Koala Reserve

Phillip Island’s diverse environment provides habitats for various native animal species, including some majestic ones.

Visitors can see some of Australia’s most iconic animals up close through various conservation efforts on the island.

Take the Phillip Island Tour and visit the Koala Conservation Centre on Phillip Island. You can also see some of Australia’s most iconic animals up close at events held around the island.

Visit Koala Reserve on Phillip Island

Located just an hour and a half’s drive from Melbourne, the Phillip Island Koala Conservation Centre offers visitors the chance to admire adorable koalas in their natural habitat. These little cubs are one of Australia’s most popular animals and the centre offers visitors an insight into their amazing behaviour, history and habitat.

There is plenty to do at the centre itself. The centre’s grounds, consisting mainly of lush eucalyptus forest, allow the koalas to roam freely as they would in the wild. To give visitors a better view, the tent has several interwoven paths that allow them to get up close and personal with the koalas without encroaching on their space. There are more than 6 hectares of walking trails to explore, all of which are easily accessible.

During your walk, you can also admire the beautiful wetland landscape surrounding the centre and see other native species. Keep an eye out for wallabies and echidnas, which also frequent the area.

Perhaps the best part of the Koala Conservation Centre is the annual litter of young koalas. If you visit the centre at the right time, you can watch the cubs take their first steps into the world outside their mother’s pouch, see them learn to climb. Whatever you do, don’t forget your camera!

Promoting Koala Conservation

The Koala Conservation Centre is an ecotourism attraction that has helped preserve the koala population on Phillip Island and the natural bush environment of the region.

As conservation efforts intensify, a koala breeding program has been implemented to increase the population of these unique creatures.

Where is the Koala Conservation Centre?

The Centre is located in Phillip Island, approximately an hour and a half from Melbourne. After crossing the bridge to enter Phillip Island, drive for about 15 minutes until you reach the Koala Reserve.

Activities available at the Koala Conservation Centre

Not only can you have a squiz at the koalas lounging about in their backyard, but you can also join in on the Koala Eco-Explorer Tour. Led by a clued-up guide, you’ll get the inside scoop on one of Oz’s most legendary critters.

Over at the Centre, you’re in for a real treat as you watch the animals do their business in the wild. This isn’t your average zoo experience; these koalas live it up in the eucalypt bush and nearby wetlands, just as nature intended. And keep your peepers peeled for other Aussie icons, like wallabies, possums, echidnas, and even the odd snake.

For a proper gander at the koalas, wander along the Centre’s boardwalks. The Tree Top Koala Boardwalk is a beautiful 800-metre loop that’ll have you back in 20 minutes. Or try the Tree Top Woodland Boardwalk; it’s a bit shorter at 600 metres but still a solid 20-minute stroll. These paths are tops for getting up close with the koalas, and there’s a brand-spanking-new viewing spot where you can come nose-to-nose with these adorable furballs. This ecotourism adventure is a deadset winner, offering a chance to see koalas in their natural digs, a fair dinkum change from the usual zoo day out.

Koala info at Conservation Centre

• Australia is home to less than 80,000 koalas in the wild and captivity. Loss of habitat is their biggest threat, but efforts are being made to manage this by adding new breeding areas at the Koala Conservation Centre.
• Koalas are nocturnal animals, sleeping during the day and becoming active at night. They primarily eat gum leaves, consuming up to 1 kilogram each night. Koalas are selective eaters, only choosing specific types of gum leaves.
• Koalas in the northern regions of Australia have less fur than those in the south due to the colder climate in the southern regions.
• Koalas are marsupials, not bears. They carry their joeys in their pouches until the young are fully developed.

Do koalas consume water?

Koala bears primarily obtain the water they need from the gum leaves they consume, but they may also drink rainwater in response to climate change and loss of habitat.

The Town of Rhyll

The Koala Conservation Centre is in Rhyll, a charming fishing village known for its wildlife and delicious seafood. There are two main centres in town, one with beachside cafes and the other with a general store. The Rhyll Inlet is a popular attraction due to the abundance of birdlife. Visitors can view these birds by walking along the boardwalk from the town centre to the inlet.