4 Places Where to See Koalas in South East Queensland

There are plenty of wildlife parks in the Brisbane/South East corner area, and they all have Koalas for you to see and other native animals.

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Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the place to visit if you only have time to visit Brisbane and want to see Koalas. You can have your photo taken with a Koala and see wildlife roaming around, calling this place home.

You have plenty of other animals to see, such as Birds, Cassowary, Platypus, Flying Foxes, Lizards and Snakes. A couple of Dingo pups were running around their enclosure, playing like a couple of young boys. Mum was watching them from the runway above while I was there. Usually, the Dingos are sleeping when I see them.

Shows

Once again, you have shows that teach you about our native birds and farm life. From Raptors in flight to sheep dogs herding sheep, you learn not only from their work but also from the Keeper Talks at enclosures like Dingoes and Crocodiles.

See below for the times.

Rainbow Lorikeets

At 9.45 a.m. and 3.45 pm, Rainbow Lorikeets are fed. These colourful wild birds come into the designated area to be fed, and then you can have photos taken with them. A few often hang around during the day, so you might be lucky and see them if you’re not there when the feeding is on.

Koalas

Of course, you really want to see the Koalas, and there are plenty of them. You can have your own Koala Moment here between 10 am and 12.30 pm daily or the daily talk at 11.30 am.

There are many places where you can see Koalas and have your photo taken with them. Babies are something to keep an eye out for, as the cute factor is off the scales.

Daily Talks and Experiences

Free Range Feeding Kangaroos – Daily 9.00 am – 4.30 pm, subject to weather conditions.

Wild Lorikeet Feeding – Daily 9.45 am and 3.45 pm.

Koala Moment – Daily 10 am to 12.30 pm and 2 pm – 3.45 pm.

Koala Talk – Daily 11.30 am.

Free Flight Raptor Show – 10.30 am and 1 pm.

Sheep Dog Show – 11 am and 1.30 pm.

Croc Show – noon.

Dingo Talk – 2.45 pm.

Check their website to see if there are any changes to the times.

The experiences here can make memories that last a lifetime. Koalas, Dingo, Platypus, Owl and more can be taken without costing the earth. Prices start from $10. To find your experience, click here.

Night Tours

Two new night tours will take you into the world of the animals that come alive at sunset. Learn about these animals from the keepers as they feed them and see them run around instead of sleeping during the day.

Tours last 90 minutes and are from $39.50.

Getting There

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is in the Brisbane suburb of Fig Tree Pocket. You can drive, take a bus or arrive on a ferry from Brisbane CBD.

Hours

• Sanctuary is daily
  • 09:00 am–05:00 pm
• Night Tours are on Friday and Saturday
  • 5.30 pm and 7.30 pm or sunset times as they vary over the year.

Prices

Sanctuary Prices

• Adult (18+ years) $59.00
• Child (3-13 years) $42.00
• Student (14-17 years or with valid ID) $47.00
• Senior/Pensioner (65+ years or with valid ID) $47.00
• Family (2 adults + up to 3 children) $180.00
• Mini Family (1 adult + up to 3 children) $124.00

Night Tour Prices

To check availability and book, click here.

Conclusion

If you’re only in Australia briefly and spend it in Brisbane, Lone Pine Sanctuary is the easy park to get to. You can easily spend an afternoon or morning seeing all the animals that call Australia home and learn about them from the daily talks.

Australia Zoo

Home of the Irwin’s, Australia Zoo is located at Beerwah, Glasshouse Mountains, about 20 minutes off the highway to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane.

Although it’s known as home to Crocodiles, they aren’t the only residents here.

Shows

Along with the Crocodile shows, there are Birds of Flight, Tigers, and Reptiles, as well as informative talks about the enclosures of other animals.

Another popular place to see these magnificent animals is the Sumatran Tiger Talk in the morning and show in the afternoon. Here, you can learn all about their plight in the wild and how zoos are helping to conserve them.

Other Animals

Australia Zoo is a huge park where you can look around all day. In addition to the Sumatran Tigers, there are Asian Small-Clawed Otters, Australian marsupials, and an African area where Zebras and Rhinoceros can roam more freely.

Australian Natives

All the Australian native animals are here, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see a baby Koala or an Echidna running around.

Bindi Island

Bindi Island is a large area where the Ring-tailed Lemurs can roam freely. They are entertaining in trees, on the path, or walking along the ground, and plenty of photo opportunities exist.

Reptiles

The marsupials aren’t the only native animals on show. The Snakes on display is a valuable education into how dangerous this country can be if you’re in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and encountering the wrong snake.

Marsupials

If you want to get close to a Koala, pat one in a walk-through enclosure.

The Kangaroos have an open-range enclosure you can walk through. Get up close with Kangaroos and Wallabies and feed them for $3 a bag. This is the cheapest option for an experience you will never forget.

On your way out, at the end of the car park, is the hospital you can visit if you’ve paid a couple of dollars extra.

Here, you can view the operating and recuperating rooms. You can also see all the excellent work that the hospital does for the local wildlife and its own in the Zoo.

