Brisbane

On the doorstep of Brisbane city, you’ll find an aquatic playground and marine sanctuary.

The beautiful Moreton Bay feature sheltered blue waters, unspoilt islands and plenty of wildlife, including dolphins, dugongs, turtles and birds.

Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort (www.tangalooma.com)

Visit this lovely resort located on Moreton Island, just 75 minutes by boat from Brisbane.

The island is home to pristine beaches, towering sand dunes and lush bushland. You can take nature walks, zoom down the sand dunes on makeshift sand toboggans, try quad biking in the bush trails or handfeed wild dolphins every evening.

You can also go on whale watching cruises from June to October and spot magnificent humpback whales.

Mount Coot-tha (www.brisbanelookout.com )

Enjoy panoramic views of Brisbane city from this summit. You can also explore its subtropical Botanic Garden, which includes over 20,000 plant specimens, a herbarium, bonsai house, tropical dome and water lily ponds.

Redlands IndigiScapes Centre (www.epa.qld.gov.au )

Just half an hour from Brisbane city, this centre is one of the best places to see wildflowers in their natural setting. It is Australia’s first environmental centre for indigenous plants. Explore the Wildflower Walk, and take a walk through the Tallowwood View Trail, where you can spot koalas in the large eucalypt trees.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (www.koala.net)

Cuddle a koala and get up close to all kinds of Aussie wildlife at the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary.