Dreamworld koalas enjoy Christmas celebrations

After a long year for Dreamworld, the theme park’s koalas celebrated Christmas. READ HOW

• Fairytale wedding: Most heartwarming stories of 2020
• Northern Beaches couple flea Coast following quarantine breach

AS FAMILIES across the Gold Coast welcomed in Christmas morning the story was no different for Dreamworld’s koalas.

The park’s koala family got their very own Christmas stockings filled with eucalyptus leaves to celebrate the holiday alongside their handlers.

Dream World theme park Koala staff Jessica Butterworth and Kelsie Redman along with some of their furry friends get into the spirit of Christmas with their very own Christmas stockings full of fresh ripe Eucalyptus leaves. Photo: Scott Powick Newscorp

It’s a cheery end to the year for the theme park, which now faces a long road to recovery after a lengthy COVID-19 shutdown.

Forced to shut its doors for almost half the year, Dreamworld opened just in time for the September school holidays thanks to part of a $69.9 million financial package from the State Government.

Since then it has opened several new rides but lost half its target market with the border shutting out both Greater Sydney on top of international travellers.

Dream World theme park Koalas get into the spirit of Christmas with their very own Christmas stockings full of fresh ripe Eucalyptus leaves Photo: Scott Powick Newscorp

FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: JUST $5 A MONTH FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS

Dreamworld chief operating officer Greg Yong told the Bulletin in October trade had been “better than we actually anticipated”.

“We’ve been flat out,” he said. “There is a bit of parochialism there, if you will. People that are local supporting local companies.”

Follow @JournoBrenn

Originally published as Dreamworld koalas enjoy Christmas celebrations