Experiences and Talks

Do your kids dream of being a Keeper for a Day? Have you ever wanted to encounter a Lemur, Red Panda, Wombat, or one of many other animals? You can when you visit Australia Zoo and make even more memories from your day out.

If some are out of your price range, you can have a photograph taken with an Aldabra Tortoise or Reptile for less than AUD$30.

Keeper conservation talks happen throughout the day at the animal enclosures or Crocoseum. Times are as follows:

• 9:30 am – Grace’s Bird Garden Feed Out
• 10:00 am – Tortoises LIVE!
• 11:00 am – Tigers
• 11:30 am – Reptiles LIVE!
• 11:30 am – Africa Keeper Talk
• Noon – Elephants LIVE!
• 1:15 pm – Wildlife Warriors Show LIVE!
• 3:00 pm – Koalas LIVE!
• 3:00 pm – Birds Of Prey LIVE!
• 3:00 pm – Echidna Feed Out
• 3:30 pm – Otters LIVE!

You can book this tour here for a full experience or a behind-the-scenes tour.

Getting There

You can easily drive from Brisbane, the Sunshine or Gold Coast, and a large car park.

You can arrive by train and alight at Beerwah Train Station. The Australia Zoo shuttle meets most trains.

Hours

• Daily
  • 09:00 am–05:00 pm

Online Prices

For prices and bookings, please click here.

Conclusion

This is an excellent attraction for learning about Australian animals and Sumatran Tigers. You may even see the Irwins.

Daily bus tours depart from Brisbane, the Sunshine and Gold Coasts.

Wildlife HQ

Wildlife HQ is a small zoo on the Sunshine Coast at Woombye, a great place to see koalas.

This little Zoo used to be Alma Park Zoo in Brisbane’s northern suburbs before being relocated to the Big Pineapple to allow for more housing to be built.

A small train runs through the Zoo and up to the Big Pineapple and its eateries. You have a little cafe for snacks on the zoo grounds, although you’re welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy.

The entrance to Wildlife HQ is now through the Big Pineapple. You can catch the train to take the loop between the two.

Farm Animals and Others

As you enter the park, you have farm animals, reptiles, Cassowaries and more before heading around to a walk-through of Kangaroos.

Australian Animals

Crossing over the railway tracks, you’ll find yourself in the middle of the Australian animal section. You can find Koalas, Kangaroo and Wallaby here, including an Albino Wallaby.

The Tassie Devil is usually either asleep or hiding, but there are plenty of other animals to see, including birds.

There are plenty of koalas here to keep you entertained. They have pit enclosures that make seeing them at eye level easy.

Asian Rainforest

Maly, the Sun Bear, has a large enclosure where he can roam. He is with Binturong, Red Pandas, and Blackbutt.

African Plains

As this is a small park, a small number of animals are introduced over time. The African Wild Dogs came a couple of years ago and are found in many zoos in Australia and New Zealand due to their dwindling numbers in the African wild. They also have Meerkats and Baboons.

South American Trail

Onto the South American Trail, and you have Monkeys, Snakes and Ring-tailed Lemurs.

As this is a small zoo with no government funding, the Monkeys are in the old wire enclosures of the past. Hopefully, they can move them one day to a more open area that is popular with the more prominent zoos in cities.

Keeper Talks and Experiences

10:45 am Spider Monkey Keeper Talk

11:45 am Sun Bear Keeper Talk

12:45 pm Hamadryas Baboon Keeper Talk

Want to try Zoo Keeper for a day? Have an encounter with a Meerkat, Lemur, Emperor Tamarin, Red Panda or more? Check out your options here.

After Dark

When the sun goes down, the animals come out. On Friday and Saturday nights at 6.30 pm, you are taken on a one-hour to see animals such as Tasmanian Devils, African Wild Dogs, Binturong, Maned Wolf and more.

There are only 30 seats available, so bookings are essential.

Hours

• Daily
  • 09:00 am–04:00 pm last entry 3 pm

Closed Christmas Day.

Prices

Zoo

• Adults $42
• Children (under 3) Free
• Children (3-15 years) $28
• Seniors $35
• Family (2 adults & 2 children) $119

Zoo + Train

• Adults $47
• Children (under 3) Free
• Children (3-15 years) $34
• Seniors $41
• Family (2 adults & 2 children) $143

Night Zoo

• Adults $59
• Children (under 3) Free
• Children (3-15 years) $39
• Seniors $49
• Family (2 adults & 2 children) $179

Conclusion

Wildlife HQ is a great little park where you can see animals, especially koalas. Some paths are steep, and sometimes you must cross grass, so bear that in mind if you have wheelchairs or strollers.

This park doesn’t take as long as the larger parks and zoos in the area, but you can still see cute animals, and it easily fits into your attraction-packed days.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is located at Currumbin, on the Gold Coast’s southern end.

Whether you’re based here or not and want to see Koalas, this is the place to go.

What To See

This park has many native animals and hosts the usual shows and talks throughout the day.

Aviaries

A bird aviary is not far from the entrance, where you can walk through looking for native birds.

Some of the birds are well hidden. They are either camouflaged high in the treetops or on the ground, looking for grubs.

