7 Ways to Celebrate Koala Month with Kids in Newcastle & Port Stephens

September is Save the Koala Month, with Save the Koala Day landing on Friday 25 September 2026. It’s the perfect excuse for a family day out with a purpose. Here are our favourite ways to spot, support and learn about koalas without leaving the Hunter region.

Visit koalas at Blackbutt Reserve

Blackbutt Reserve’s koala enclosure is one of the easiest ways to guarantee a koala sighting with kids in tow. The wildlife exhibits are free to enter and open daily from 10am to 4.30pm (closed Christmas Day and Good Friday, and not open before 1pm on ANZAC Day). The boardwalks are stroller-friendly, so it’s a good option even with a baby along, and there’s plenty of shade on the walk down to the enclosure.

For the full rundown on parking and what else to see while you’re there, check out our guide to Blackbutt Reserve.

You’ll also find koalas at Hunter Valley Wildlife Park and Oakvale Wildlife Park, both of which offer a koala hug photo opportunity if your kids want to get up close.

Spot koalas at Tilligerry Habitat

For something a bit different, head to Tilligerry Habitat in Port Stephens, one of the best spots in the region to try and find a koala in the wild. There’s no guarantee you’ll see one, but that’s half the fun for kids. The best trick is to look for koala scats on the ground and then scan the trees directly above. August and September are ideal months to visit, as the wattle is in full bloom along the trails.

Visit the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Port Stephens Council, working with Port Stephens Koalas, runs a dedicated Koala Sanctuary supporting sick, injured and orphaned koalas. It’s open daily from 9am to 4pm and gives visitors a genuine look at koala care and rehabilitation. Wander the Sanctuary Story Walk, visit the Koala Hospital viewing area, spot koalas from above on the Newcastle Airport SKYwalk platform, or make a night of it with the on-site glamping tents. Paid admission.

We’ve covered everything you need to know in our guide to visiting the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, including the best time to go with young kids.

Adopt a koala

If you’d rather support from home, you can adopt a koala through a 12-month donation to the Port Stephens Koala Hospital. It’s a nice way to mark the month with kids, and it goes directly toward habitat protection, food supply and hands-on care for koalas and other native wildlife. Adoptions start at $50 a year and there’s a good range of koalas to choose from, so let the kids pick a favourite.

Plant a Koala Food Tree

Habitat and food loss is one of the biggest threats koalas face, and it’s something local wildlife hospitals deal with daily when sourcing fresh leaf for injured koalas in care. Tallowood, Swamp Mahogany and Forest Red Gum are among the eucalypts koalas rely on most. A tree-planting donation is a simple way to help secure that food supply for the future.

Further Afield: Port Macquarie’s Koala Trail

If you’ve got a trip to the Mid North Coast planned this September, Port Macquarie is worth a stop for koala lovers. The Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail has over 90 hand-painted koala statues scattered around town, and the Koala Hospital is a working wildlife rehabilitation and research centre that’s open to visitors. Both make a fun add-on to a longer family holiday, even if it’s a bit far for a day trip from Newcastle.

Read books about koalas

Rainy day or not, reading about koalas together is an easy way to mark the month. Tippy and Jellybean by Sophie Cunningham is a gentle option for younger children, telling the true story of a young koala and her mother rescued during the 2019-2020 bushfires, with proceeds supporting the Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund. Other favourites include Koala Lou by Mem Fox, Koala Bare by Jackie French, Koala by Claire Saxby and the touch-and-feel board book That’s Not My Koala by Fiona Watt.

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