Skip to content

Koala Cuddling and Kangaroo Feeding at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Koala cuddling and kangaroo feeding are travel bucket list items when visiting Australia, especially with kids in tow. These were two experiences all of us were excited in doing during our island-hopping trip last month. There are only a few places in Australia that allow visitors to do this so we were lucky enough to visit Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane – touted as the “world’s first and largest koala sanctuary”. Warning: Plenty of adorable wildlife photos ahead.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary with kids

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary started off with only two koalas (named Jack & Jill) in 1927. Its name came from the lone hoop pine tree planted by the original family owners, the Clarksons, along the Brisbane River banks. The sanctuary has dedicated itself over the years to the conservation of koalas and Australian native animals. The sanctuary now has about 130 koalas plus 40 babies (joeys) on the way and more than 100 Australian native animal species.

Lone Pine Koala sanctuary bridge
Lone Pine didn’t look very big but we ended up staying the whole day here making use of the scheduled shows. We got here a little after it opened at 9 AM a day after we landed. Yes, we got over that jet lag and 17-hour time change pretty quickly for unique experiences like these.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary sign

We were trying to head to the koalas first but got sidetracked by loud bird noises. These wild lorikeets perched on a pole were quite a sight. It was lorikeet-feeding time. Lorikeets are unique Australian parrots.

They were loud but these rainbow ones were beautiful. The worker was filling up these bird feeders with specially prepared nectar mix. They had handles and visitors were encouraged to take them to feed the birds.

Lorikeet feeding Lone Pine

My husband happily took one. This look of surprise was when some lorikeets tried to land on his head. The lorikeets jumped from one container to the other and it was such a chaotic scene. They were flying everywhere and seemed to love people’s arms and heads. The rest of us were too worried about being pecked or pooped on to feed the lorikeets.

Lorikeet feeding Lone Pine

Cuddling Koalas

My kids have always been fascinated with koalas and they practically ran to the koala enclosures to see them and of course, hold one. Cuddling koalas is banned in some parts of Australia. The state of Queensland, where Brisbane is located, still allows them but with rules and guidelines for the safety and well being of the koalas.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary koalas

Koalas here can only be cuddled less than 30 minutes per day and must have every third day off. Koalas sleep up to 18-20 hours per day (to conserve energy) and are mostly nocturnal. The Lone Pine koalas are on a “clock on” and “clock off” schedule when they are at the koala cuddling station. We were lucky enough to see many more awake than asleep.

Lone Pine koala sleeping

Visitors have to pick which photo package they want for the koala cuddle pictures on self-service machines. Photos start from $16 AUS but proceeds do go back to help the koalas. We first had to pay for our photos at the gift shop nearby and then it was time for the much-anticipated moment. The photographer took a couple of shots of us and my daughter eagerly volunteered to be the koala holder in our souvenir family photo.

Lone Pine Souvenir photo

But, we were able to take as many photos with our own camera as we each took turns holding the koala. We had to put our hands in a holding position (palms face up) below our waist area and faced the handler to hold the koalas. We were then handed the koala to hold. My kids’ expressions and little squeals of joy were priceless during this unforgettable experience.

Lone Pine Koalas

We were supposed to act like a tree and stand still. The koala didn’t move much. I was expecting a soft fur but surprisingly, found his fur a bit coarse. I also noticed a distinct odor. Apparently, male koalas, especially the mature ones, have a scent gland on their chest and use it to rub against a trunk or branch to mark their territory. I’m just relieved he didn’t start rubbing on us!

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Our little guy was about 10 years old. Koalas in the wild have a life expectancy of eight to 10 years. But, koalas in captivity live between 12-15 years old. In our excitement, we forgot his name but at least remembered it was a male. Lone Pine has enough koalas for guests to cuddle and pose with throughout the day.

They also have two keeper talks twice a day to learn more about them. There were various enclosures to see the koalas up close and observe them.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

We loved the mother and koala joeys’ area. We spent some time here until we saw one of the joeys pop out. Can you see the joey peeking out? Koalas have a gestation period of 33-35 days and the joeys come out looking like pink jellybeans. We learned that newborn koala joeys climb into the mother’s pouch and stay there for five months.

