Spicers Hidden Vale and the Ultimate Koala Safari
The koala’s ears twitched as he began to wake from the anesthetic. We watched the nurse gently place a cream coloured blanket on his grey fur as he rested on top of a hot-water bottle. Worry was etched on the kids’ faces.
We were watching the scene through a large glass window at the Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre, located at Spicers Hidden Vale. Waiting to begin a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility, the open view wildlife veterinary room was the first unique experience on our memorable visit.
Sitting quietly, we watched the koala’s ears twitch again and again. I suspect the twitching was an after effect of the anesthetic. However, it was fun to think he might be having a great koala dream.
More people came in for the tour and watched the cuddly koala and his two doctors, but they didn’t seem the slightest bit bothered that strangers were gawking at their every move.
Credit – Jessica Palmer
Introducing Dr Andrew Tribe …
Strolling into the room, Dr Andrew Tribe announced cheerily that he would be taking us through the facility. Dr Tribe runs the centre and we were also heading out on a ”Koala Safari” after our behind the scenes tour.
Run in collaboration with the Turner Family Foundation and the University of Queensland, the Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre is no zoo. It is purely a dedicated research and teaching facility! A tour of the Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre involves a unique behind-the-scenes peek at the students and researches working in their labs, as well as some of their furry and scaly subjects.
Dr Tribe had my son’s complete attention when he dumped a stumpy tailed lizard in his hands. At this point, my daughter slunk back behind my legs less he dump something scary in her hands. We learnt about their current research programs and also met some much cuter residents in the pygmy gliders. However, the spotted-tailed quolls proved to be rather elusive.
We were relieved to learn that the koala waking up from anesthetic was not injured, but having a health check-up as part of Dr Tribe’s research tracking the resident population of Hidden Vale’s 12,000 acres. Koalas are under serious threat in South East Queensland and the research will provide valuable data that will help improve the status of Australia’s cuddly icon. They aim to build the koala population here at Spicers Hidden Vale and reintroduce them to other specific areas.
Credit – Tourism & Events Queensland
The Koala Safari begins …
The Koala Safari began with a short ride in the back of a troop carrier to one of the ”koala hotspots.” Dr Tribe was last in the vehicle, carrying a mysterious blue thing that looked vaguely like a bright, but smallish TV aerial. The portable kind you might see on a caravan.
It took around 10 minutes to reach the first hotspot. The koalas are fitted with a GPS collar and using modern technology, researchers can track their whereabouts on a tablet. On the Koala Safari, participants assist the researchers in locating and checking the welfare of the koala community using this technology. Hidden Vale is currently tracking around 26 furry icons!
After a short walk through long grass and under towering grey gum trees, Dr Tribe and the research student stopped and began looking skywards into the treetops.
‘’They’re around here somewhere,’’ the student said, unfolding the blue contraption which did indeed turn out to be an antenna. A koala antenna! The kids watched fascinated as she plugged it into a portable device, placed some headphones over her ears and pointed it towards the sky, angling it this way and that. Each koala tracking unit is fitted with its own frequency so Dr Tribe’s team is able to tell exactly which koala is where without disturbing them.
Once she had whittled it down to a specific tree, we all eagerly hoped to be the first to find a familiar furry bottom. Sure enough, a koala was spotted high up among the gum leaves, fast asleep. We learned the koala’s names, who were related and even a bit of koala relationship gossip.
Credit – Jessica Palmer
Koala hotspot #2 …
A few more koalas later and we jumped back in the troop carrier to head to a second koala hotspot nearby. The kids made plans in the back of the truck to embark on their own koala safari at home. My heart sang.
The koalas at the second hotspot were particularly elusive but we eventually found one very high up and fast asleep like the others. “Are they always asleep,” the kids asked?
We learned they actually sleep around 18 hours a day! This allows them to conserve energy due to their staple diet of eucalypt leaf being very low in nutrients. The kids were excited to learn how to find koalas in the wild, by tell-tale scratchings on the tree trunk and their distinct droppings.
