Queens Lake Nature Reserve

This reserve protects several significant ‘old growth’ areas and ‘old tree’ hotspots where you can see some of the forest giants that used to inhabit the region. With diverse eco-systems ranging from coastal, lakeside, rainforest and swamplands; it’s a haven for a huge range of tree-dwelling animals, frogs and birds, including a number of threatened species.

With such an array of vegetation, there’s a staggering 200 species of bats, possums and gliders that have been recorded in the reserve, and probably dozens that haven’t yet been identified. At night, the bush comes alive with yellow-bellied gliders, grey-headed flying foxes and the smaller insect-eating micro-bats. Old growth forests provide an important habitat for the magnificent large forest owls. If you’re still around in the evening, you might hear the powerful, masked and sooty owls as their haunting calls echo through the forest. Queens Lake Nature Reserve is also an important refuge for the koala, as development encroaches further on its habitat. The reserve is home to a number of koalas that have been rehabilitated and released by Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. 

The lake and coastal region attracts not only wildlife, but makes for some the best bird watching in the region. Bring your binoculars for a feast of feathered beauties. You’ll see nectar-loving birds such as the honey-eaters and threatened swift parrot feast in the spring on native blossoms.