We were so excited to see this koala munching leaves in the tree on our driveway.
Koalas Call Valle Laguna Home
There is a particular kind of quiet that settles over a farm stay in the early morning. The mist lifts off the paddocks, the kookaburras start up their chorus, and if you tilt your head back and look into the gum trees, you might just find a pair of round ears and a sleepy grey face looking right back at you.
Koalas are one of Australia’s most loved animals, and at Valle Laguna, they are part of the neighbourhood.
A Life Lived in the Treetops
Despite the common nickname “koala bear”, koalas are marsupials, not bears. Babies, called joeys, spend their first six months or so developing in their mother’s pouch before venturing out to cling to her back.
Koalas are famously sleepy. They spend most of the day, often 18 to 20 hours, resting in the forks of trees. This isn’t laziness so much as survival. Their diet of eucalyptus leaves is low in nutrition and tough to digest, so koalas conserve energy by moving as little as possible.
Picky Eaters with a Eucalypt Habit
Of the hundreds of eucalyptus species across Australia, koalas feed on only a small selection, and individual koalas often have their favourites. The leaves provide both food and most of the water they need, which is why the name “koala” is thought to derive from an Aboriginal word meaning “no drink”.
This is why habitat matters so much. A koala can’t simply move into any patch of bush. It needs the right mix of feed trees for eating and larger, mature trees for shelter and shade, especially during hot weather.
Why Habitat Matters
Koalas have faced growing pressure in recent years from land clearing, bushfires, drought and disease. Healthy, connected stands of native trees give them room to move safely between feeding and resting spots, find mates and raise young.
Properties like ours play a small but meaningful part in that picture. Retaining mature gums, planting native corridors and leaving the bush to do what it does best all help keep koalas thriving in the landscape.
Spotting Koalas at Valle Laguna
Because our koalas are wild, every sighting is a little bit special. They go where they please, and part of the thrill is the search. Here are a few tips to help you find them:
- Look up. Scan the forks and branches of gum trees, especially mid-morning and late afternoon.
- Look for clues. Scratch marks on trunks and droppings beneath trees can point to a regular koala spot.
- Listen at dusk. Male koalas have a deep, rumbling bellow that carries surprisingly far, particularly in breeding season.
- Bring binoculars. A good pair lets you watch them closely without disturbing them.
Watching Wild Koalas Respectfully
The best koala encounters are the ones where the koala barely notices you. Keep a respectful distance, avoid loud noise, never try to touch or feed them, and keep dogs well away from the trees. Quiet observation is all you need for a memorable experience.
Sightings can’t be guaranteed, but the gum trees around the property are a favourite spot for our resident koalas, and guests may be lucky enough to see one during their stay.
So pack your binoculars, bring your sense of patience, and come and see why Valle Laguna is a place that koalas, and our guests, love to return to.
