The Entrance and Daisy Hill Koala Centre

Daisy Hill Koala Centre entrance.

For those who like animals, do not forget to stop at The Entrance, New South Wales. Here you can see how cute the pelican birds when fed. If you want to see koalas, you can also come to the Daisy Hill Koala Centre

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 25km 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.

Resident koalas can be seen from two different level viewing boardwalks at the Daisy Hill Koala Centre.

Visitors are not able to handle or pat the koalas.

Celeste

Celeste was born on New Year’s 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.

Faith

Faith was admitted to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital on 1 November 2011 as a suspected car strike victim. A physical examination revealed she had no signs of injury, however reproductive cysts were detected. As a result she had her ovaries removed.

Koalas that are sterile are not released back to the wild so Faith has come to live at Daisy Hill Koala Centre as an education display koala. Faith was likely to have been born in the wild in 2007. She is a very friendly and calm-natured koala who loves to sit in the rain. You can easily identify her by the pink pigmentation on the heels of her hind paws.

Elsa

Elsa was admitted to the Moggill Koala Hospital on 27 July 2011. She was found on the roadside and was thought to have been hit by a car. After further examination, 28 ticks were found on her tiny body, explaining her severe anaemia and poor condition.

She was believed to be eight months old when she was found. At this age she should still have been with her mother who, despite an extensive search, was unfortunately never found.

After her rehabilitation, Elsa did not show signs that she had the necessary skills to survive in the wild. Permission was granted for to her to remain in captivity for education purposes at the Daisy Hill Koala Centre.

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 programs.

Programs and activities

Daisy Hill Koala Centre staff run koala-focused education programs for schools and groups within the centre. If you'd like to know more or are interested in making a booking, contact the centre between 8am and 4pm weekdays, and talk to a ranger.

The Connect with Nature school program features environmental education activities offered in Queensland’s parks and forests. It gives students the opportunity to experience Queensland’s natural environment and cultural heritage through ranger-guided activities. Some activities are designed to meet the State curriculum, and some may attract a small user-pays fee.

Family fun day—Sunday 29 September 10am to 2pm

How to get there

If travelling south from Brisbane on the Pacific Motorway:

turn off at exit 24

turn left into 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 into Winnetts Road

turn left into Daisy Hill Road and continue to the Daisy Hill Conservation Park.

Useful links

Daisy Hill Koala Centre brochure