Wilson Promontory National Park and Koalas (Australia Part 23)

In the evening, we arrived at our next accommodation, where we had a cottage in a picturesque location with a water view.

There were also some eucalyptus trees on the property, and after a short search, we discovered a female koala with a baby.

However, it was still a good hour's drive to Wilson Promontory National Park, our destination the next morning.

There, we first hiked along the 'Lilly Pilly Circuit' trail, which led us into a rainforest landscape.

Then we went uphill, and from the foothills of Mount Bishop, we had a beautiful view of the coast.

We took a short walk along the Tidal Rivers, which was near the Visitor Centre. Even though this national park is considered a 'hidden gem among international tourists' (not really a secret if it's in the travel guide...), we had a hard time finding a parking spot. During World War II, this park was used for military training, and there was a major event at the memorial. Many local day-trippers also came on a beautiful Sunday, so the hiking trails were quite busy.

Finally, we hoped to spot some animals and chose the 'Proms Wildlife Walk'. We actually saw many kangaroos, but unfortunately, they were very far away.

Kangaroo puzzle

Back at the hotel, the female koala was now sitting right next to our terrace, so we could observe her from there or from the bedroom.

When our hostess came, she told us that the mother is only 15 months old and the baby was born three months ago.

Later, we saw 'Buttons' (that's her nickname because of her button eyes) climbing down the tree and choosing a new tree for the evening.