It was not until a friend visited for a lengthy stay that I realised just how many beautiful nature reserves and parks I had in my local area. Although it is noted that there are not as many koalas in
The Redlands or
Brisbane anymore, they can still be found with a little perseverance and no time restraints.
Brisbane Koala Bushland (Author's Photo)
is a good place to start, not only for walkers but for horse riders as well, with designated paths marked out for everyone's use. However, horse riders must adhere to their nominated path and give way to walkers. The park is located on Alperton Road Burbank, off Mt Cotton Road. There is a picnic area with relatively new amenities, electric BBQ's and toilet facilities. Picnic tables are erected both outside and under a covered area that is suitable for large groups, making the park an excellent venue for a family gathering.
Horse & Walking Trails indicated - Author's photo
The track through the bush has a bitumen surface and wide enough for a motorised scooter or wheelchair, although it does have an incline as you meander further into the park. The walk is refreshing and great for mild to medium fitness levels. We were fortunate to find a baby brown
koala, high up in a eucalypt resting on the thinnest of branches and sleeping the day away. The park is close to
Stockyard Creek where the vegetation changes significantly from the upper regions of the reserve both in colour and tree species.
Wallaby seen near JC Trotter Memorial Park - Author's photo
Close by is the
JC Trotter Memorial Park, again with excellent amenities for visitors. Although we didn't see any koalas on the day of our visit to this park, we did see several Wallabies, which remained stationary long enough for several close photographs. It was as if they were quite used to people wanting to take their photograph! There wasn't any bitumen here, yet cleared bush paths probably mowed down by the regular visitor. The tall
Scribbly Gums and
Eucalypts dotted the skyline providing a cool canopy for our walk. The bush under the trees was thick with Banksias and Grass Trees. Dogs are allowed through the park on a leash and as we walked a gentleman passed us with a small dog.
Undercover eating area at JC Trotter Memorial Park - Author's photo
The
JC Trotter Memorial Park is located along Cherbon Street in
Burbank and a leisurely walk will take you approximately one hour. There is a small car park at the entrance of the park close to the covered picnic area.
JC Trotter Memorial Park - Author's photo
Upon finding and reading a copy of the
Koala Action Group's Newsletter we were eager to investigate the streets they noted in Cleveland, which they believed was a regular koala habitat. Parking in Shore Street, we made our way first to 53 Shore Street East where a large
tereticornis tree, known as "The Family Tree", is considered a regular haunt for catching sight of several koalas. Sadly, this was not the case on the day of our visit as it was a busy holiday period; however, as we were determined to see koalas in the area, we kept walking through
GJ Walter Park, along lagoon corridors and across bridges finally to
William Ross Park. In separate trees, that were in close proximity to each other, we saw three older grey coloured koalas. Noting from our research we gathered these would have been all female or one male and two females as no two males could inhabit the same area without a territorial fight.
Australia's Koala - Author's photo
The William Ross Park is a spacious open park with sealed pathways around numerous tall trees close to a housing estate. We watched as many people out for a morning jog or brisk walk did so with no realisation of the beautiful creatures sleeping above.
Waterways, Cleveland - Author's photo
Satisfied that we found more locations of this wonderful arboreal herbivorous marsupial, the koala still occupying many hectares of native and populated areas, our treks will only increase to enjoy the beauty our land has to offer. As the many signs say, "Please help protect the koala". You can also report koala sightings on the Koala Action Group
Website.
