Fig Tree Pocket, Brisbane: Why should I visit Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary?

Fig Tree Pocket is home to one of Brisbane’s top attractions – the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Visit Lone Pine to hold koalas and hand-feed kangaroos.

Fig Tree Pocket in Brisbane features on tourist itineraries for one reason only: The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

This Brisbane neighbourhood may have a couple of riverside parks and the Fig Tree Pocket Equestrian Centre, but almost all visitors have got koalas in mind.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket, Brisbane

The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is reputedly the biggest and oldest koala sanctuaries in the world. It’s also one of the few places in Australia where visitors are allowed to hold a koala. For these reasons, it’s genuinely one of the best wildlife parks in Australia.

The koalas are obviously the stars of the show in this Fig Tree Pocket koala sanctuary, but Lone Pine has several other Australian species to see. These include wombats, dingoes, cassowaries, echidnas and emus.

6 supreme Brisbane day trips that will improve your holiday

Moreton Island day trip – with kayaking, sandboarding and snorkelling or with dolphin-feeding and desert dunes adventure.
Springbrook National Park glowworms and rainforest tour – including Tamborine Skywalk.
Eumundi Markets day trip – Australia’s best markets, plus the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and Noosa.
North Stradbroke Island day tour – with cruise, wildlife spotting and guided walk.
Tamborine Mountain winery tour – with gourmet lunch.
Maialia rainforest walking and wildlife tour – visit lesser-known D’Aguilar National Park.

wombat at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane — A sleepy wombat at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket, Brisbane. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

Birds at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary include gang gang cockatoos, tawny frogmouths, kookaburras and wedge-tailed eagles.

The sanctuary also has a significant reptile collection. Come to see the koalas, and you’ll also get freshwater crocodiles and lace monitors. The latter are a close relation of the perentie – Australia’s biggest goannas.

9 brilliant Brisbane experiences to book in advance

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary tickets (or entry plus river cruise combo) – hold a koala and see lots of adorable native wildlife.
Brisbane River cruise – see the key sights and learn about the city on the way.
Story Bridge Adventure Climb – walk along the top of Brisbane’s famous bridge, with 360 degree views.
Combine the Southbank Parklands, City Botanic Gardens and Kangaroo Point Cliffs on a fun Segway tour.
Helicopter flight – see the city from a bird’s eye view.
Kayaking tour – choose the night tour to see the city light up, the day tour to enjoy the sunshine.
XXXX brewery tour – see how Australia’s most famous beer is made.
Guided wine flight tasting – get an Aussie wine introductory course.
See Brisbane’s spooky side on a city centre ghost tour.

Shows at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane

Highlights for visitors include hand-feeding the free-roaming kangaroos and wallabies, plus a series of daily shows. These shows include raptor flights, sheepdog demonstrations, wild lorikeet feeding and photos with snakes and dingoes.

Day passes for the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket cost from $37.80 if booked online. The koala holds cost an extra $25, and they’re available only to people over 130cm tall. This is for the safety of both the customer and the koala. Koalas have sharp claws, and can be surprisingly heavy. Keepers need to be confident that the koala can be held comfortably.

Fig Tree Pocket is on the Brisbane River, around 12km south-west of Brisbane CBD. Miramar Cruises offers a daily cruise from central Brisbane to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, should you fancy an Australian river cruise. Alternatively, treat it as a stop on the drive from Brisbane to Toowoomba.