Brisbane - Australia 2004 - page 243

5 Exploring Brisbane
CUDDLING A KOALA & OTHER TOP ATTRACTIONS
Australian Woolshed If you've never seen a sheep or visited a farm, this
might be a novelty for you, but don't be surprised if your Aussie friends cringe
when you mention your intention to visit it. That said, this is a popular attrac-
tion with overseas visitors and school groups—you may have to contend with
busloads of them. The ram show features eight trained Australian rams that
“answer” to their names and walk through the audience to take their place beside
their named spots on the stage. There's also sheep shearing, spinning, and sheep-
dog demonstrations, and you can get your hands dirty classing wool, milking
cows, feeding kangaroos, and cuddling koalas (a photo will cost you A$14/
US$9). The gift shop has quality Australian-made souvenirs. A rustic restaurant
serves Aussie specialties, including billy tea and damper.
Some Friday and Saturday nights the Woolshed hosts a traditional bush dance
and dinner, featuring country dancing, spoon-playing, singalongs, a live band,
and a two-course dinner. Tickets cost A$39 (US$25) per adult and A$17
(US$11) for children 5 to 14. The fun starts at 7pm and goes until midnight.
Bookings are essential.
148 Samford Rd., Ferny Hills. & 07/3872 1100. www.auswoolshed.com.au. Admission to ram show A$17
(US$11) adults, A$12 (US$7.80) seniors and students, A$11 (US$7.15) children 3-14, A$46 (US$30) family (2
adults/3 children). Billy tea and damper A$6.50 (US$4.20) adults, A$4.10 (US$2.65) children 3-14. Water slide
A$6.50 (US$4.20) for 1 hr.; A$10 (US$6.50) for 4 hr. Minigolf A$5.50 (US$3.60) for 9 holes. AE, MC, V. Daily
8:30am-4:30pm (ram show 9:30 and 11am and 1 and 2:30pm) except Christmas Day and Anzac Day (Apr
25) morning. Train: Ferny Grove (station is 800m/2,624 ft. from the Woolshed). Car: Kelvin Grove Rd. from the
city becomes Enoggera Rd., then Samford Rd.; the trip is 14km (8 1 ⁄ 2 miles). Large off-street free parking lot.
Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt. Coot-tha These 52-hectare (128-acre) gar-
dens at the base of Mt. Coot-tha feature Aussie natives and exotics you proba-
bly won't see at home, including an arid zone, a Tropical Dome conservatory
housing rainforest plants, a cactus house, bonsai house, fragrant plants, a Japan-
ese garden, African and American plants, wetlands, and a bamboo grove. There
are lakes and trails, usually a horticultural show or arts-and-crafts display in the
auditorium on weekends, and a cafe. Free 1-hour guided tours leave the kiosk at
11am and 1pm Monday through Saturday (except public holidays).
Mt. Coot-tha Rd., Toowong, 7km (4 miles) from the city. & 07/3403 8888. www.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Free
admission to Botanic Gardens. Gardens open daily 8am-5pm (5:30pm Sept-Mar). Bus: 471. Free parking.
City Hall Once the tallest building in Brisbane, City Hall is now dwarfed by the
office blocks that surround it. Nevertheless, a ride in the old elevator to the top of
the sandstone clock tower gives you a different perspective on the city center. Take
a peek into the spacious art gallery on the ground floor, then take the elevator from
outside the gallery entrance to the third floor (there's a A$2/US$1.30 charge). A
cheery elevator operator will give you a history of the building on your short ride
up before letting you out into the glassed-in observation floor in the bell tower. If
you're there on the quarter hour you'll get a close-up experience of the chimes. Try
not to be there at midday, when the clock chimes 12—it's deafening.
King George Square (Ann and Adelaide sts.). & 07/3403 8888. Clock tower open Mon-Fri 10am-3pm; Sat
10am-2:30pm. Closed Sun and public holidays.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary This is the best place in Australia to
cuddle a koala—and one of the few places where koala cuddling is still allowed.
Banned in New South Wales and Victoria, koala cuddling is allowed in

Kids