I got an opportunity to visit the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary last week, with a group of Brisbane International Student Ambassadors. We got to travel on the frequent direct buses from Brisbane CBD to Fig Tree Pocket, where the sanctuary is located in. However, if we were to drive it is just a 20 minutes drive from Brisbane or 50 minutes from Gold Coast.
Koalas are one of the unique animals of the Australian continent. Lone Pine is the world’s first and the largest Koala Sanctuary, with over 130 koalas. Its main attraction for tourists and visitors is cuddling Kolas and photos with Koalas, which is a first time for me. Koala have a very low metabolic rate and rests motionless for about 16 to 18 hours a day, sleeping most of that time. So most of the koalas we could find were like soft toys on tree branches. Also the keeper mentioned that the male and female koalas are kept in separate areas to control reproduction, which I think they like next to sleeping.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is not just for Koalas. It features a large variety of Australian wildlife, including Kangaroos, Tasmanian Devils, Wombats, and various species of birds and reptiles. We spent quite some time in feeding kangaroos. The Sheep Dog and Sheep Shearing Show, and the Bird of Prey Flight Show, are highlights of the day which were enjoyed by everyone. The day ended with feeding wild lorikeets and some of managed to feed from our heads as well.
So when you are in Brisbane or Gold Coast, make sure to visit the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary for an unforgettable wildlife experience. Entrance to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is by a nominal entrance fee of AU$ 32 for adults, while students (with student ID card) and backpackers (with YHA, VIP etc. card) get a concession fee of AU$24.
For more details on wildlife, shows and activities, and visiting information visit: http://www.koala.net/
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