Wildlife on the Road: Driving Safely Around Port Macquarie’s Koalas and Kangaroos

Living and learning to drive around Port Macquarie means sharing the road with more than just other cars. Between the Oxley Highway, Blackman’s Point and the bushland fringing so many of our local streets, kangaroos, wallabies and the occasional koala are a genuine hazard — especially at dawn, dusk and after dark. Here’s what every learner should know.

🦘 Why Our Roads Are Different

Port Macquarie sits right up against national park and state forest, which means wildlife corridors cross our roads constantly. Animals are most active in the two hours either side of sunrise and sunset, and they’re unpredictable — a roo that hops clear one second can double back into your path the next.

What To Do If an Animal Appears

✅ Brake firmly, but don’t swerve wildly. Swerving to avoid an animal is one of the leading causes of serious single-vehicle crashes in regional NSW. A dented bumper is far better than losing control and hitting a tree or oncoming car.

✅ Slow down in signed areas. Wildlife warning signs around Port Macquarie and along the Oxley Highway aren’t decorative — treat them the same way you’d treat a school zone.

✅ Watch for the second and third animal. Kangaroos travel in mobs. If one crosses, assume more are coming.

✅ Use high beams responsibly on unlit roads (when no oncoming traffic is near) — the extra reach gives you more reaction time to spot eyes reflecting in the dark.

If a Collision Happens

If you do hit an animal, pull over safely once it’s clear to do so, turn on your hazard lights, and check on your own safety first. For an injured native animal, contact WIRES or your local wildlife rescue service rather than approaching it yourself — injured wildlife can be unpredictable.

Why This Matters for Your Test

Sudden hazard reactions are exactly what the Hazard Perception Test and your practical driving assessment are designed to check. Learning to read the road edge for movement — not just watching the car in front — is a skill our instructors build into every lesson out on the Oxley and Pacific Highway stretches.

At Boost Driver Training, we know these roads better than most, and we’ll make sure you’re confident (not caught out) the first time a roo decides to make a dash for it. Get in touch to book a lesson that covers real Port Macquarie conditions, not just the driving school car park.