh and the sound of me quietly muttering "come on koalas. I'm ready to see you now!"
And just when I had all but given up, in the middle of nowhere was a metal sign, small and just noticeable amongst the foliage, with information about the Swamp Mahogany gums in the wetlands and the various animals who feed on them, including the local koalas who favour its leaves. I look up. Just looking at the trees around and taking it all in but let me tell you, the Port Stephens koalas are bloody considerate critters and I spotted my first at the very top of the tree that the sign was in front of! This one was well hidden amongst the foliage and the branches and by the dark, dampness of the day but was a koala all the same! Our next came not long after that and this one, teddy-bear like and cute as a button, was sitting in the fork of a large gum off the path, but in a clear line of sight and not overly high in the tree. Perfect. Thanks for being you, photogenic koala!
Now we did have one more koala encounter, an encounter that almost wasn't. We decided to drop into the wetlands one last time as we headed home. I was exhausted; totally ready for bed and not at all looking forward to the drive home. I started walking a few times and also started heading back to the car just as often. It was steamy and sweaty and my feet were tired and I just wanted to see my dogs. And then we heard it, a koala bellow!!! If you have never heard this sound, google it. How such a noise can come from such a cute critter is beyond me but its used by males more for advertising their wares to the ladies than it is for warding off rivals so the females obviously find it sexy as hell. It certainly gave me the motivation I needed to keep going! Luckily for us, we came across a local who pointed out that they had just spotted a koala not far from us and literally right at the path's edge - yay for not having to off road it and yay once again to the very considerate Port Stephens Koalas!
Koalas
Mambo Wetlands
Salamander Bay
#PSILoveYou #portstephens #tilligerryhabitat #bannistersportstephens #koalas #marsupials #savemambowetlands #savethekoala #backyardzoology
