Daisy Hill Koala Centre
Daisy Hill Koala Centre entrance.
Built by the Queensland Government as a dedicated koala education facility, the Daisy Hill Koala Centre was opened to the public in 1995. Extensively refurbished in 2009, it now features a large outdoor koala enclosure and many new interactive displays.
- Admission is free.
- Open daily from 10am to 4pm (except Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday).
- Walkways are suitable for wheelchairs.
- Located 25 km south of Brisbane in the Daisy Hill Conservation Park.
The Daisy Hill Conservation Park comprises 435 hectares of open eucalypt forest. It has long been a popular bushland retreat for people, and is home to many native animals including koalas.
Koalas
Eucky
Freckle
Celeste
Mangiri
Resident koalas can be seen from two different level viewing boardwalks at the Daisy Hill Koala Centre.
Visitors are unable to handle or pat the koalas.
Eucky
Eucky was born in November 1997 at the David Fleay Wildlife Park. During her 11 years at the park, Eucky successfully raised two joeys. In 2009, she became a grandmother to a male joey also born at David Fleay Wildlife Park.
Eucky came to the Daisy Hill Koala Centre in March 2009 to be an education display koala. She is often seen resting in a tree fork, sitting among the leaves, and is recognised by her long body and large furry ears.
Freckle
Freckle was found in the pouch of a wild female koala who was rescued and taken to the Moggill Koala Hospital for medical treatment in 2005. When her mother (Speckle) did not survive, the orphaned Freckle was cared for and prepared to be returned to the wild.
However, Freckle did not show she had the necessary skills to survive in the wild. Permission was granted for her to remain in captivity for education purposes at the Daisy Hill Koala Centre.
Freckle is often high up on the outdoor crossbeam above the lower boardwalk where she loves to sit, even in the rain. Although fully grown, Freckle is a small sized koala with much smaller ears than the others.
Celeste
Celeste was born on New Years Day, 2005. She arrived at Daisy Hill Koala Centre from The Big Pineapple’s former wildlife sanctuary on the Sunshine Coast in April 2011, along with her niece, Mangiri. Celeste and Mangiri are very close and can sometimes be seen snuggling together on the tree forks.
Celeste has a scar on her left eye which is possibly due to a scuffle she had with another koala while in captivity. She can also be distinguished from the other resident koalas by her very white bottom.
Celeste can usually be seen sitting high up in the tree forks. On most rainy days she will sit in a tree fork that is sheltered from the rain because she does not like to get wet.
Mangiri
Mangiri was born at The Big Pineapple’s former wildlife sanctuary on the Sunshine Coast on 13 June 2009.
In April 2011 Mangiri came to live at Daisy Hill Koala Centre, along with her aunt, Celeste. Mangiri loves her aunty and can sometimes be seen snuggling up to her in the fork of a tree.
Mangiri is the youngest koala at Daisy Hill Koala Centre. She has the softest and fluffiest fur, a rounder belly and a more youthful face than the other koalas. Her parents are relatively large koalas so it is very likely she will be too.
What to see in the centre
Learn more about koalas by exploring the fun and informative displays in the centre. Take time to:
- watch a film in the Midnight Woodland Theatre about the plight of koalas
- play the Koala Quest and Koala Quiz games on the interactive kiosks
- find out why koalas are listed as vulnerable in South East Queensland
- climb the observation tower to get a koala’s eye view of the world—koalas might even be spotted from here
- discover all about the koala’s life cycle and unique biology
- learn the signs and symptoms of a sick or injured koala
- get hands-on with radio tracking and finding out about koala research and monitoring
- learn how to keep koalas safe in the backyard
- become informed about the Queensland Government’s Koala Response Strategy.
Programs and activities
The centre runs a curriculum-based environmental education program for schools.
The Connect with Nature events and activities calendar (previously known as Go Bush) offers a variety of ranger-led activities for school holiday visitors.
How to get there
If travelling south from Brisbane on the Pacific Motorway:
- turn off at exit 25 (Shailer Park exit)
- turn left onto Shailer Road
- turn right onto Daisy Hill Road, and continue to the Daisy Hill Conservation Park.
If travelling north from the Gold Coast on the Pacific Motorway:
- turn off at exit 24 (Daisy Hill–Loganlea exit)
- turn right onto the overpass
- turn right onto Winnetts Road
- turn left onto Daisy Hill Road and continue to the Daisy Hill Conservation Park.
Useful links
- Daisy Hill Koala Centre brochure (PDF, 427K)*
Daisy Hill Koala Centre activity sheets for children
- activity sheets 1 & 2 (ages 5-8) (PDF, 1.2M)*
- activity sheets 3 & 4 (ages 9+) (PDF, 1.1M)*
- activity sheet 5 - koala maze (PDF, 922K)*
- activity sheet 6 - find-a-word (PDF, 505K)*
- activity sheet 7 - find-a-word (PDF, 555K)*
Contact us
Daisy Hill Koala Centre
Daisy Hill Road
PO Box 5116
Daisy Hill QLD 4127
Ph (07) 3299 1032 Fax (07) 3299 1217
International +61 7 3299 1032 Fax +61 7 3299 1217
Email the koala.centre@derm.qld.gov.au more information
* Requires Adobe Reader
Last updated 30 August 2011