Satisfied with our furry findings and tummies rumbling, we all trooped back through the long grass. As I pulled the scratchy prickles from my socks on the drive back to Spicers Hidden Vale, I reflected that the Koala Safari was a very unique experience and a great opportunity for all ages to be engaged in the moment and learn something new. Spicers Hidden Vale and Dr Tribe’s Koala Safari is the ultimate is memorable family experiences!
The Koala Safari cost AUD $129 per person with AUD $75 of the cost going towards the centre’s research projects. Tours depart at 2:30pm and bookings are essential.
Credit – Jessica Palmer
Spicers Hidden Vale is little known for Koala Safaris, but is VERY well known for providing wonderful luxury getaways and other experiences. Here’s the lowdown on accommodation and other experience for families at Spicers Hidden Vale.
Accommodation and More Great Experiences at Spicers Hidden Vale
It’s hard to fault the luxurious accommodation options at Spicers Hidden Vale. Perfectly positioned to capture the amazing views of the sweeping countryside, they all have heritage charm and unique features. With a mix of beautifully restored Queensland style cottages which date back to the 1800s, Spicers Hidden Vale’s accommodation makes it hard to leave!
Book your accommodation at Spicers Hidden Vale here!
Credit – Tourism & Events Queensland
Experiences at Spicers Hidden Vale
Tour the Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre
The Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre mentioned earlier opened in 2017 in partnership with the University of Queensland. As passionate conservationists, the Turner Family Foundation committed AUD $18 million to fund conservation & research initiatives for a minimum of 30 years.
This 45-minute tour runs Monday to Friday and is AUD $10 per person for guests staying at Spicers Hidden Vale. Go behind the scenes to see the animals being bred or cared for before being released. Bookings are essential.
Hire a Mountain Bike and Explore the Adventure Park
Spicers Hidden Vale is home to the largest privately owned mountain bike park in Australia. The Hidden Vale Adventure Park (HVAP) is a world-class trail network offering an amazing variety of terrain over a multi-use area of trails catering for all ages and abilities.
Mountain bike hire starts at AUD $95 per day including the park access fee and a helmet. EBikes are also available to make it that little bit easier to enjoy more trails, climbs and descents.
Credit – Tourism & Events Queensland
Tour the Market Garden With a Chef
Spicers Hidden Vale’s award-winning restaurant, Homage is walking the walk when it comes to ”farm to plate”. Head Chef Ash Martin has established a market garden, smokehouse and fermentation room where much of the restaurants produce comes from.
Hidden Vale’s chefs will take you behind the scenes of the preserving room, smokehouse, orchard and vegetable gardens. The tour ends by the fire pit as the sun sets behind the Liverpool ranges.
The Market Garden Tour at Spicers Hidden Vale is complimentary to guests staying overnight. Tours depart daily at 4:30pm and take approximately 20-30 minutes. Bookings are essential.
Capture Your Family Getaway With a Fun Photoshoot
Spicers Hidden Vale retreat offers a unique travel experience in partnership with Travelshoot, an Australian photography company who specialises in holiday and getaway photoshoots.
Have a professional take amazing family photographs while everyone is relaxed! Choose from a one or two-hour photoshoot onsite at Spicers Hidden Vale.
Book one hour for AUD $399 with a minimum of 20 edited images. Book two hours for AUD $599 with a minimum of 50 edited images. Bookings are essential.
Credit – Tourism & Events Queensland
Take a Scenic Drive on the Property in an ATV
On this one-hour Polaris ATV tour, a guide will take you to the most scenic lookouts on the property. Plenty of time is left for photographs and your guide will share extensive knowledge of the nature refuge and landscape.
Cost is AUD $79 per person and bookings are essential.
Getting to Spicers Hidden Vale
Spicers Hidden Vale is located one hour drive west of Brisbane in Grandchester, Queensland. You can find the property at 617 Grandchester Mount Mort Road.
The easiest way to find Spicers Hidden Vale is to enter the name or address in GoogleMaps!
Credit – Tourism & Events Queensland
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Disclaimer – We visited Spicers Hidden Vale in collaboration with Discover Ipswich. Opinions expressed are honest and based on my own experience.