Post Code: 4069 Distance to CBD: 9 km
Fig Tree Pocket is a Brisbane suburb. It is named after the fig tree that is abundant in the area. The term ‘pocket’ refers to being placed in a pocket of the Brisbane River. The suburb has a low density population and it is relatively remote with low levels of noise pollution mainly attributed to vehicular traffic and construction work. The suburb has no shopping centers. Housing in the suburb composes mostly of single detached units with a few large houses beside the Brisbane River. The sparse housing and the large green spaces makes the suburb feels like a rural area, yet it is only about 9 kilometers from the city proper.
Fig Tree Pocket Main Attraction
o The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
The sanctuary is established in 1927 and it is regarded as one of the best zoos in the world. It is the world’s first and the largest koala sanctuary with a koala population of over 130. It is also the home of Australia’s iconic wildlife
The most popular several species of birds in the sanctuary are the colorful lorikeets and cockatoos, flightless emus and cassowarys, and the kookaburra which is popularized by a folk song that tells of the bird laughing in the old gum tree. The laugh is actually the bird’s mating call which can be frequently heard in the sanctuary.
The most popular of them all is the cuddly koala. The word koala means ‘no drink’ in the aboriginal language. Koalas hardly drink at all for they get most of the water they need from the eucalyptus leaves.
The sanctuary also has dingos, tasmanian devils, kangaroos, bats, snakes, echidnas, lizards and wombats.
The sanctuary offers activities which the visitors can enjoy, like feeding the animals and hugging the cuddly koalas. They also offer shows and presentations featuring the animals in the sanctuary, like the sheep dog show which is held three times a day in a sanctuary section called Nature Kingdom. They also set lectures, presentations and demonstrations about snake or lizard handling or about wombats. For a freebie, you might get a chance to see the eagles in a bird of prey flight show. Different activities are scheduled all year round. There is also a café and a souvenir shop in the Koala Forest where a visitor can relax after an exciting day in the zoo.
The sanctuary is accessible by private car or taxi. The trip will only take 20 minutes from the city proper. There is also a bus that goes to the sanctuary. You can also go there by a ferry boat from a pontoon wharf in Queensland Cultural Center.