Forget socks and chocs, Port Macquarie’s Koala Hospital, the only one in the world, is encouraging people to adopt a koala for Christmas, and help save these national icons from facing extinction.

For just AU$40 within Australia, or AU$50 from overseas, the delivered package includes a certificate of adoption with name, the adopted koala’s photo, a short story about its life, vinyl sticker and information booklet.

Adopting rescued koalas is a social responsible way to put a holiday gift budget to good use

Christmas can be a time of wasted gifts, but adopting a koala for Christmas is truly the gift of life. Run by a group of volunteers, the Hospital will use money raised to treat and rehabilitate sick, injured and orphaned koalas with the aim of returning them to the wild. This includes the treatment room, eight intensive care units, a 24 hour rescue and treatment operation, with ‘koala ambulance’, and 33 recovery yards.

Last year was the first Adopt a Koala for Christmas campaign which raised around $100k from Australia and 20 countries overseas. It is a joint initiative of Greater Port Macquarie Tourism and The Koala Hospital.

“People from all corners of the globe can adopt a koala for a friend or loved one. In return they will help protect our most valuable assets – the natural environment in the region, its wildlife and the future viability of this unique attraction,” said Linda Hall, tourism manager at Port-Macquarie Hastings Council.

“Port Macquarie is a natural home for The Koala Hospital as it is surrounded by National Parks, rainforest and bushland, a perfect habitat for wildlife and koalas. To the delight of visitors they are often seen perched in eucalyptus trees around the region,” said Hall.

Tourists from all over the world visit Port Macquarie’s Koala Hospital, which attracts more than 20,000 visitors a year.

The 24 hour rescue ‘koala ambulance’ and Geoff Best, chariman at the koala hospital

The Koala Hospital is located in Port Macquarie on the Mid North Coast of NSW and the only wildlife hospital in the world that is solely dedicated to the care of koalas. Koalas are a threatened species whose habitat is continually decimated by urbanisation, resulting in an increase in disease expression, attacks by dogs and being hit by motor vehicles.

On your travels in NSW this summer, don’t miss a stop to this unique attraction. The Koala Hospital is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year from 8am to 4.30pm. Entry and viewings are by donations (free entry) and there is a daily ‘Feed, Walk and Talk’ tour at 3pm.

HOW TO ADOPT A KOALA: View the profiles of adoption koalas online, select a koala, pay online, and the package will be delivered in Australia or overseas. Go to www.koalahospital.org.au, via email to adoptions@koalahospital.org.au or call +61 (02) 6584 1522.

The package includes: a certificate of adoption with name; your adopted koala’s photo; a short story about its life; vinyl sticker ‘I have adopted a wild koala’; an information booklet about koalas; and the newsletter, Gum Tips. The closing date to receive guaranteed ‘overseas’ deliveries is 27th November, to allow for postage time.

For touring and visiting the region contact the Greater Port Macquarie Visitor Information Centre on 1300 303 155