Brisbane Lone Pine

      The Lone Pine Koala and Wildlife Sanctuary is a half-hour bus ride 
	  south from Brisbane, or alternatively there are boat cruises that 
	  include a stop at the sanctury.  Lone Pine is set in attractive 
	  parklands beside the river,  and is home to a wide variety of 
	  Australian animals, including kangaroos, wombats, emus, lorikeets 
	  and lyrebirds. But the star attractions is the undeniably cute and 
	  cuddly koala,  and visitors queue to be photographed holding one.  
	  The kangaroos are also happy to share your picnic to the point where 
	  people feeding them have created a nuisance.

      The Woolshed is 15km northwest of the city centre and is an impressive 
	  demonstration of sheep related activities such as sheep shearing and 
	  wool spinning.  There is a souvenir shop specialising in Australiana 
	  and a spacious park with free picnic and barbecue facilities, a small 
	  fauna park with koalas and kangaroos.

      North Stradbroke Island is about 20km by vehicular ferry from Cleveland, 
	  which is about 25km southeast of the city centre. Stradbroke is a sand 
	  island, and despite sand-mining activities there is plenty of vegetation 
	  and beautiful scenery. The best beaches are at the northeast tip of the 
	  island and down the eastern (ocean) side. There are good walks around 
	  here and you can often see whales and dolphins from the headlands. To go 
	  to Stradbroke you really need a car to get around on the island - you 
	  can go without one, but you are pretty much limited to Dunwich when you 
	  get there. Most people go to the island for the beaches or the peace 
	  and quiet.