If you’ve planned a long awaited trip to Australia you probably have seeing the local wildlife at the very top of your ‘things to do in Australia’ list. With a large number of animals to choose from, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing the best place to see them.
Obviously the ultimate experience is seeing wildlife in their natural surrounds. If you visit quieter areas and keep a keen look out, there’s a good chance you’ll spot a kangaroo quietly eating beside a roadway or in a field in Brisbane.If you’re on a short visit you might not have time to spend seeking out wildlife in your local areas. A much better option (and one with a guarantee of wildlife sightings) is to go to a local wildlife park.
There are a couple of great ones in the Brisbane area but my favourite is Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary at Fig Tree Pocket.
Lone Pine is fabulously located fairly close to the CBD and is easily accessible by local bus or taxi. If you’re happy to spend just a few hours in the wildlife park you can even get a ferry from the city right to the doorstep of Lone Pine.
Entry prices are surprisingly reasonable for a cosmopolitan city like Brisbane. Family passes, backpacker passes and yearly tickets are available and adult tickets are less than $30 at the time of writing. That has to be the best bargain in Brisbane!
A day at Lone Pine gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with Australia’s iconic koalas and kangaroos. You can have your photo taken with koalas and snakes and the park is really generous with these. As long as you pay for a photo you are welcome to take more photos with your own camera. This is such a great deal when so many other places don’t allow you to take your own photographs.
You’ll have the opportunity to learn about birds of prey and have your photo taken with them too. You can see dingos, emus, crocodiles and platypus all in the same park.
If you’ve never seen sheep dogs work make sure you take the time to check out the sheep dog show. You’ll be amazed at how they move and don’t even appear to be getting much guidance from the handler. Everything the dogs do is explained to you, which makes for an educational experience too.
Opportunities to hand feed rainbow lorikeets are also available at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Make sure you get there early and prepare for the shrieking as the birds whizz past your ears looking for somewhere to land and a treat to devour. Have your camera ready! You’ll cherish these photos of your encounter with Australia’s wild parrot. Perhaps you might even consider wearing a hat you can probably work out why!
As you can see, there’s no reason to travel far from Brisbane to get your fill of Australian Wildlife. For those visitors on a short time frame, the convenience of Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is not to be missed!
