We had a slow morning in
Stockton, and decided to explore the peninsula we were on – it’s kind of a long
upside-down T shape, with the town of Stockton on the SW end and Nelson Bay on
the NE end, about 50 km 
apart. Or
something along that line.
We made it to Nelson Bay by
noon, passing farms with fields of cows, sheep, horses, a llama or two, and
occasionally several wallabies munching grass or watching the cars go by. The wallabies usually weren’t in 
with
the farm animals, they seemed to prefer empty fields and pastures with forest
nearby. But they definitely were
out.
with
the farm animals, they seemed to prefer empty fields and pastures with forest
nearby. But they definitely were
out.
We also drove by sign after
sign about slow down for koalas, and where to take injured wildlife – all with
drawings of koalas. This truly is
koala country, this little peninsula with national parks and eucalyptus
forest. Woohooo and yay, and of
course I spent half my time looking up into the trees as we 
drove along!
drove along!
Nelson Bay is a nice little
town, with marinas full of fishing boats, nice seafood cafés, and some of the
largest white pelicans I’ve ever seen!
Truly huge birds! They were
very good about posing for pictures.
We talked to a nice woman at
the info center, who suggested staying at Koala Shores Holiday Park (camping
and cabins) – there are koalas in the forest here, as 
well as a trail to the
Tilligerry Reserve, a tract of land fenced off to keep the koalas safe. So we made our way out here, and set up
the van. Which means moving excess
luggage and the picnic table and chairs OUT of the “house” part of the van and
into the cab for overnight storage, as well as plugging in for electricity.
well as a trail to the
Tilligerry Reserve, a tract of land fenced off to keep the koalas safe. So we made our way out here, and set up
the van. Which means moving excess
luggage and the picnic table and chairs OUT of the “house” part of the van and
into the cab for overnight storage, as well as plugging in for electricity.
And I was off, down to the
boardwalk that meanders through the forest, looking for my koala buddies.
Unfortunately, we’re still
feeling the tail end of the storm system that hit 
Sydney last weekend. There isn’t much wind, but there’s
still continuous rain, mostly light to moderate but sometimes heavy. And chilly. And grey. And
damp.
Sydney last weekend. There isn’t much wind, but there’s
still continuous rain, mostly light to moderate but sometimes heavy. And chilly. And grey. And
damp.
So the koalas are all
huddling into their nooks and crannies in the trees, trying to stay warm and
dry, keeping their babies close and snuggled in. They aren’t coming down out of the trees the way they
normally do in the evening, foraging for better leaves or trees. They’re just staying put and trying to
not get too wet or chilled.
Which meant I didn’t see any
koalas. Twilight came and went,
the forest grew dark, the purple-headed parrots and crested cockatoos set up a
ferocious racket, and the koalas stayed hidden. The boardwalk grew slick with rain, I got colder and wetter,
my shoes got soggy, and the koalas stayed hidden. It was just like the time I walked through the paths and
bridges of Monteverde Cloud Forest, dripping wet and cold and positive that the
monkeys were watching me and laughing.
I knew they were out there, I could even occasionally hear them – I just
couldn’t see them.
I’m POSITIVE there were
koalas out there.
They were just hidden.
(I’ll try again tomorrow.)
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