Koala Cuddle
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
I finally ticked an item off my bucket list by experiencing a koala cuddle at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane!
Sniff
OMG, its breath smells like … ??? … What is that? It’s so familiar.
Sniff
AGGHHH, koala breath smells like cough lollies. Nothing like a koala cuddle to clear the nose!
Actually, I’m not sure why I was surprised. I mean, the eucalyptus leaf is their food source.
The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is one of the best places to experience a koala cuddle in Australia. Only 12km from Brisbane City, the koala sanctuary is the world’s first and largest with around 130 koalas.
We spent around 4 hours here and loved the natural setting of the sanctuary. It would be easy to spend longer however, we were all pretty tired even before we arrived.
There is a great cafe on site with sandwiches, ice-creams and of course, souvenirs.
I particularly enjoyed this sanctuary as it’s not too large and doesn’t require a repeat visit to see all of the attractions. Of course, the koala cuddle was a highlight!
You can see everything in one day, making it easy to manage with young kids who are too big for a stroller, but not old enough to be on their feet all day.
What Else Can I do (Besides a Koala Cuddle)?
Hand-feed kangaroos and experience a large variety of Australian wildlife such as platypus, dingo, wombat, southern cassowary, echidna, crocodiles, turtles, emus, bats and a variety of wonderful reptiles and birds.
Grab a copy of the activities for the day when you enter and make sure you don’t miss the wild lorikeet feeding, barn animal encounter, flight raptor show or the sheepdog show. Keep an eye out for the koala keeper talk, snake keeper talk, platypus keeper talk, and the Tasmanian devil keeper talk.
Check out the Koala Cuddle Train… The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary’s Live Koala Stream!
Tickets to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
- Get your Lone Pine standard entry tickets here.
- Get your combined river cruise and Lone Pine Koala tickets here.
It cost a little extra to do the actual koala cuddle and you can pay for that when you get down to the koala area. It’s best not to leave it too late as there are rules surrounding the koala’s wellbeing, including very limited handling times.
If a Lone Pine Wildlife Officer notices a koala would rather be eating or sleeping, it’s returned to its residence ASAP.
So basically, don’t leave it too late in the day or you might miss out!
I Really Want a Koala Cuddle! … How do I Find the Sanctuary?
Driving
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is 12km from Brisbane City, which is about a 15-minute drive. If driving yourself, just enter ”Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary” into Google Maps.
Taxi
Book your Black and White taxi by calling 131 008 or Yellow Cab taxi’s on 131 924.
River Cruise
A combined river cruise and Lone Pine Koala ticket can be purchased. This is great solution if you are staying in the city as the cruise leaves from the Cultural Centre Pontoon.
Public Bus
There are two buses that stop by the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Work out which bus is best for you using this great Translink journey planner.
YouTube Clip of our Family Visit to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Looking for More Awesome Family Holiday Destinations?
For more information on visiting Brisbane with kids, head on over to my Brisbane page. Head on back to the home page for inspiration on destinations worldwide.
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Essential Information for Your Brisbane Family Holiday
Best time to visit Brisbane
April and May is often touted as the best time to visit as the weather is mild and you can avoid school holiday crowds. However, it’s not hot enough to swim during these months which is a real downer for me.
Timing your Brisbane holiday with the Brisbane festival in September is a great idea. Although more crowded, there is HEAPS going on in and around the city, including the Riverfire fireworks.
Where to stay in Brisbane
We loved the Brisbane City YHA for its location and value for money. If you wish to cook for yourself, the communal kitchen is massive, and it also features a games room and a rooftop pool and bar. There are some decent options for families here.
If five-star luxury with all the works is more your style, find a great deal on bookings.com here!
Getting to Brisbane
Getting to Brisbane is pretty straightforward. You can fly into the international or domestic airport, embark on an epic road trip through Queensland, or travel via train or bus.
- Search for a great deal on flights on JetRadar.
- Search car hire across major brands here.
- Book your bus here.
Getting around Brisbane
There are a number of options for getting around Brisbane but first things first – let’s get from the airport to your hotel!
- Book your private airport transfer here.
Public transport
Brisbane Visitors can purchase a cashless ticket called the Go Card which can be used on the city’s buses, trains, CityCats and ferry services. Get your card from the Brisbane Visitor Information Centre or at most local news agencies.
The Translink Journey Planner or Google Maps can be used to plan your route.
Hop-on Hop-off Bus
The Hop-on Hop-off Bus is a tourist bus that stops at 15 major locations throughout Brisbane. Tickets are valid for 24 or 48 hours from first use and you basically just hop on and off when you feel like it. Family passes are available.
- Book your Hop-on Hop-off bus tickets here.
City loop bus
The City Loop Bus is free and runs every 10 minutes, stopping at popular spots throughout its loop. More information on the City Loop Bus can be found here.
Bicycle hire
If the kids are old enough to peddle on their own, visit one of the 150 CityCycle hire stations to get around. This is a fun option for older kids!
Car hire
Compare car rental prices across major brands here. Be aware that unless your hotel offers parking, you will pay a small fortune to house the vehicle overnight.
Taxi
Taxi ranks can be found at the Brisbane international and domestic airports, as well as throughout Brisbane City.
Black & White Cabs: 13 32 22.
Attractions and tours
There is plenty of things to do and see around Brisbane. Highlights with kids include the Museum and Science Centre, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Streets Beach and the surrounding National Parks.
- Book your tickets to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary here.
- Book your Brisbane River cruise here.
- Book your Moreton Island Tangalooma Dolphin Adventure here.
WiFi
Most hotels in the city will offer free Wifi. However, if you wish to take control of your own connection, a Portable WiFi for Australia can be delivered directly to your hotel in Brisbane.
Book your portable WiFi here.
Brisbane holiday travel guides
Check out the official Visit Brisbane Page here.
