The 10 wildlife experiences your kids will love in the Northern Territory

Get face-to-face with a crocodile, thorny devil or orphaned kangaroo on an Aussie safari, says Jennifer Ennion.

You don’t have to make the long journey to the African continent to give the family an outstanding safari-style holiday. The Northern Territory has a huge range of animal encounters, many of which are bucket-list experiences. Here are our favourites:

Experience the outback life — Experience the equine outback life at Katherine Outback Show. (Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught)

Top End Family Wildlife Experiences

Turtles with Sea Darwin

One of the best parts about northern Australia is having the opportunity to watch turtles, and Sea Darwin runs a fabulous Turtle Tracks tour for ocean lovers. Head over to Njulbitjlk (also known as Bare Sand Island), west of Darwin, in time for sunrise or sunset, when you can watch flatback and olive ridley turtles return to shore to nest.

Sea Darwin Turtle Tracks tour — Sea Darwin runs a fabulous Turtle Tracks tour for ocean lovers. (Image: Sea Darwin)

Witnessing turtles lay eggs is always a special wildlife experience and no doubt you’ll feel privileged to be there. The tour includes a fast boat ride to and from the island (ex- Stokes Hill Wharf in Darwin), as well as guides, dinner and drinks. The experience is timed with the lunar cycle and tides so be flexible and pack some cards to pass the time while you wait for the turtles to make an appearance.

Baby turtles on Sea Darwin Turtle Tracks tour — Witness this special wildlife experience. (Image: Sea Darwin)

Crocs (of course) at Crocosaurus Cove

Feeding animals isn’t for everyone, but Crocosaurus Cove ups the ante with the “wow" factor and is therefore hugely popular. Easy to get to in Darwin, Crocosaurus is famous for its Cage of Death, a croc “dive" where the participant snorkels in a Perspex tank for a face-to-face encounter with a five-metre saltie.

Crocosaurus is famous for its Cage of Death..

If that’s not for you, there’s also the Big Croc Feed VIP Experience, during which you feed a croc as part of a 1.5-hour guided tour. Crocosaurus Cove is just one of numerous family-friendly activities in the Top End.

All creatures great and small at Territory Wildlife Park

To experience a gamut of Aussie creatures, call into Territory Wildlife Park, in lovely Berry Springs, 45 minutes’ drive south of Darwin. This place has it all: carpet pythons, blue-winged kookaburras, bandicoots, wallaroos, curlews, bats, echidnas and emus. If you love birds of prey, sign up for the On the Glove experience where intimate groups of five all get the option to hold one. There is also the “pelican brekky" where you can feed them fish, as well as the Secret Creatures Nocturnal House for reptiles, mammals and birds. The park makes a great stop for animal-loving families on a caravanning trip through the NT.

Whipray-encounters — Whipray encounters at the Territory Wildlife Park. (Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught)

Bag a barra with Wildman Fishing Tours

The Mary River wetlands are thriving with fish, so you’ll keep keen anglers in the family happy if you book a charter with Wildman Fishing Tours. Try your luck snagging a prized barramundi, or reel in a salmon, mackeral or snapper on a private or shared charter.

Along with Mary River, the company can also take you to Shady Camp, Finniss River and Dundee on single or multi-day tours. Before you go fishing in the NT, check out our guide to bagging a big one.

Wildman-fishing-above — Exploring the Mary River wetlands with Wildman Fishing Tours.

Birds and Buffalos (and, of course, crocs) with Yellow Water Cruises

A highlight of any trip to Kakadu National Park is a tour with Yellow Water Cruises along Yellow Water Billabong and South Alligator River. The major selling point is seeing crocs in the wild, but what you’ll love about this trip is the plethora of other Top End animals you come across: majestic storks with blue necks, darters with their impressive black wings, golden tree snakes and water buffalo.

The most popular times to join the year-round tours are sunrise and sunset when avid photographers can capture the billabong awash in pinks and tangerines (bookings recommended). On top of all this, the company is Indigenous-owned and focused on positive Indigenous outcomes, which makes it a popular tour with ethical travellers.

Horsing around outback style at Katherine Outback Experience

Instead of looking at animals from a Jeep, try your hand at being an Aussie cowgirl or cowboy at Katherine Outback Experience . Sign up for a private or group horse-riding lesson that suits your ability – whether you’re a complete novice or advanced rider.

While you’re there, catch the Outback Show, featuring horse-starting and working dog demonstrations. Read up on our safety tips before you head into the NT’s more remote areas, such as Katherine and surrounds.

