Phillip Island Nature Parks - Koala Conservation Reserve
Phillip Island Nature Parks - Koala Conservation Reserve
Phillip Island Nature Parks - Koala Conservation Reserve
4
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Meet our koalas ‘face to face’ from our amazing treetop boardwalks at this unique ecotourism attraction. This area of natural woodland is also home to an amazing variety of birds and wildlife.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
1,254 reviews
Excellent
522
Very good
450
Average
217
Poor
41
Terrible
24
brittapps
Melbourne, Australia261 contributions
Jun 2020 • Family
We visited at the end of the Covid crisis so not many tourists- lucky to have seen 12 people! We had the best weather and saw a koala awake and alert which was very exciting. There’s great information to access to learn about the local fauna. It’s easily accessible with a pram. Affordable tourist attraction ($27 for 2 x adults, under 4 free) We spent 45mins there. Highly recommend to check out when visiting Phillip Island
Written 18 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gayle Y
2 contributions
Feb 2021 • Family
2 adults and a teenager.
The complex itself is modern with all the usual facilities. Very clean and spacious, easy to get around. The staff were very conscious of complying to COVID standards.
The park itself is natural bush land with walking paths. To access the enclosures, there’s a double gate system and wide ramps to gain access to the raised walkways. Without realising it, you very quickly become part of the bush canopy and play “spot the koala”. There are signs on the fencing to help you locate them, with information about each koala. I have to say, we felt very spoiled at how close they were!!
Yes, we melted and just watched them sleep, stretch and yawn.
The cafe was not attended this day however, there was a cold water fountain available at the entrance. There is also an enclosure with wallabies etc however, we did not attend this due to time constraints.
All in all, well worth the visit and to support the valuable work done by the organisation.
The complex itself is modern with all the usual facilities. Very clean and spacious, easy to get around. The staff were very conscious of complying to COVID standards.
The park itself is natural bush land with walking paths. To access the enclosures, there’s a double gate system and wide ramps to gain access to the raised walkways. Without realising it, you very quickly become part of the bush canopy and play “spot the koala”. There are signs on the fencing to help you locate them, with information about each koala. I have to say, we felt very spoiled at how close they were!!
Yes, we melted and just watched them sleep, stretch and yawn.
The cafe was not attended this day however, there was a cold water fountain available at the entrance. There is also an enclosure with wallabies etc however, we did not attend this due to time constraints.
All in all, well worth the visit and to support the valuable work done by the organisation.
Written 1 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your very positive review of your visit to the Koala Conservation Centre.
Written 27 October 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Susie
bendigo43 contributions
Aug 2021
We were met with a very bored, disinterested staff member who pretty much took our money and said it’s a self guided tour, pointing outside. One enclosure had four koalas, the other had 5. Other than that we saw one wallaby and a couple of every day common birds we can see anywhere, any day for free. The displays inside were quite well done but otherwise pretty much a waste of money. I’d recommend saving your money.
Written 6 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
catkid3
Victoria, Australia156 contributions
Feb 2023
Despite my initial concerns at the size of the reserve, I was very impressed by the environment that these koalas are provided. In some areas there are signs informing you that a koala is nearby, which was incredibly helpful as my neck got sore after looking up for so long, but part of the fun is also working to spot a koala yourself. You can easily spend over 1 1/2 hours looking at the koalas and walking along the trails. Only spotted one wallaby but that was still a lovely surprise. The only thing that I was disappointed with during my visit was the sheer amount of tourists that came through reserve in one massive pack (3 bus loads of noisy American tour groups), and I was worried how this would affect the koalas. Maybe a limit on the amount of people that can be in an area at one time would help? Otherwise it was a fantastic visit and would definitely recommend it if you're in the area..
Written 13 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review, glad our signage helped and that you also had the fun of spotting koalas yourself. Our koalas are quite used to visitors, even when we do have large tour groups, however we will pass your comments on to the ranger team.
Written 15 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ken C
Southern Queensland, Australia430 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
We went to this park as part of a 3 parks deal package which was very affordable
The koalas are wild but are in habitats that care for them & allow you to see them. I’ve tried to count koalas in Bushland & they’re tough see. You aren’t allowed to pet them, they are wild, but can get up close. There are also kangaroos (swamp I think) in the habitats too
The koalas are wild but are in habitats that care for them & allow you to see them. I’ve tried to count koalas in Bushland & they’re tough see. You aren’t allowed to pet them, they are wild, but can get up close. There are also kangaroos (swamp I think) in the habitats too
Written 8 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
E P
Warragul130 contributions
Jan 2023 • Family
If you are in Phillip Island worth doing this park not action packed but was fun trying to find the koalas. The younger children would enjoy this more than teenagers. Price wise ok costs $27 for one adult x2 kids under 13 I would be only visiting here once wouldn’t go back. It is quite educational though learning about koalas.
Written 23 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the review, glad you got to spot some of our koalas, they are rather fond of sleeping which does make for a more relaxed visit.
Written 24 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Randolph S
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Friends
Common phenomena of rude behaviour of ticketing staff at Koala Conservation Reserve (suggest you read the negative reviews about their rudeness before you come here).
To the management of Koala Conservation Reserve,
I am writing to express my disappointment regarding the recent visit my group had to the Koala Conservation Reserve at Phillip Island on Friday, 5 January. I have attempted to contact you via telephone on numerous occasions since the incident occurred on Friday, but have only been provided with this email address, and nobody has contacted me back yet.
