Koala Hospital

Important Update: Koala Hospital Closure

The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital will officially close to the public from Midday on Friday 2 May 2025, as we begin our exciting redevelopment project.

Entry will be by donation on Thursday 1 and FREE Friday 2 May until Midday, to thank our wonderful community for your support. From midday on Friday 2 May, the site will be closed to the public for the duration of the redevelopment.

Don't forget. from Saturday 3 May you can visit ALL of our resident koalas at our NEW Wild Koala Breeding Visitor Centre at Guulabaa - Place of Koala

250
Koalas Cared for Annually
Welcome to the Koala Conservation Hospital Port Macquarie

AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE

Welcome to the Koala Conservation Hospital Port Macquarie

We welcome over 100,000 visitors each year to our Koala Hospital, where we provide treatment and care for sick and injured koalas. The Port Macquarie region has one of the largest koala populations in the country, and we were the first dedicated Koala Hospital in Australia!

From 3 May 2025, the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital will temporarily close for redevelopment as we work to enhance our facilities for both koalas and the community. While we transform our space, you can still visit your favourite furry friends at our brand-new home, Guulabaa - Place of Koala.

Opening Hours

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
(every day except for Christmas Day)

8.30am to 4.00pm

Location

Guulabaa – Place of Koala:
Find us on Guulabaa Way, Off Burrawan Forest Drive,
Lake Innes NSW 2446.

Parking, disabled parking, bus parking, and public toilets are available on site.

Get Directions

Koala Conservation Comes to Life at Guulabaa

Koala Hospital Redevelopment

While our Koala Hospital undergoes redevelopment, we’re thrilled to invite you to visit Guulabaa – our dedicated Koala Conservation Wild Breeding Visitor & Education Centre.

At Guulabaa (which means ‘Place of the Koala’ in Gathang language), you can observe resident koalas such as Nero, Casper, Benny, Phil and Trish.

Enjoy accessible viewing decks, explore interactive exhibits and conservation displays. Watch veterinary care in action at our new koala clinic and learn about our groundbreaking wild koala breeding program.

Don't forget to browse our onsite shop, which offers a variety of unique koala-themed gifts and artisan wares. Plus, enjoy everything the Guulabaa precinct has to offer – from forest walks and the Wildnets Adventure Park, to the iconic Big Koala sculpture and the Bunyah Land Council café.

Visit Guulabaa - Place of Koala
ESSENTIAL STAGES
Koala Care Journey
Rescue Icon

Rescue

Available 24/7, our Rescue Hotline, team, and koala ambulance ensure a rapid response for koala rescues

Rehabilitate Icon

Rehabilitate

Providing expert care to treat and compassionately heal injured koalas, preparing them for a new life

Release Icon

Release

Successfully treated koalas are carefully reintroduced to their wild habitats to thrive again, ensuring sustainability

Research Icon

Research

Focused research on diseases, drug therapies and habitats to enhance koala conservation efforts

Take a peek at some of the koalas you'll meet at our sites! Every koala has a story to tell....

Meet our koalas

Take a peek at some of the koalas you'll meet at our sites! Every koala has a story to tell....

Meet our Koalas

TREASURES AND TALES

Koalaseum & Gift Shop

What’s a Koalaseum? It’s a museum for koalas of course! It’s a fun interactive space where you can learn about koala life, koala evolution and biology. Listen to koala sounds and touch koala fur!

At our Gift Shop, you can choose from a range of adorable koala toys, giftware made by local artisans and merchandise. With all profits going to Koala Conservation Australia, you can shop guilt-free! We also have a limited range of merch available from our online shop.

koala hospital port macquarie entrance
Koala Toy at Koala Cafe Port Macquarie NSW Australia

Cafe at Roto House

We’re lucky enough to have a fabulous café right next door!
Home @ Roto-open 7 days- is located in 'Roto House', a beautifully preserved late-Victorian building surrounded by 4 hectares of lawns and trees (managed by National Parks). Great coffee, tasty treats, and plenty of space indoors and out. Grab one of Roto’s picnic rugs and relax under an umbrella on the lawn.

Explore Roto House (a tourist attraction in its own right) and take a step back in time. You’ll often find a local art exhibition on display as well. An idyllic place for the whole family, the Cafe is open 7 days (8am to 4.30pm Dec-Feb, and 8.30am-3pm Mar-Nov).

Warm your wild heart! Book your Port Macquarie Koala Hospital visit today.

Warm your wild heart! Book your Port Macquarie Koala Hospital visit today.

JOIN OUR MISSION

Get Involved

Adopt a Koala

Adopt a Koala

Adoption directly aids koala rehabilitation and releases, forging a unique bond between you and wildlife
Donate

Donate

Every donation makes a pivotal difference, enhancing our capacity to heal, protect and study koalas
Volunteering

Volunteering

Dedicate your skills to our cause, experience the joy of hands on koala conservation as a volunteer

curious about koalas?

FAQ’s

Are 'Koala Bears' actually bears?

No! Koalas aren't bears, so the term 'koala bear' is incorrect! It's likely popular as koalas can look like small fluffy teddy bears, even though they're not bears at all, they're tree-dwelling marsupials!

At what age do joeys emerge from their mother’s pouch?

Most joeys emerge from the pouch at around 5-6 months, they usually weigh anywhere from 450 grams upward (depending on where they come from). These young emergent joeys sit hugging their mothers bellies or clinging to her back. Eventually they become fully back young, until they are too heavy to be carried. The joeys will continue to feed from the mother and are weaned by 12 months of age.

At what age do koalas become sexually active?

The female reaches sexual maturity at the end of her second year or later and physical maturity at the end of her fourth year. Males – about 3 years sexual maturity and reach physical maturity at 4 years. It is not unusual for this to occur at a younger age as well.

Do koalas get drunk on eucalypt leaves?

The eucalypt leaf is very low in viable nutrients and koalas have a slightly lower body temperature and consequently a lower metabolic rate than most other mammals, to reduce the amount of energy expended per day. By sleeping 18-20 hours they conserve energy and their waking hours are used to feed, move and seek out mates during the breeding season. They do not get drunk on eucalypt leaves.

Do koalas only eat gum leaves?

Koalas eat a number of species of eucalypt plus the flowers, buds, stems and bark. Koalas will also eat Allocasuarinas, Corymbias and Melaleucas so their diet is quite varied.

Do only male koalas bellow?

No, females can bellow also.

How can you tell the age of a koala?

Age is mostly determined by tooth wear on the pre-molar and molar teeth (top jaw). Also skull length and crown to rump length in relation to their weight helps to determine whether they are sub-adult (not sexually active) or adult.

How fast can a koala move?

A koala can climb a tree expertly with considerable speed when necessary. On the ground they are also capable of reasonable speed over short distances.