Katherine-Outback-Experience-1 — Puppy cuddling at the Katherine Outback Experience. (Image: Tourism NT)

Red Centre Family Wildlife Experiences

Birds of prey at Alice Springs Desert Park

In the heart of Australia, you will find one of the country’s most impressive wildlife centres – Alice Springs Desert Park. This place rates highly because of its free-flying bird show, where visitors sit in an outdoor amphitheatre as expert handlers entice eagles, kites and other species to the “stage".

Woman holding a barn owl at Alice Springs Desert Park — Holding a barn owl at Alice Springs Desert Park. (Image: Tourism NT/Jess Caldwell & Luke Riddle)

The show is about the birds’ natural behaviours and both children and adults will be enthralled. Alice Springs is usually the first destination on a Red Centre holiday, with plenty more to see for families if you have a spare week or two.

Ranger holding a wedge-tailed eagle during a demonstration at the Alice Springs Desert Park. (Image: Tourism NT/Yuri Kardashyan)

The silent but deadly critters of Alice Springs Reptile Centre

Continue your Aussie animal-themed holiday by checking out some of the nation’s favourite and most feared slippery, spikey critters at Alice Springs Reptile Centre . Get up close to snakes and a saltwater croc, as well as beautiful outback lizards such as thorny devils, goannas, bearded dragons, and frillneck lizards. Try and catch the daily reptile shows, which include the chance to handle some of the animals.

Reptile encounters in Alice Springs — A slippery encounter at the Alice Spring Reptile Centre. (Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught)

The lovable joeys at the Kangaroo Sanctuary

Alice has it all, with a visit to The Kangaroo Sanctuary rounding out a trio of wildlife encounters. The sanctuary is for rescued and orphaned kangaroos and joeys, and is aimed at educating visitors about one of Australia’s favourite marsupials and encouraging them to care for injured wildlife. Call in for a guided sunset tour, and tick off some home-schooling for the kids while you’re at it.

Board the bumpy desert barges with Uluru Camel Tours

It really doesn’t get more “safari" in Australia than by joining a caravan of camels traipsing through the desert, so if you’re really craving an iconic experience, head out with Uluru Camel Tours . There are sunrise, sunset and express rides during which you not only learn about camels but also the landscape and outback flora and fauna. You may also get to try some freshly baked beer bread damper (adults only, of course).

Round out your NT safari with other great activities such as hiking in Kakadu, market-hopping in Darwin and road-tripping through the Red Centre. Click here for more NT inspiration.

Spend a few days visiting the real-life Central Australian locations that inspired the new film everyone is talking about, and discover why Alice Springs is such an important part of Australian culture.

In the credits of the new Australian film Kangaroo , the first name under ‘cast’ should read ‘The Northern Territory ’. Not only is Alice Springs (and the surrounding landscape) integral to the movie itself, but the spiritual heart of Australia and its local Indigenous owners also inform the look and feel of every frame, explains Producer Trisha Morton-Thomas of Brindle Films, who also plays Charlie’s grandmother Gwennie.

“By setting Kangaroo in Alice Springs (Mparntwe), the film embraces how visible Aboriginal people are here, and the living Aboriginal culture that is woven through this community,” she explains.

still from kangarro film — See *Kangaroo*, then visit the real-life filming locations.

And while shooting in such a sacred part of the Northern Territory required extra planning, it was something the cast and crew were highly invested in.

“There are incredibly significant sacred sites and places of deep cultural stories in the area, that at times are very gender-specific, which we’ve kept out of the production,” she explains. “Even if overhead drone footage captures a sacred site that isn’t meant to be seen by other people outside of that clan, we’ve made sure to omit it from the film.”

If Kangaroo piqued your interest in a Central Australian holiday, we don’t blame you. Read on to discover eight places featured in the movie that you can visit in real life – and get planning. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen and a hat.

1. Alice Springs/ Mparntwe

artist at Many Hands Art Centre — Visit the galleries of Alice Springs, like Many Hands Art Centre. (Image: Tourism NT/ Helen Orr/ Many Hands Art Centre)

The red and dusty streets of the film’s fictional town of Silvergum were filmed on the outskirts of Alice Springs. And, while the art gallery featured in the film is fictional, Alice Springs is a hub of creativity. See the work of local artists at the Araluen Art Centre , Yubu Napa Art Gallery , Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Art Centre and the famous Tjanpi Desert Weavers .

2. The Kangaroo Sanctuary & Kangaroo Rescue Centre

The Kangaroo Sanctuary Alice Springs, the inspiration for the Kangaroo move — Visit the movie’s inspiration at Kangaroo Sanctuary. (Image: Tourism NT/ Kangaroo Sanctuary)

Kangaroo was inspired by the journey of Chris ‘Brolga’ Barns, who founded the now world-renowned Kangaroo Sanctuary based in Alice Springs. For lead actor, Aussie Ryan Corr, the animals were central to the movie, alongside the landscapes.