We had two groups of people visiting the Koala Conservation Reserve that day. The first group arrived early and bought the tickets, while the second group who had brought a dog were arriving late. Upon purchasing tickets, we were unaware that dogs were not allowed in the park. Subsequently, one of our group members had to take the dog away from the park and carpark. Upon returning to the counter to inquire about a possible ticket refund, I spoke with Jessica at the ticket counter, who handled the matter professionally. However, our experience took a turn for the worse when two other staff members, an older lady with short hair and a younger lady with long hair and tattoos on both arms, interfered rudely.
As I sought clarification on the refund policy, they were dismissive and made derogatory remarks about the online terms and conditions, insinuating that I had not read them and kept telling me that I should know this. They were rude and unreasonable. I attempted to provide feedback that these terms and conditions should be displayed for counter-ticket purchasers as well. Instead of engaging in a constructive conversation, they were condescending, attempting to make me feel foolish. The younger lady with long hair and tattoos went so far as to laugh loudly at me, making false accusations that I was yelling at her in front of other customers.
Feeling humiliated and anxious, I requested the name of the staff member to file a complaint, but she refused to provide it. This experience left a lasting negative impact on our visit and the visit of our overseas visitor friends that we had brought along. Even after entering the park, other visitors noticed the situation and expressed sympathy for what I had endured.
I believe in constructive feedback and hope that you will investigate this matter promptly. I request a formal apology and assurance that appropriate actions will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
We appreciate your immediate attention to this matter.
To the management of Koala Conservation Reserve,
I am writing to express my disappointment regarding the recent visit my group had to the Koala Conservation Reserve at Phillip Island on Friday, 5 January. I have attempted to contact you via telephone on numerous occasions since the incident occurred on Friday, but have only been provided with this email address, and nobody has contacted me back yet.
We had two groups of people visiting the Koala Conservation Reserve that day. The first group arrived early and bought the tickets, while the second group who had brought a dog were arriving late. Upon purchasing tickets, we were unaware that dogs were not allowed in the park. Subsequently, one of our group members had to take the dog away from the park and carpark. Upon returning to the counter to inquire about a possible ticket refund, I spoke with Jessica at the ticket counter, who handled the matter professionally. However, our experience took a turn for the worse when two other staff members, an older lady with short hair and a younger lady with long hair and tattoos on both arms, interfered rudely.
As I sought clarification on the refund policy, they were dismissive and made derogatory remarks about the online terms and conditions, insinuating that I had not read them and kept telling me that I should know this. They were rude and unreasonable. I attempted to provide feedback that these terms and conditions should be displayed for counter-ticket purchasers as well. Instead of engaging in a constructive conversation, they were condescending, attempting to make me feel foolish. The younger lady with long hair and tattoos went so far as to laugh loudly at me, making false accusations that I was yelling at her in front of other customers.
Feeling humiliated and anxious, I requested the name of the staff member to file a complaint, but she refused to provide it. This experience left a lasting negative impact on our visit and the visit of our overseas visitor friends that we had brought along. Even after entering the park, other visitors noticed the situation and expressed sympathy for what I had endured.
I believe in constructive feedback and hope that you will investigate this matter promptly. I request a formal apology and assurance that appropriate actions will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
We appreciate your immediate attention to this matter.
Written 7 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Food-Art-Lover
Irvine, CA583 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
If this is going to be your only opportunity to see Koalas, then go. If you have seen them elsewhere, you might decide to opt out. You cannot hold or pet them. They are all in the trees and are either asleep or scratching themselves. The information about the Koalas that you can read before going out int the preserve is very interesting. They also have walabees along their woodlands walk as well as lots of birds that you can hear but may not be able to see. Not sure what the alurre is for Philip Island.
Written 23 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Day Dreaming
Nice, France3,758 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
This was an unexpected amazing experience!
We got to see 8 koalas in the trees - ranges are on hand to point them out high up in the trees. We were lucky enough to see one koala shimmy down the tree and walk along the walkway wooden railing, giving us a chance to see it up close. So super cute and cuddle (except for those long claws!)
This was a so much better experience than seeing them in a cage-enclosure, or purposely placed on a tree stump where you pose next to them for a photo.
Highly recommended!
We got to see 8 koalas in the trees - ranges are on hand to point them out high up in the trees. We were lucky enough to see one koala shimmy down the tree and walk along the walkway wooden railing, giving us a chance to see it up close. So super cute and cuddle (except for those long claws!)
This was a so much better experience than seeing them in a cage-enclosure, or purposely placed on a tree stump where you pose next to them for a photo.
Highly recommended!
Written 13 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lesley
Melbourne, Australia117 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
If you love Koala’s you should definitely visit the Koala Conservation Centre.
The boardwalk is fantastic as it brings you up and allows you to view the Koala’s up close, in their natural habitat. There was a number of Koala’s that we were able to watch at eye level.
There is no cafe on site so make sure you bring your own food & drinks.
The boardwalk is fantastic as it brings you up and allows you to view the Koala’s up close, in their natural habitat. There was a number of Koala’s that we were able to watch at eye level.
There is no cafe on site so make sure you bring your own food & drinks.
Written 3 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Lesley S
Thanks for your review, and I'm glad you enjoyed yourself and saw some koalas up-close from the boardwalks. Good point regarding the cafe (or lack of one), but we're hoping to make some exciting changes in that space over the coming months, so we hope you can come back and try it out.
Take care
Written 27 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Do I have to book? Or can I just turn up? Not sure of our travel.plans yet.
Written 19 October 2015
You can buy tickets at the counter. However if you buy 3 parks pass which includes Koala Conservation Sanctuary, Penguin Parade and Churchill Island you will save some $s as it is cheaper to buy them together.
Written 19 October 2015
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