Saturday 18 March 2023

Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park - Kangaroos and Koalas

 16 November 2022 - 7.45am start.

As soon as we drove into the Conservation Park, we were startled by the white 'fluff' covering every inch of the ground and hanging off all the greenery. It was the blossom of one of the varieties of trees, but google hasn't been able to give me a name for the tree.

Within minutes, we spotted the first wallaby / kangaroo. Alas, I'm not able to definitively say which. Usually, the smaller animal is the wallaby.
You may like to learn how to distinguish the differences, here.

https://a-z-animals.com/blog/wallaby-vs-kangaroo-more-than-just-different-types-of-kangaroos/


Definitely kangaroo.

Not sure. Wallaby?

Further on, the ground wasn't covered in white, but the blue flower of the Billy Goat Weed.


We then entered a swampland of stately paperbark trees. [Melaleucas]



Other habitats that we walked through.












At the northern end of the reserve, we exited and followed the Coombabah River around a housing estate, before reentering the reserve via a wonderful boardwalk.








It was our lucky day. One is assured of seeing kangaroos and wallabies as their numbers are quite high. Sighting koalas is not a given. On this visit, we spotted six! They are mostly high in the Eucalpyts, so my zoom lens comes in very handy.

No 1

No 2

Our viewing of the koala was interrupted by the antics and screeching of two Channel Billed Cuckoos and soon after, by a very scruffy Nankeen Night Heron.



No 3

No 4

No 5


No 6


Bottom left is the scratching of an elusive Echidna.

Several hours had been happily spent wandering through this exceptional reserve. The Hungry Hikers needed sustenance. Leanne quickly came to our rescue!

We are so very fortunate to have Coombabah so close.

I would love to read your comment.

15 comments:

  1. What a wonderful walk - such a variety of flora and fauna. My favourite is the paper bark trees.

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    1. The paper barks, swamp and reflections are quite stunning.

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  2. Beautiful boardwalk! The roos don't seem to mind the fluff...

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    1. The fluff is edible, on this occasion.

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  3. The quintessential Australian post, kangaroos and koalas. Love it! The paperbark trees alone are worth a visit to that reserve and the heron has a vague resemblance to those we have here. Great post, Helen. That place is worth regular visits but you have so many great areas for hiking there.

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    1. Yes, Marie, very typical Aussie bush and wonderful to be able to see these iconic Aussie animals so close to the huzzle and buzzle of the Gold Coast.

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  4. What a lucky day for wildlife sightings! Love all the kangaroo pics and videos. And you got some great photos of the koalas.

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    1. Thanks, Linda. My little point and shoot camera really does a great job. As I've said before, I'm always imagining how many pics and their quality, if you were here with me.

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  5. A fabulous post, Helen! I especially appreciated the interesting, handsome trees and the fascinating animals that also look very funny in some moments.
    Thank you for your comments (blog and IG). Just think that you have visited even Kuopio! You have really been everywhere. :) Our landscapes are indeed rather flat and with (coniferous and mixed) forests and lakes. And it can easily snow in March... just like now.
    Wishing you lovely autumn days! xx

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    1. Our furry animals are fascinating, Sara. Our scaley animals not quite so, but thankfully we don't see them too often.
      I was extremely fortunate to live the 'Aussie travel to Europe dream' in my twenties.
      I guess it could still be snowing for you. Both Matthew and Stuart have had snow this week.

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  6. What a full day and I am thinking full bellies after enjoying Leanne's treats! Thank you for bringing us along on a full on Aussie hike! Nature at its best!

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    1. Always lovely to have you along, Alexandra.

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  7. Beautiful post! Thank you for sharing. The kangaroos are wonderful!

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  8. We never tire of seeing them, margi.

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