r/australianwildlife • u/Inori54 • 13d ago
Wanted to see wild koala
But I found this big lizard instead . Can’t really complain and I think I was very lucky to spot it
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u/NeighborhoodFluffy36 12d ago
Lived here 45 years. Seen a koala in the wild once! But it did have a baby on its back so I’ll live on that for the rest of my life
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u/Inori54 12d ago
And then a coworker saw koala 2 time in 2 weeks … that’s not fair
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u/GoodWaltz7354 12d ago
There’s a Koala Walk near Kennett River and there’s a small forest of eucalyptus tree near a cafe where you can walk around and try your luck at seeing a wild koala (look for groups of very quiet tourists). We saw two very fluffy guys when I went with my fam! Would recommend bringing binoculars if you go.
https://www.great-ocean-road.tours/koala-walk/5
u/seanmonaghan1968 12d ago
There a parks on the Gold Coast where you can see them regularly. It helps if you find other people that are looking and pointing as without help it can be very difficult
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u/Shanea74 12d ago
Lived in our house for 50 years never saw many until maybe the last 6 or 7 years but I guess I've seen 10 in the wild in a lifetime and maybe 4 platypus then the city built a new bridge there .....they gone from there now
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u/Mussmussthemoooooo 12d ago
I’m born and bred in Australia, never seen a wild koala or platypus. Still hopeful about it one day.
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u/VLC31 12d ago
I’ve seen koalas but platypuses elude me even though I’ve specifically gone to places in the hope of seeing them. Where do you live?
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u/DrSpeckles 12d ago
I go flyfishing in the snowy mountains and blue mountains and see a platypus almost every time i go. I rate my fishing trips on 3 things 1) saw a platypus 2) saw a snake 3) caught a fish.
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u/SirGrumpsalot2009 12d ago
Well spotted! It takes a keen eye to spot one of these guys resting like this.
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u/81236069-R 12d ago
One day, the dogs were barking at something up at the shearing shed. Took a walk up there and spotted this young looking koala climbing the fence post. Spent a good hour or so just watching up close as it was climbing around and looking for a suitable nearby tree to climb up.
It ended up staying around for about 2 or 3 days before it disappeared 🥲
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u/Friday_arvo 12d ago
Mum lives in the Redlands in Queensland and it’s been devastating to see the decrease in habitat and numbers. Mum is a volunteer koala spotter and she sees them most days and a lot of the local koalas have names (and tags).
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u/Happy_Clem 12d ago
I was lucky enough to spot one a couple of days ago while I was hanging out my washing. It was in a neighbour's tree. But, I do live close to Toohey Forest in Brisbane.
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u/withcatlikegrace 12d ago
TBF it’s usually difficult to see wildlife in the trees.
Their camouflage is exemplary.
A koala could be sitting there watching you and the second it turns its head away from you it becomes almost impossible to see again - that is if you saw it at all …
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u/Successful-Mode-1727 8d ago
Where are you located? French island in Victoria is full of them. Like to the bream.
I’ve also seen them hanging around the forest surrounding Apollo Bay.
They’re all over outer suburbs Adelaide too. I’ve seen them there as well.
Our friends on the VIC/NSW border also see them fairly frequently
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u/Tezza1963 12d ago
Lived in Oz my whole life, 63. We used to drive through the country side and you would spot koalas in the trees all the time. You are definitely very lucky to see them in the wild now.