If you’re planning a trip to The Red Centre, The Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs should be high on your list. I expected it to be a lovely wildlife experience, but it ended up being one of the most memorable things we did on this trip.
This isn’t a zoo-style attraction or a quick photo stop with kangaroos. It feels much more personal than that.
The sanctuary is built around rescue, rehabilitation, and education, and you can feel that from the moment the tour begins.
Set on a 188-acre wildlife reserve outside Alice Springs, The Kangaroo Sanctuary is home to rescued orphaned baby kangaroos and adult kangaroos who need care. Some are later released back into the wild, while others stay at the sanctuary because they would not survive on their own.
Heading to Uluru? Check out our 12 Best Uluru Tours You Need to do!
About The Kangaroo Sanctuary Alice Springs
The Kangaroo Sanctuary was founded by Chris “Brolga” Barns, who is also known as Kangaroo Dundee. Before starting the sanctuary, Chris worked as a tour guide in Central Australia. Over time, he became increasingly affected by seeing dead kangaroos on the roads.
Rather than simply accept it, he decided to do something about it. He first established the Baby Kangaroo Rescue Centre in Alice Springs before opening The Kangaroo Sanctuary in 2011. His mission is to educate people about kangaroos, rescue orphaned joeys, and give injured kangaroos the best chance of survival.
The motto here is simple: Animals Come First. It sounds like a small phrase, but it really does sum up the entire experience. Everything on the tour is centred around what is best for the kangaroos, not what is most convenient for visitors.
Why The Kangaroo Sanctuary Became Famous
You may have already heard of Chris from the BBC and National Geographic documentary Kangaroo Dundee, which shared his work with a much wider audience. The documentary helped put The Kangaroo Sanctuary on the map, especially for international visitors who wanted to understand more about kangaroo rescue in Australia.
You may also recognize Roger, the beloved Kangaroo that went viral on Social Media due to his large posture. Chris brought him up and there’s even a memorial statue at the sanctuary so you can see jus how big he was.
It makes you realise how vulnerable kangaroos can be, especially around roads. Many orphaned joeys come into care because their mothers have been hit by cars. It’s heartbreaking to hear, but the tour also shows you the hopeful side of rescue work.
What The Sunset Tour Is Like
The only way to visit The Kangaroo Sanctuary is on a pre-booked guided sunset tour. Public tours currently run on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons, and they last around 2.5 to 3 hours. The sanctuary times the tours for late afternoon because kangaroos sleep during the day and start waking up as the sun begins to drop.
The whole experience feels calm and unhurried. You walk slowly through the sanctuary with a guide, stopping along the way to learn about the kangaroos and the rescue work. There are no big crowds, loud groups, or staged performances.
That slower pace is part of what makes the tour so special. You’re not rushing from one thing to the next. Instead, you get time to listen, ask questions, watch the kangaroos, and enjoy the outback setting as the light changes.
Meeting The Kangaroos
One of the best parts of the tour is getting close to the kangaroos in a respectful way. The sanctuary is very clear that kangaroos scare easily, so visitors need to stay quiet, move slowly, and follow the guide’s instructions at all times. You learn how to behave around kangaroos, why they need space, and how easily they can become stressed.
Depending on the tour, you may also get the chance to hold a baby joey in a soft pouch. This was one of the most memorable parts for me, but it didn’t feel like a gimmick. Chris explained how to hold a joey properly if you ever find one in the pouch of a mother who has been hit by a car.
What We Learnt About Joey Rescue
One of the biggest things I took away from the tour was the importance of checking a kangaroo’s pouch if you safely come across one that has died on the road. Sometimes the mother has been killed, but the joey inside the pouch is still alive.
Chris suggested keeping a pillowcase in your car when travelling around Australia. If you ever need to help a joey, a pillowcase can act as a soft temporary pouch while you contact a wildlife rescue service or vet for advice.
This is one of those practical tips you might never think about until someone tells you. But it could make a huge difference.
I wouldn’t recommend trying to feed or care for a joey yourself unless a wildlife rescue expert tells you what to do. Joeys need specialist care, and the wrong food can harm them. The main thing is to keep them safe, warm, quiet, and get proper help as soon as possible.
The Baby Kangaroo Rescue Centre
The Baby Kangaroo Rescue Centre plays a huge role in the sanctuary’s work. This is where orphaned joeys receive care until they are strong enough to return to the wild, if that is possible.
Some joeys need to be carried in soft pouches for months, which helps recreate the safety of their mother’s pouch. Chris explained that they may be carried for many months before they are ready for the next stage of care.
When kangaroos are ready to return to the wild, the sanctuary often releases them in groups. This gives them a better chance of settling back into life outside the sanctuary.
Not every kangaroo can be released though. Some have injuries or health issues that mean they would not survive in the wild. These kangaroos stay at the sanctuary, where they can live safely.
Feeding The Kangaroos
During our tour, a small number of visitors had the chance to feed some of the kangaroos. These weren’t wild kangaroos being fed for entertainment. They were kangaroos who live permanently at the sanctuary because they can’t go back into the wild.
Why This Tour Feels Different
The Kangaroo Sanctuary feels different because it is rooted in real rescue work. It doesn’t feel overly polished, and that is part of its charm. You can tell the sanctuary exists because someone cared enough to build a life around helping these animals.
You hear about road deaths, orphaned joeys, and the reality of rescuing wildlife in Central Australia. Some of it is hard to hear, but it is important.
At the same time, the tour does feel hopeful. You see joeys getting a second chance, adult kangaroos living safely, and people learning how to help if they ever come across injured wildlife.
Is The Kangaroo Sanctuary Worth Visiting?
Yes, The Kangaroo Sanctuary is absolutely worth visiting. In fact, I’d say it is one of the best things to do in Alice Springs if you love wildlife or want a more meaningful travel experience.
You don’t just see kangaroos here, you understand them better. You learn how fragile their lives can be, how much work goes into raising orphaned joeys, and why road safety matters so much in Australia.
It is also a brilliant experience if you want to do something that feels unique to the Red Centre. Alice Springs has plenty of landscapes and outback experiences nearby, but this tour adds a very human and emotional layer to your trip.
Nearby Places To Visit In Alice Springs
If you’re planning a few days in Alice Springs, I’d combine The Kangaroo Sanctuary with a trip to the West MacDonnell Ranges. Some of the best places to visit nearby include Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm (pictured), and Ormiston Gorge.
The sanctuary works well as a late afternoon experience, so you can spend the earlier part of the day exploring Alice Springs or relaxing before the tour. I wouldn’t try to cram too much in beforehand, though, as you’ll want to enjoy the tour without feeling rushed.
If you have more time, Alice Springs is worth using as a base for a few days. Many people pass through quickly on the way to Uluru, but experiences like this show why the town deserves more attention.
Visiting Uluru? Read These Guides Next
If you’re planning a bigger Red Centre trip, I’ve got plenty of Uluru guides to help you make the most of it. Start with my guide to the best things to do in Uluru if you’re working out your itinerary, or read my Darwin to Uluru road trip guide if you’re planning an epic Northern Territory adventure.
For walks, don’t miss my Uluru Base Walk guide and my guide to the Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata Tjuta. Both are brilliant ways to experience the landscape up close and get a better feel for how special this part of Australia really is.
I’ve also put together a guide to the best Uluru tours, plus honest reviews of whether the 15-minute Uluru helicopter flight, the Uluru Field of Light dinner, and the Wintjiri Wiru Uluru drone show are worth booking.
