About this place
What to expect
The Big Koala (2.5 metres high) is 88th sculpture on the award-winning Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail, on NSW Mid North Coast. Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail encompasses 91+ one-metre-high fibreglass koala sculptures, hand painted by local artists with designs that promote koala and Australian wildlife conservation and the environment, arts and cultural heritage. Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail won Gold for 'Tourist Attractions' in 2022 NSW Tourism Awards and was Finalist in 2022 Australian Tourism Awards. Hello Koalas won "Best Sculpture Trail in Australia" (Gold in 2022, Silver in 2021) and The Big Koala won " Best Landmark Sculpture in Australia" (Silver in 2022 and Gold 2023) in the Australian Street Art Awards. The Big Koala is an iconic public artwork to photograph and share with family and friends and free for everyone to enjoy. The sculpture was created by local artists Pauline Roods and John Belfield for the visitor experience 'Guulabaa, Place of Koala' in the Cowarra State Forest, five minutes from the Pacific Highway, corner Oxley Highway and Burrawan Forest Drive. 'The Big Koala, Spirit of All Koalas' depicts 31 koalas, 30cm-55cm, living happily in their forest home.