There are Parrots in other Aviaries further into the park. In these enclosures, you walk along, looking into the open area where the birds are free to fly.

Shows

There are plenty of shows to see as you wander the grounds throughout the day.

Plan the day well to fit everything in, from Australian culture to the Free Flight Bird Show.

• Lorikeet Feeding – Daily outside the entrance at 8 am & 4 pm.
• Billy Tea Presentation – Daily 9.30 am.
• Pelican & Eel Show – Daily 10 am.
• Blinky Bill’s Rookie Ranger Station – Daily 10.15 am & 12.30 pm.
• WildSkies – Free Flight Bird Show – Daily 10.45 am & 2.15 pm.
• Wildlife Hospital Presentation – Daily 11.30 am.
• Dinosaur Meet & Greet – Daily 11.30 pm.
• Lost Valley Rainforest Talk – Daily 1.15 pm.
• Lost Valley Boardwalk Talk – Daily 1.30 pm.
• Ngari-Bah Aboriginal Culture Show – Daily 3 pm.

The Lost Valley

The Lost Valley is home to the rainforest and is reminiscent of Gondwanaland thousands of years ago.

Many animals in the Lost Valley include the Red Panda, Tree Kangaroo, Lemur, and many more.

Two talks are here at 1.15 pm and 1.30 daily, the Rainforest and Boardwalk Talks.

The Lemur enclosure is a walk-through area, sharing with local birds. With the Lemurs, you can look, but don’t touch them. You can still get very close to them as they wander around.

Lorikeet Feeding

Lorikeet feeding happens twice a day, at 8 am and 4 pm. It is just outside the entrance, so you can enjoy this experience without paying to go in. A gold coin donation is all that is required for the food that you can feed the Lorikeets. They are so used to humans that they will land on you without an invitation.

Koala

Of course, you have come to see the Koalas, which are scattered all over the park.

Near the entrance are the Koalas, with whom you can have a photo taken. The Nursery with the Mum Koalas and their babies is near the back of the park.

You can also have breakfast or afternoon snacks with the Koalas. Breakfast is from 8 to 9 a.m., and the afternoon session is from 2 to 4 p.m. Prices are on their website here.

Treetop Challenge

If you like to challenge yourself on a ropes course through the trees, then the Treetop Challenge is for you.

Please allow 3.5 hours to complete this course, which has 100+ huge TreeTop Challenges, including 14 insane ziplines, and covers beginner to extreme.

All safety equipment (helmet, harness, and gloves) is supplied, and participants are instructed on its usage before beginning the course. You’re only required to bring closed-in shoes.

Qualified supervisors are present throughout to guide adventurers and ensure their safety at all times.

Encounters

This sanctuary offers various animal experiences, an insider tour, and more. From Breakfast with the Koalas to the Wildlife Hospital Tour and all your favourite cute animals to meet.

Click here to visit Encounters for more information.

Getting There

You can arrive by car, with a large car park for a fee that will go towards the Animal Hospital, which cares for wildlife and zoo animals.

You could use public transport. Go to the Translink site to plan your journey.

Shuttle bus transfers can be organised by calling 1300 886 511.

Hours

Sanctuary

• Daily
  • 8 am–4 pm

Treetops Challenge

• Daily

• Weekdays 9.30 am – 1 pm
• Weekends 9.30 am–1 pm every half hour.

Prices

Sanctuary

• Adults $70
• Children (under 3) Free
• Children (3-13 years) $50
• Family(2 adults 2 children) $215
• Concession $55

Treetops Challenge

• Adults $115
• Children (under 3) Free
• Children (3-13 years) $90
• Family(2 adults 2 children) $390
• Concession $100

Conclusion

This is an excellent park for families and those kids at heart. There are plenty of areas where they can play in the playground or enjoy cooling off on a hot day in the Wild Island Adventure Splash Zone for the smaller ones.

There are new attractions every year, so even if you’ve been before, there’s no excuse not to come back again.

Conclusion

All of these wildlife parks are worth your consideration. All do great work in the community, helping wildlife and their conservation. By visiting these parks, you’re helping to keep these animals healthy and in breeding programs and supporting the local wildlife.

Hopefully, visiting these attractions will allow you to see koalas up close in South East Queensland.

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Caution

Queensland is the world’s capital for skin cancer, so always bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses, even in winter, and don’t forget your water.

Links

If you’d like to read more of my blogs on Australia, you can find them on the following links; Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art, or if you’re after New Zealand, the United Kingdom or Photography, you can click on their links.

Travel Resources

• Flights & Accommodation—You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using Booking.com, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor, and WayAway, which offers 5% cashback.
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• Travel Insurance is the number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master, and Insubuy keep you insured during your travels.
• Attractions—buy before you leave home with these great sites: Big Bus Tour, Get Your Guide, GoCity and Viator.
• House Sitting is a great way to save on accommodation, and Trusted Housesitters offers house sittings worldwide.
• Photo Editing is a great way to bring your photos to life, and you can try Luminar Neo, which I use.
• Visa Applications—apply online for your visa requirements with iVisa.
• Sim cards—Try Airalo, the world’s first eSIM store, which solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).

If you want more, try my Travel Links and Resource page.

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