Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket is the world's largest koala sanctuary and one of Brisbane's most visited attractions — regularly ranked in TripAdvisor's Top 10 Things to Do in Brisbane. Just 11 km from the CBD, it's Brisbane's most accessible wildlife experience and a perennial favourite for school excursions, tourist groups, visiting families, and corporate social days.
About Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Established in 1927, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary on Jesmond Road in Fig Tree Pocket is home to over 130 koalas — the largest collection in the world — plus kangaroos, wombats, Tasmanian devils, platypuses, reptiles, and a wide range of Australian birds. The sanctuary offers hands-on wildlife experiences including koala holding (one of the only places in Queensland where this is possible), hand-feeding kangaroos, and ranger-led educational programs.
The sanctuary is open daily from 9am to 5pm. It covers approximately 4.7 hectares and offers multiple cafes and dining areas for groups staying for lunch.
Getting to Lone Pine by Charter Bus
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is located at Jesmond Road, Fig Tree Pocket — approximately 11 km southwest of the Brisbane CBD. The most direct road access is via Moggill Road from the CBD or via the Western Freeway from the south and west.
The sanctuary has a large coach and bus parking area on-site — well suited to group arrivals. B.H.B drops school groups and tourist groups directly at the Lone Pine entrance. Parking on Jesmond Road itself is very limited — group bus transport eliminates this problem entirely.
Lone Pine School Excursions
Lone Pine offers curriculum-aligned educational programs for primary and secondary students including:
- Wildlife biology and ecology programs for Year 4–10
- Ranger-led tours covering native Australian species and conservation
- Koala life cycle and marsupial biology for primary science
- Environmental sustainability programs for senior secondary
Brisbane Hire Bus regularly transports school groups from across Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Gold Coast, and Moreton Bay to Lone Pine excursions. All B.H.B drivers on school bookings hold current Working With Children (WWC) Blue Card clearances. B.H.B issues GST-inclusive tax invoices to school accounts.
Who Uses B.H.B for Lone Pine Transport?
- Schools — primary and secondary school excursions from across Brisbane and SEQ. One of B.H.B's most regular school transport destinations.
- Tourist groups — overseas visitors and interstate tourists who want to experience Australian wildlife close to Brisbane's CBD
- Corporate social days — team-building and corporate social events at Lone Pine. Brisbane Hire Bus transports corporate groups from CBD hotels and offices.
- Visiting families — interstate families with young children often combine Lone Pine with a South Bank visit for a full Brisbane day
- Seniors clubs — Lone Pine's paved paths and accessible facilities make it popular for seniors group outings
Lone Pine Transport Tips
- Lone Pine is open 9am–5pm daily — B.H.B recommends a 9:15am arrival to beat the morning tour groups
- Allow at least 3 hours at the sanctuary — 4 hours for school groups with educational programs
- Parking at Lone Pine is limited and fills quickly on weekends — group bus transport is the practical option
- Combine Lone Pine with a South Bank afternoon visit for a full Brisbane day — it's a simple route extension B.H.B can quote together
Frequently Asked Questions
Book Your Group Transport with B.H.B
Fixed GST-inclusive pricing — vehicle, driver, insurance and fuel included. Get a quote within the hour.