“The animals in this story were a real calling point for me,” he explains. “What this story tries to tell us about the connection between humans and animals is beautiful.”

To gain a real insight into the fauna and flora of the Red Centre, you can visit the Kangaroo Sanctuary on a sunset tour, where you might even get the chance to hold a baby kangaroo.

3. Ormiston Gorge

woman walking along the edge of Ormiston Gorge near alice springs — Take a dip in Ormiston Gorge. (Image: Tourism NT/ @domandjesso)

The film captures the raw beauty of the West MacDonnell Ranges, known in the Arrernte language as Tjoritja. This national park is rich in Indigenous culture and stark geological wonders.

Only a 15-minute drive from Alice Springs, Tjoritja offers visitors the chance to camp, hike and swim among ancient landscapes (most attractions are less than a three-hour drive away).

Ormiston Gorge , a cooling oasis in among the red desert sands, is one of the most popular destinations, no doubt because of the permanent swimming hole and towering red cliffs. From here, visitors can also embark on the beautiful Ormiston Pound Walk and the shorter – more accessible – Ghost Gum Walk. Bring your bathers – it’s safe for swimming.

4. Standley Chasm

woman walking through Standley Chasm near alice springs — Wander through Standley Chasm. (Image: Tourism NT)

The 1.2-kilometre walk to nearby Standley Chasm will be a highlight for any visitor as the imposing 40 metre-high chasm walls project strength and ancient wisdom.

Visit at midday to experience the path illumined by the midday sun. Not only will you fill your camera roll with vibrant red images of the gorge and its intoxicating shadows, but you can also camp nearby in a powered or unpowered site so you can watch the brilliance of the desert stars fill the night sky after dusk.

5. Simpsons Gap

three people walking on path through simpsons gap near alice springs — Walk the trails of Simpson’s Gap. (Image: Tourism NT/ Helen Orr)

Closer to Alice Springs, the photogenic Simpsons Gap is the perfect place to spot the endangered Black-footed Rock wallaby near the permanent watering hole. While swimming isn’t permitted, soaking up the sun and views certainly is.

Explore the area’s numerous walking trails, appreciate the soaring cliffs on either side of the ‘gap’ and pick out the shooting locations of Kangaroo in the area.

6. Ellery Creek Big Hole

aerial of Ellery Creek Big Hole near alice springs — Dive into Ellery Creek Big Hole. (Image: Tourism NT/ Tourism Australia)

When it comes to classic Northern Territory landscapes, you can’t go past Ellery Creek Big Hole/ Udepata : tall gum trees sidling up to a refreshing watering hole (fed by the West MacDonnell Ranges and surrounded by rugged red cliffs.

Swim in the cooling waters, hike the cliff tops, watch for birds and even stargaze as you camp here overnight. It’s locations like this that attracted the film’s director Kate Woods to the project.

“It humbles you to be in this environment: it’s so beautiful, so old and so vast,” she explains. “I was thrilled to get a chance to … shoot such a beautiful story in the incredible landscape of the Northern Territory.”

7. Larapinta Drive

aerial of Larapinta Drive into alice springs — Drive along Larapinta Drive. (Image: Tourism NT)

There is no better way to get a feel for how the characters arrived at the fictional Central Australian town of Silvergum than to travel along the iconic state road, Larapinta Drive.

Connecting Alice Springs to the mighty King’s Canyon in the west, via the historic community of Hermannsburg, this road takes in the West MacDonnell National Park, Alice Springs Desert Park and artist Albert Namatjira’s house, among other attractions. Take your time, bring a camera and prepare for numerous stops along the way.

8. Todd River

competitors in Henley on Todd Regatta, alice springs — Join in the fun of the quirky Henley on Todd Regatta. (Image: Tourism NT/ TImparja Creative)

Meandering through Alice Springs like a lazy Western Brown snake, the Todd River is a central part of Alice Springs culture. Known as an ‘intermittent river’, the Todd can go from a dry dusty riverbed to a flowing waterscape in less than 15 minutes after heavy rainfall.

When it’s dry, the famous Henley on Todd Regatta fills the sandy riverbed with handmade ‘boats’ carried by sailors. This is the world’s only dry river boating event, and it’s referenced in the ‘Silvergum Boat Race’ in the movie. Inspired by the real-life event, the characters built quirky “Flintstones-style boats” and competed in teams.

See Kangaroo in cinemas now, and start planning your NT getaway at northernterritory.com.