Following five years of planning, fundraising, and construction, the Port Stephen’s Koala Sanctuary officially opened their doors in One Mile in late September 2020. Located on Gan Gan road in One Mile, the new koala sanctuary has been erected on eight hectares of bushland; making it the ultimate home for our native koalas.

Port Stephens Council, in partnership with Port Stephens Koalas, brings the sanctuary together to ensure first-class care to sick, injured, and orphaned koalas. Now open daily, the Koala Sanctuary offers visitors a unique opportunity to see koalas in their natural habitat. Every visitor that walks through the gate contributes towards the rehabilitation, preservation, and conservation of koalas.

Incorporating tourism and conservation, the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary. The first point of call on your visit is through the Koala Centre; visitor admission and guest reception. Be greeted by the informative staff ready to aid you with all you need to know on a visit to the sanctuary.

Your next step is to spend your time wandering down the Sanctuary Story Walk. A 250m path dedicated to offering visitors an immersive educational experience of the koala habitat. Along the way, take in the koala sculptures and pose for your very own selfie with a gigantic koala!

At the end of the Sanctuary Story Walk, you can head over to the viewing window of the Koala Hospital to see if there are any examinations or treatments happening. See first-hand how sanctuary staff work with the koalas.

Make your way through the gates to the hospital’s right and start your way up the Newcastle Airport SKYwalk and elevated viewing platform. You’ll gain a unique perspective into the Koala’s natural habitats and read about each of the koala’s individual journeys to becoming a tenant at the Koala Sanctuary.

Once you reach the top, you’ll have a view into the larger enclosure as well as views over to Samurai Beach. See how long it can take you to spot all of the koalas (make sure to look high up into the trees)! Wrap up your visit and drop into the Fat Possum Café; offering visitors a range of grab and go foodie and beverage options (including good coffee).

Whilst you’ve been taking your time to explore the Koala Sanctuary, there’s no doubt you would have noticed the glamping tents on the outskirts of the sanctuary. Get excited because you can book your very own glamping tent and spend a night with the koalas! 

The deluxe 4-star accommodation allows guests to be able to wake up with the sanctuary’s koalas. You’ll be close enough to experience all that Port Stephens has to offer but secluded enough to have a luxury getaway in native surroundings.

You’ll even have access to the park (except for the SKYwalk) once the gates close to day guests. You could wander the Story Walk all night or make your way to one of the open BBQ spaces to cook up a storm late into the evening; just remember to keep an eye out for any other native wildlife!

If there’s something to celebrate at the end of what has been an eventful year, the opening of the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary has got to be one of them.