Photo: Supplied.
RANGER STACEY THOMSON IS PRINCIPAL ADVISER – COMMUNITY EDUCATION (REDLAND CITY COUNCIL)
It’s a privilege to share stories of nature with you each month!
This year has been full of naturally wonderful highlights with a few wild challenges thrown in, courtesy of Mother Nature.
My final column of 2025 is the perfect opportunity to reflect on some special outdoor places and experiences on Redlands Coast. Perhaps what makes this part of the world unique is the diversity of landscapes and habitats, from islands and bays to bushland and conservation reserves.
Spotting and observing wildlife is one of my favourite pastimes, and through my job I’ve been fortunate to share some memorable moments with the community, both face-to-face and via social media.
In May this year, the inaugural Redlands Coast AdventureFest burst onto the scene with a wide range of events and activities over 10 action-packed days. Highlights for me were the family fun day, which was enjoyed by about 5000 people, and leading a walk to King Island from Wellington Point. AdventureFest is a fantastic reminder of how spectacular our region is. Good news … it’s back in 2026!
With the help of Detection Dogs for Conservation, I hosted a series of walks to witness koalas in the wild, at Point Halloran Conservation Area and Fellmonger Park, Ormiston. These iconic and precious marsupials are cryptic creatures. The instant you spot that ball of grey fur amongst the gum leaves, let me just say, the feeling of excitement is the best … every single time!
I get a thrill when I see any native animal living its best life in the wild. Everything from a magpie finding a juicy worm in the grass at IndigiScapes, a curlew couple on Coochiemudlo Island posing like statues in an effort to go unnoticed, a big old carpet python perfectly coiled, flying foxes flying out at dusk, or majestic humpback whales frolicking in the ocean off North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah during their annual migration.
Wishing you a very safe and happy holiday season. I look forward to sharing more stories of nature next year.
Until then … Stay Wild!
Ranger Stacey
