Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane

Opened in 1927, Lone Pine is the world's first and largest koala sanctuary, with more than 100 koalas in a bush setting on the Brisbane River at Fig Tree Pocket. You can have your photo taken holding a koala (Queensland is one of the few places that still allows it), and walk among free-roaming kangaroos and wallabies in a big open paddock and feed them.

There are also platypus, wombats, Tasmanian devils, dingoes, echidnas and many native birds, with keeper talks and a birds-of-prey show through the day. Allow at least half a day; there are picnic areas and a café.

Getting there: a river cruise from the Cultural Centre pontoon at South Bank runs upriver to the sanctuary, which is a lovely way to arrive. Buses also run from the city, and it's about 20 minutes by car.