My experience at the Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs

The Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs is hands down the most amazing, intimate and ethical wildlife experience I have ever had. Last winter my lovely friend Charlotte and I took a month long road trip around Australia and this was an absolute highlight for both of us (especially for her as she is French and this was her first time seeing Australian animals up close).

After a huge day trip out to some of the amazing gorges and natural sites that surround Alice Springs, Charlotte and I made sure we were back by mid afternoon to get changed and be ready for the tour transport to pick us up at our hostel in town. We were picked up in a very comfortable, air conditioned coach and made a few more stops at some of the hotels on the way back out of the town towards the sanctuary. There are nine pick up points around Alice and our hostel was one of them, so that was a win!

When we arrived we were all greeted by Brolga (this is a nickname, his real name is Chris). Many years ago he befriended an Aboriginal man who made a joke that he looked like a Brolga, which is a VERY tall bird with long legs…and is a pretty accurate depiction of him. The name then just stuck 😛 Others have called him Kangaroo Dundee, which also works! LOL

Brolga established the Sanctuary and runs the daily tours. He is incredibly passionate about his work and rehabilitating rescued and injured Kangaroos. Those that live at the sanctuary are those that would not be able to survive in the wild, some of which are too ‘friendly’ with humans, which I think is just adorable 😍

We were given a small introductory briefing before being taken on a guided walk around the sanctuary. At this point Brolga brings out two little joeys in a basket that everyone can have a turn to hold. Every joey and Kangaroo at the sanctuary have a name, ours were Chester and Harriet 🙂 They come along with the group as you move around the sanctuary, listening to Brolga teach you ALLLL things Kangaroo.

We learnt all about the life cycle of a Kangaroo, the differences between male and female and how to care for an injured roo, if you find one in the mother’s pouch on the side of the road. Unfortunately this can be common in Australia, as Kangaroos are active at night and can jump out in front of cars, especially out on country roads.

We also learnt about the biggest, feistiest and most famous Kangaroo- Roger. Seriously google him…he was HUGE. He is no longer alive but Brolga has some epic stories about his encounters with him. There is even a metal statue outline at the sanctuary that shows you how tall he would be if he were standing next to you. Towers well above me, that’s for sure.

Whilst enjoying a relaxed pace guided walk, we all had the opportunity to feed them, pat them and take pictures them…and if you have never touched a Kangaroo–they are a lot softer than you think.

**Important reminder: if you see a Kangaroo in the wild… Do NOT approach it or attempt to touch it. They may look cute but they can be aggressive (especially fully grown males). Just leave them be in their natural environment, they tend to flee from humans anyway.

I was really amazed at the knowledge one man has about a particular species, he loves to share and will answer any questions you might have throughout the tour. It is also extra special that Brolga knows each individual Kangaroo by name/personality. There was one who loves to hop up to him, and people in general, for a little cuddle ❤️

At the conclusion of the tour you jump back on the coach and your friendly driver takes you back to your accommodation or a similar point in town.

One thing we were super impressed with was the that the sanctuary itself was basically a VERY large enclosure of natural environment and the Kangaroos were able to coexist there in peace. The place is 188 acres! It is a non commercial entity, and the wildlife that live there are not kept in captivity, and not bred there. The purpose is to rehabilitate in order to send back to the wild and those that remain are there because they require extra protection. There is also a rescue centre there that has been set up for injured and orphaned Kangaroos, that you can donate to or even sponsor a roo 🙂

Important details to note:

The Sanctuary is located about 11km south of the township of Alice Springs (on a side road near the airport and ‘Welcome to Alice’ sign). You can ONLY visit on a pre arranged tour and these run once a day and start just before sunset (as this is the time that Kangaroos wake and start to become most active).

They actually do not allow self driving to the sanctuary to preserve the natural environment and limit the number of guests on their tours.

Tours are 2.5-3 hours in length and hotel pick up/drop off is included. Pick up times are usually around 4-5pm, depending on the season/month of the year.

Cost: Adults $85 and Children $45. You really should book online in advance as this is very popular and can book out fast.

You need to wear enclosed shoes.

Take water and hat.

Tour group numbers are strictly capped to make for a better experience for all (people and animals) .

If you want to read more about it or book onto one of their sunset tours check out their website HERE.

I will leave you with some of the amazing moments we captured with our photos below that are bound to make you drool and maybe even ugly cry at allllll the cuteness #cantevendeal ❤️ 😭 😍