The First Koala Sanctuary in Queensland and the World: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is a popular attraction that draws people from different states of Australia and countries in the world. The sanctuary was opened in 1927 by Claude Reid also called as Cam. He and his family dedicated their life to raising awareness about Koalas and their habitats. Since its establishment, the sanctuary has aided in the growth, development, breeding, and conservation of koalas. It’s a great place for education and awareness making it suitable not just for adults but children as well.
The sanctuary is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the first and largest koala sanctuary of not only Queensland but the world. If you are interested in learning more about this fantastic place then read on…
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary will complete a hundred years in 2027 and even though it is so old, its popularity has not dwindled. Since its establishment, the sanctuary has grown exponentially. Today, it has over 130 cuddly koalas and over 70 different species of indigenous Australian animals like kangaroos, wild lorikeets, platypus and more.
- The modern sanctuary is an amalgamation of various land areas that were purchased over the years. The sanctuary also had a number of owners after its establishment like Joseph Clarkson, Claude (Cam) Reid, Frances Reid and more.
- In the years 2015 and 2018, the sanctuary became a part of the Trip Advisor Hall of Fame as it had excellent reviews.
- In partnership with Brisbane City Council, the sanctuary also established the Brisbane Koala Science Institute for world-class research on koalas. This institute was opened in 2018 and functions to make lives of koalas and other native Australian animals better.
- When you visit the place, you can have fun at the ‘Koala Forest’ with female koalas and babies. Also, you can watch the Free Flight Raptor Show, Sheepdog Show, and much more.
- Since it is the age of social media, the sanctuary proves free Wi-Fi service, has three blogger areas, comfortable seating arrangements, and USB power stations for devices. The place is modern, tech-savvy, and a delight for adults, children and the elderlies.
- The sanctuary offers various amenities such as car park, café, coach parking, barbeque, picnic area, public toilets, shops/gift shops, showers, electric vehicle charging point, and much more.
- Besides watching and cuddling the koalas, you can feed the kangaroos, watch birds, take walks, and take part in many more activities because there is so much to do.
If you are interested in visiting the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Queensland, you can visit it any day of the week between 9:00am-5:00pm. The Riverside café is open from 7:30am-4:00pm and the Sleepy Koala Café is open from 10:00am-2:00pm on public holidays and weekends.
The Bottom Line
The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the largest and oldest place top watch and cuddle koalas, kangaroos, and many other indigenous Australian animals. This is a great place to come alone, with friends, or your family.