Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary: Cuddle a Koala!
The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the oldest and largest of its kind in Australia. And, because it's in Queensland, you can still cuddle a koala. Cuddling koalas has been banned in most Australian states. I should explain that, in Australia, Queensland is famous for being a bit old-fashioned in its outlook on life. One example being that the annual changing of the clocks most places go through in spring and autumn doesn't happen in Queensland. The idea just never caught on.
Lone Pine's koalas, however, have a strong union and work only about 30 minutes a day (or something like that) so they probably aren't too stressed. My observations of the cuddlers was that they were more jumpy than the koalas. I'm assured the coat, though it looks soft and furry, is quite coarse to the touch but the ears are just as fluffy as they look.
Entrance (in 2011) is $30 for adults, $21 for children and $24 for Concessions (seniors) (all Australian dollars) and it's open everyday but Christmas Day, though it's only half day on Anzac (Australia New Zealand Army Corps) Day.
It may seem expensive but you really can spend the day there without any trouble as the Sanctuary includes other Australian animals, like the Wombat above, and also features regular displays of other Australian animals from other animal reserves -- as our photos show.
The Sanctuary has a restaurant with a shaded outdoor area to provide rest and relaxation for visitors. They're needed; the sun seems never to stop shining in Brisbane and for visitors from less blessed places, it saps the energy.
This Cassowary is also a Lone Pine regular and a very colourful one.
The koala sanctuary has more than just koalas. It has many of Australia's unusual animals such as kangaroos and wallabies, wombats, and, of course, the platypus -- that curiously mixed up creature. They are unfortunately nocturnal and therefore hard to photograph.
During our visit, the Sanctuary had a display of raptors from another wildlife centre. This Sea-eagle caught my eye, it's plain white colouring was quite a contrast to the parrots flying around everywhere.Other events the Lone Pine puts on are Australian rural activities, such as sheepdog trials and sheep shearing. Another place you can cuddle a koala is up north on the Capricorn Coast at the
Cooberrie Wildlife Park.
Return to Brisbane Attractions from Koala Sanctuary
|
Less colorful than the Cassowary is the Emu, another one of Australia's flightless and giant birds. As you see, they're harmless enough and happy to mingle with the visitors. It's a wonder there are any left in the wild at all.
Brisbane Pictures
