newy.com.au – Port Stephens Council will host a free school holiday walk at One Mile to help residents identify trees koalas use for food and shelter and spot signs of the animals in the wild.
The Walk and Talk at the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary will run from 10.30am to noon on Monday 28 September 2026. Every attendee will receive a free printed Koala Tree Guide and a koala feed tree to plant at home.
The session will show residents how to recognise important trees using features such as bark, leaves and gumnuts. Participants will put the guide into practice during a guided walk and learn what clues to look for when trying to spot wild koalas.
Council natural systems coordinator Kimberly Baker said the guide was designed to make tree identification easier for people without a scientific background.
“You don’t need to be a scientist to protect local wildlife. This guide was designed as a rapid identification tool for landholders, farmers, and anyone interested in restoring koala habitats,” Mrs Baker said.
She said the aim was to help landholders identify and protect important trees on their properties, safeguard wildlife corridors and support local koala populations.
The recently launched guide was funded by the NSW Government and delivered in partnership with five regional councils, including Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie.
After the guided session, the Port Stephens Koala Hospital team will deliver its daily koala education talk.
No bookings are required for the event at the sanctuary, 562 Gan Gan Road, One Mile. Entry, presentations and giveaways are free, but access to the sanctuary’s SKYwalk is not included. Tickets for that attraction are available separately through the sanctuary’s website.
