Cuddle up close with Australia's most iconic wildlife at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
Set in attractive parklands beside the Brisbane River, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the oldest and largest koala sanctuary in the world. Home to more than 130 of Australia's cutest marsupials as well as other species such as wombats, dingoes and the rarely seen platypus, the sanctuary provides the perfect opportunity for you to get up-close and personal with Australia's cuddliest creatures.Although koala cuddling has been banned in New South Wales since 1997, it is still permitted in Queensland where koalas can be cuddled for up to a maximum of 30 minutes per day. At the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, time in the designated cuddling area is tightly controlled and all koalas get every third day off. The fluffy and docile koala is surprisingly heavy but, with professional photographers on hand, their embrace makes for a perfect photo opportunity.If you're feeling especially brave, you could try your hand at petting a dingo, feeding a lorikeet or, braver still, charming one of the sanctuary's several black-headed pythons.If kangaroos are more your thing, you'll find plenty of entertainment at the 2-hectare kangaroo reserve where you can feed and pet the five different species of free-roaming kangaroos and wallabies. If you're lucky, you might even spot a joey.To break from the action, kick back and relax with a refreshing drink at either of the two on-site cafés.The sanctuary is open from 9 a.m. every day, apart from major public holidays, and offers a number of guided tours incorporating daily shows and exclusive encounters with stunning birds of prey.Located just over 13 kilometres from central Brisbane, the sanctuary is accessible by car, ferry or public transport.Spend just a couple of hours in this wildlife oasis and you're guaranteed to return relaxed and refreshed from your close encounter with Aussie nature.