Lone Pine Koala joeys

There was even a koala enclosure for those in their retirement age. Since these were koalas in captivity, they actually lived longer than those in the wild due to better food supplies, veterinary care, and protection from predators.

It’s the seniors’ area and they required a bit more special care and attention from the staff, which I’m glad to see they were happily getting.

Lone Pine koalas

Feeding kangaroos

Our other highlight here was feeding kangaroos and wallabies at the 5 acre (2 hectare) Kangaroo reserve. This was where we spent most of our time. The reserve was fenced in and had gates for entering and exiting.

There were over 130 kangaroos and wallabies hopping and hanging around the wide-open fields. The reserve has five different species of Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Red Kangaroo, Swamp wallaby and Red neck wallaby.

Lone Pine kangaroo feeding

There were a few rules before entering the reserve like holding your hands down low and flat, not holding the food up high and no touching the baby kangaroos (joeys). Kangaroos are known to be very protective of their joeys. We liked that there were hand washing and sanitizing stations at the entrance and exit. For only $2 per bag (available at the general store), everyone can go inside and feed the kangaroos and wallabies.

Lone Pine Kangaroo feeding

The food looked like little pellets, which were similar to what we’ve used to feed ducks at zoos. It’s no wonder that the ducks and pigeons kept following us and tried to steal the food from our hands. Those ducks were aggressive and were like little vultures. Luckily, those kangaroos have learned to deal with them.

Kangaroos with ducks and pigeons

Despite our delightful looking photos and the smiling faces, I feel I must warn future visitors. There are plenty of marsupials here along with ducks and pigeons. So, be prepared for plenty of feces, dung, poop, doo-doo (insert your version here) on the ground.

You and most likely the kids will eventually step on it despite trying to avoid it.  It was unavoidable and gross but incredible experiences like these sometimes come with a price.

Lone Pine koala sanctuary kangaroos

After awhile, we got used to it especially after seeing the babies. We found this mama with her joey’s legs sticking out which looked pretty awkward and uncomfortable for both of them.

Lone Pine kangaroo and joey

Kangaroo joeys nurse and develop in the pouches for 120 to 400 days. They also have about a month of gestation and newborns can range in size from a rice grain to a jellybean.

Lone Pine kangaroo joey

My kids kept their eyes open for emerging joeys and found this other one peeking out. We watched it scamper out and tried to stand up. It was adorable and such a joy to see.

Lone Pine kangaroo joey

Near the Nature Kingdom and by the Birds of Prey show was an open field of kangaroos and wallabies. There weren’t as many of them here. These were bigger than the ones inside the reserve and looked so intimidating.

My husband was even nervous feeding them. This photo below was when he felt that kangaroo’s teeth during feeding time. It was also probably because he didn’t follow the rules and held the food too high.

Kangaroo feeding Lone Pine

It’s not only marsupials here though. We also found other fascinating Australian native animals. Emus greeted visitors at the entrance of the kangaroo reserve too. They looked too unapproachable so we didn’t get anywhere near them.

Did you know that emus are Australia’s largest bird? They can run up to 30 miles (48 km) per hour and are also strong swimmers.

Lone Pine emu

Wombats are also marsupials like koalas and kangaroos. This was our first wombat encounter and we thought it wasn’t the most attractive animal but adorable in its own unique way. They are known as “nature’s bulldozers” and can dig major burrow systems.

They’re mostly nocturnal so we were lucky enough to see this one. It was so fun to see this one walking around his enclosure.

Lone Pine wombat

Our visit wouldn’t have been complete without seeing the Tasmanian devil – the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial. We were able to catch this guy during feeding time.  These creatures are an asset to the environment and act as “natural vacuum cleaners” eating carcasses.

Tasmanian Devil Lone Pine

We also saw this Southern Cassowary, which is Australia’s heaviest bird (though flightless) and largest land animal. They make for great “rainforest gardeners” since seeds pass through their bodies intact and can help scatter a large amount of seeds of various rainforest plants. Unfortunately, it is now on the endangered species list.

Lone Pine Southern Cassowary

The old nursery rhyme of “Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree…” came to mind when we encountered the laughing kookaburra. Look at that beak! It is known as a “bushman’s alarm clock” due to its loud calls that sound like a shrieking “laugh” used to announce its territory.

