Koalas of the Great Ocean Rd- Travelling with Kids – Family Travel Blog

Now who doesn’t love koalas, Australia’s famous little cuddly looking bears. We spent the long weekend at Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Rd and when we visited the Cape Otway National Park, driving through the eucalyptus trees you could see the koalas in the trees. People had pulled over to the side of the road all the way down into the Cape Otway Lighthouse. We stopped and jumped out with the kids so that they could have a look at koalas in their natural habitat.

A few years back the Victorian Government approved the culling of some of the koalas located in the Cape Otway National Park. Australia approves of the culling of our native animals but against the wishes of many people, the controversial culling took place. The reason for the culling was over-population, the koalas were killing their natural habitat and in the end there wouldn’t be enough trees to feed the number of koalas in the area.

Having visited there last week I could see the devastation the koalas had caused on the trees and can understand why this had to be done. As much as I didn’t like it, it seems the reasons were justified. The vegetation seemed pretty healthy down there at the minute but you could pick where the koalas were from the mess on the road from were the koalas were stripping the leaves off the branches.

Sleepy koala!
Sleepy koala, these lucky devils sleep 23 hours per day!

 

Anyway like it or not it had to happen but there are still plenty of koalas to be seen and some of them as low as just out of arms reach. Remember they might look cute and cuddly, but if you ever come across a wild koala, they’re not the friendliest of animals and can do a bit of damage with there claws, so be careful and keep a healthy distance!

Cute koalas
Hard to get a good shot – Koala’s at Cape Otway National Park

I have included some of the cute photos we took over the weekend, they are super cute animals and even though I have seen loads of them I couldn’t go past and not stop for a look and of course, the kids loved it!

Koala - Cape Otway National Park
Koala – Cape Otway National Park

We accidentally woke this little fella up while we were trying to move the branch from in front of his face, lucky he didn’t seem to concerned about the intrusion!

Close up koala, Cape Otway National Park.
Close up koala, Cape Otway National Park.

Isn’t that just the cutest face!

Another sleep koala, there were loads of them
Another sleep koala, there were loads of them

And one more just for good luck!

Koala - Cape Otway National Park
Koala – Cape Otway National Park

This was definitely a highlight but were is quite a bit to do down the Great Ocean Rd, we visited the Otway Fly Treetop Adventures, the 12 Apostles, Apollo Bay and Lorne.  A little further past the end of the Great Ocean Rd is the sleepy little sea side town of Port Fairy. If you’re down that way I suggest you stop in, it’s a little quieter than the main touristy towns on the Great Ocean Rd.

Save travels,

Sal.

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