A Day at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane
In October 2022 I visited Brisbane for a few days. It was a rather spontaneous stay at the end of my Australian trip, hence I did not really plan a lot of activities. A day before I flew to Brisbane I searched on Tripadvisor and other websites for activities in Brisbane. I was hoping for something that wasn’t gonna break my already rather exhausted bank account. And I found a trip to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. The Lone Pine Sanctuary is a must-see if you’re ever in Brisbane. Keep reading on how my day between Koalas and Kangaroos went.
Boat Cruise
The trip I booked included the entrance to the sanctuary and a boat cruise on the Brisbane River (here’s the trip). It’s also possible to go to the sanctuary by bus. With the cruise, however, you get a nice view of the riverside and commentary about the city. Since I was in Brisbane only for a few days I thought this would be a great way to also experience parts of the city. Also, after travelling non-stop for two weeks along the Coast I was quite tired and wanted to do something relaxing.
The trip started at 10 a.m. on the riverside boardwalk right in front of the Art Gallery. The cruise took around an hour and was filled with history about the city. On the boat, you can buy coffee and snacks or just enjoy the view. I started chatting with a girl from Canada and ended up spending time with her at the sanctuary. That’s something I love about solo travelling, it is never really lonely but often you end up making great connections along the way.
Feed the Kangaroos
A friend recommended first heading to the kangaroos and feeding them before they get too full and lose interest. For that make sure to grab a bag of kangaroo food at the sanctuary entrance (without my friend’s recommendation I probably wouldn’t even have paid attention to the little food bags).
When I arrived at the kangaroo feeding area (which is basically a big cage where the Kangaroos can roam around freely) there were groups of children running around. Apparently, they were on a school trip. Other than that it wasn’t too busy yet. Some kangaroos were lying alone on the ground while others were lying together in a big group. While I was trying to take videos feeding them the big group of kangaroos suddenly jumped up. The whole herd jumped to the other side of the cage – it was magical.
As a solo traveller, it is always a bit of a challenge to get a picture taken of yourself, but luckily, as already mentioned, I met this friendly Canadian girl on the cruise to the sanctuary and we both took pictures of each other. There were also plenty of other friendly people in the kangaroo area who offered to take pictures. I was a bit apprehensive to touch some of the kangaroos since I didn’t know if they would like it. This elder man and his daughter who took some pictures of me encouraged me to get closer it was quite funny.
Holding a Koala
On the cruise, they showed us a QR code for a website to book different activities at the sanctuary. One of them was holding a Koala (I think they also have options to hold a snake or to pet a Dingo). You can book a time slot to hold a Koala. As mentioned, I would recommend first seeing the Kangaroos and then doing all the other activities.
After feeding the Kangaroos and walking around the park for a little it was finally time to hold a Koala! I was incredibly excited as this was something I had always wanted to do.
Did you know: It is actually illegal to hold a Koala in many places? There are only three states in Australia, where you’re legally allowed to hold one – Queensland being one of them. The rangers told us that there are also quite strict laws as to how many minutes a day Koalas can be handled.
After queuing in line for a few minutes it was finally my turn. I asked the ranger if it was possible to face the camera the other way (we all have a side that looks better in photographs let’s be honest). But apparently, the Koalas are all trained to look to one side. I personally found that hilarious. The Koala was heavier than I expected but super soft and I couldn’t stop smiling.
This experience was definitely one for the bucket list.
What’s something you have always wanted to do? Leave it in the comments!
Angela
Angela, the mastermind behind theslowtravelista, is a passionate traveler who embraces slow travel's essence. With a knack for immersing herself in diverse cultures, she treasures connections formed across the globe. Beyond her adventures, Angela's vibrant personality shines through her love for spontaneous hair changes, hitchhiking escapades, and culinary delights. Join her for travel insights, laughter, and unforgettable adventures.
