Remember how this all started? Back in 5th grade, I became obsessed with koalas (not bears—never bears!). My friend Tanya and I would dream about going to Australia someday and holding one of those adorable eucalyptus-munching fluffballs. It was a top-tier bucket list item.

As it turns out, a few things have changed since my childhood daydreams. First of all, koalas are… well, a bit on the pungent side. Their fur is oily, their lifestyle is mostly about sleeping and munching, and snuggling up with one may not be quite as magical as I’d imagined. But more importantly, I learned that being passed from tourist to tourist really isn’t good for the koalas. And once you know better, you do better.

Jan had a full day of adventuring planned for us: Healesville Sanctuary, Sovereign Hill, and the Ballarat Gold Museum. We kicked things off at the Sanctuary, a haven for native Australian animals—many of which are not part of our animal kingdom in the US! The bird show was spectacular, with everything from cheeky birds attempting to untie the trainer’s shoelaces to impressive birds of prey swooping over our heads. The platypus exhibit was a surprise too—I had no idea those cute little critters have venomous spikes! The keeper had to suit up in full rubber gear—like she was handling something far more sinister than an adorably oddball animal.

Dave and I had each signed up for a special animal encounter. He went into the dingo enclosure, where the “wild” dogs cozied right up to him and even gave his beard a few licks. For a dog lover like Dave, it was bliss. Meanwhile, I was absolutely buzzing with excitement to meet the koalas. I was able to enter their enclosure and stand just a few feet from baby Steve (11 months old), his mum, and dad, Benny. It was a no-contact experience—no cuddles allowed—but just being in their space, watching them munch leaves and slowly climb the trees, was more than enough. I was grinning like a goof and shaking out of my skin the entire time.

Later, we found ourselves face-to-face with kangaroos—another surprise! I’d always thought roos could be a bit cranky, but these lazy buggahs were just lying around behind a low wooden fence, happy to pose for photos and say g’day.

From there, we travelled back in time at Sovereign Hill, a living museum that brings Australia’s 1850s gold rush to life. We wandered the dusty streets, popped into old-timey shops, and watched a blacksmith at work. He even engraved our names onto a horseshoe that still hangs above our door! Dave tried his hand at gold panning and emerged victorious with a few tiny flakes, now safely tucked into a glass vial. One unexpected highlight? The old-school bowling alley, where we rolled wooden balls down a grooved lane—kind of like aiming for a gutter on purpose—to knock over chunky wooden pegs.

Our final stop of the day was the Ballarat Gold Museum. While the museum’s focus is (unsurprisingly) gold, what stood out for both Dave and me was a powerful exhibit about Australians’ contributions during World War II.

What a day! Beautiful countryside through the Yarra Valley, up-close moments with some of Australia’s most iconic animals, and a deep dive into the country’s history. I may not have held a koala, but I came away with something even better—an unforgettable experience and a newfound appreciation for these sleepy little marsupials.