They mate for life and use the same nest hole in trunks and branches each year. I wish we could have heard its call but that usually only happens during dawn and dusk.

Kookaburra Lone Pine

We ended our day by watching the Australian sheep dog show. There are three daily shows but the last two include sheep shearing demonstrations. We saw two outback sheep dogs follow their masters’ commands. They were amazing as they herded the sheep through platforms and around the grounds.

Lone Pine sheep herding

The sheep were eventually led into this very crowded gated area. We couldn’t believe how they managed to squeeze all the sheep in here and how those dogs eventually ended on top of the sheep. What a sight!

Australia sheep dog Lone Pine

We’ve never seen a sheep being sheared before so this was a great and educational demonstration to watch. Here’s a glimpse of the show.

It was incredible to see how skilled and fast it took to shear this sheep. The oh-so-very-soft woolen fleece was laid out afterwards for everyone to feel.

Lone Pine sheep shearing demonstration

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the perfect place for animal lovers and families. There were many more exhibits here including snakes, crocodiles, dingoes, platypuses and a birds of prey show. We learned so much about some of Australia’s native animals but koala cuddling and kangaroo feeding were two unforgettable experiences.

Our visit here was one of our best travel highlights. We highly recommend visiting if you find yourself in Brisbane and spend as much time as you can here.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary with kids

Visiting Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Basics and Tips

  • Ticket Prices (in AUS dollars as of October 2019):  $42 adults; Kids (3-13 yrs old) $25; Family (2 adults, 3 children) $88; Check their website for updates.
  • Getting there: Visitors can drive here and they had plenty of parking spaces. Mirimar Cruises is a scenic way to get here through the Brisbane River but limited to 2.5 hours here; We took the bus (either Bus 430 or 445) from downtown Brisbane which was a great way to see the surrounding areas. It was about a 50-minute ride. Check their website for the latest bus information.
  • Food (sandwiches, chips, salads) are available for purchase at the General Store. You can also bring your own picnic items since there were plenty of tables and chairs.
  • Bring snacks and water for the kids to minimize costs. Running around here can make them very hungry.
  • Wear close-toed shoes. It may not be a good idea to wear open toe shoes or slippers with all the poop on the ground.
  • Get the show activity schedule when you enter and plan your day accordingly.
  • Bring a lot of hand sanitizer even if they provide them at entrances. You never know where yours or your kids’ hands end up during feeding time. Baby wipes are great too.
  • Check out the new Wild Experience for an intimate and interactive experience.
  • Some ways to help the Australian animals: Adopt a Koala and Save the Cassowary.

*Have you cuddled a koala or fed a kangaroo?

Related Posts:

Pin it for later on Pinterest

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

50 thoughts on “Koala Cuddling and Kangaroo Feeding at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary”

  1. This was so awesome! I’m glad each of were able to hold a koala! The two snapshots of your husband (ducking the parrots) and getting a nibble on the palm from the kangaroo were funny :) As for the birds I would not want them flying around my head either! I learned so many fascinating things…i.e. that male koalas have a scent gland on their chest and how incredibly long the joeys can nurse and “grow up” in the pouch. Wow! Btw…tell your son AWESOME Captain America t-shirt as I am a HUGE Avengers fan, Mary! You can also tell him we are off to the opening night showing of Guardians of the Galaxy tonight :)

    1. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos and our experience, Mike and that you learned something along the way with us. My son loves his Capt America shirt. They will be watching that movie soon. I hope you enjoyed it.

  2. I visited when I was five years old and still have my photo holding a koala. I did not realize it had grown so much. Our family would have loved it there when they were younger. We have visited other places with kangaroos and koalas but Lone Pine is the best :)

    1. That’s great to know about Lone Pine, Jan. I’m glad you still have that treasured photo with the koala. It’s still not as big but they sure know how to take advantage of all the spaces.

  3. The wombats definitely aren’t that cute. Now, the koalas and the kangaroos, they are off the charts. I don’t remember there being anything like this when I was in Australia back in 1980 (a life time ago). Good reasons to go back!

    1. Definitely great reasons to go back and I hope you return soon, Nancie. There are more of these interactions in Queensland than Sydney and Melbourne. Wombats are a league of their own.

