Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

The world's first and largest koala sanctuary, where you can hold one of 130-plus koalas for a photo, hand-feed kangaroos, and catch platypus and sheep-shearing shows.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary was founded in 1927 at Fig Tree Pocket, about 12 km southwest of Brisbane's city centre on the banks of the Brisbane River. It is the world's first and largest koala sanctuary, home to more than 130 koalas and over 70 species of Australian native animals. The most popular experience is holding a koala for a photo. Queensland is one of the few Australian states that allows this. It costs about A$35 per photo, including a digital copy. Each koala works only limited hours per day, so spots go first come, first served. Other highlights include a free-roaming kangaroo area, where you can buy feed and hand-feed eastern grey and wallaroo kangaroos; a platypus house; wombats; Tasmanian devils; dingoes; emus; cassowaries; lizards and snakes. There are also daily raptor flying shows, sheep-shearing and sheepdog demonstrations, and rainbow lorikeet feeding. The grounds are not large, so 2 to 3 hours is enough. There is a café and lawn picnic areas. Adult entry is about A$54 and child entry about A$39; online tickets are slightly cheaper. Getting there: bus 445 or 430 from the city centre takes about 40 minutes. A more scenic option is the Mirimar cruise from the Cultural Centre wharf up the Brisbane River, about 75 minutes each way, with a return cruise-and-entry package at about A$90. By car it takes about 25 minutes, with free parking. Tips: koalas are only 'on duty' for a few hours a day, so book your koala photo before touring the rest of the park. When feeding kangaroos, crouch down and hold the food flat in your palm. Bring insect repellent in summer. Pets are not allowed in the park.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

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