  4. I visited Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary many years ago and had that all important picture taken holding a koala. It’s a beautiful place, highly recommended to anyone visiting Brisbane. Thank you for sharing your lovely pictures!

  5. What a dream, Mary!

    Brisbane is a city that was not on my map, but you just made me add it so we can cuddle the koalas! :)

    It looks like the kids had a lot of fun!

  6. Awesome experience guys! We were fortunate enough to visit Lone Pine in December 2012 and we had an absolute blast there. Of course the highlight was cuddling the koala and that in itself was worth the admission price alone. I recall our koala went by the name of Guppa, I wonder how he is doing now!

    There is so much fun for all ages inside the park, getting so close to all of the animals including the kangaroos was a really cool experience and I really am looking forward to going back there sometime soon.

    Great review guys of this awesome sanctuary!!!

    1. Thanks Chris! I read your Lone Pine post before our visit. I’m so glad you enjoyed it as much as we did and a testament that adults can also have fun here without the kids.

  7. Lone Pine sounds like a delightful place. I bet all of you were so excited! From the name, I was expecting just a few hours looking at koalas, so it was nice to find out about the variety of animals and shows at the sanctuary. I like that they have rules in place regarding the welfare of the koalas when interacting with humans.

    1. The kids were beyond excited visiting Lone Pine. It really was surprising how much they offered here. We wouldn’t have done the whole koala holding at some place that stressed them. I’m glad they have those rules and it’s great to know it has thrived since the 1920s.

  8. The sounds like a dream experience. I love the photos and can’t wait to show them to my daughter. Although that will mean that Australia and New Zealand get bumped up on the list of places she wants to go!

  9. I’ve been so looking forward to this post, because this is something I’m DYING to do!! I’m so jealous about the koala cuddling and kangaroo feeding!! And how cute are those joeys?!? I’m glad you guys didn’t get kicked by a kangaroo lol. I can’t wait until I go there myself someday :D

  10. Those koalas look huge! And so cute! I can imagine kids would really love that, yours sure looked like they enjoyed themselves there. Hope I can go someday. The places with cuddling animals here in Asia are controversial at best and I don’t want to go there.

  11. Those koalas are so adorable! I would likely squeal with excitement being able to hold one! And the kangaroos, too! This is called a “sanctuary” more than a “zoo” because they help conservation efforts – I’m just curious as to which ones they help, do they donate money from the admission price towards it? As an animal lover/activist, I’d love to know more info! Thanks! :)

    1. I know the proceeds for koala cuddling go back to feeding and caring for the koalas. You can also check their website at the social responsibility portion. They seem very dedicated to helping the koalas and other Australian animals. Great questions, Lauren!

  12. I love the koalas!! I never got to cuddle one when I was in Australia, but I did go to a wildlife rescue in Tasmania outside of Hobart where we were able to feed the kangaroos. They were amazing, and totally loved being scratched under the chin! I’m a sucker for a cute animal face, so this sort of place would be right up my alley.

  13. Hey, on behalf of Christa, Host of The Sunday Traveler, I was stopping by to check out your article. Absolutely adorable! Great post and fantastic pictures. Our Grandmother LOVED Koalas and I can see why. I always had a soft spot for Kangaroos and Wallabies myself. The Lorikeets were so vibrant. And the dogs standing on top of the sheep, hilarious! Really enjoyed this post. Thanks!

  14. I never knew a Tasmanian devil was so cute! I want to snuggle a koala so badly, now. Why am I so far away from the adorable, cuddly koalas?

    . . . it’s probably a good thing I’m nowhere near Australia, really, I doubt my urge to hug the wildlife would work out well.

  15. What a wonderful experience. I’m amazed that you could get so close to the wild life. Are the animals trained in some way or just used to seeing friendly people around?

  16. This is amazing. I think this is something that I would prefer instead of going to a standard zoo. Spending time with actual animals and interacting with them seems like quite a time well spent. I didn’t know that koalas required that much sleep. I wonder if it’s also a factor as to why they die younger in the wild?

  17. I had no idea that Tasmanian devils we marsupials or that they eat carcasses.

    I found you on Twitter and retreated this one! Great pictures.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.