Zoo/Aquarium

Alice Springs Desert Park

Part zoo, part botanical garden and founded in 1997, Alice Springs Desert Park pairs free-flying birds of prey with time alongside Aboriginal guides.

Typical visit

Ages

Booking

Price

Day entry to 31 March 2027: adults $41.50, children 5-16 $21; family tickets $94.50 for 2 adults and 1 child, $111.50 for 2 adults and up to 4 children.

Under-5s

Children under 5 get in free.

Opening hours

Open 7:30-18:00 every day.

Last entry

Last entry is at 16:30.

Booking

Pre-booking is encouraged, but day tickets can also be bought on arrival.

Refunds

Tickets are non-refundable.

Getting there

Take bus route 400 to Albrecht Drive and walk 20-25 minutes, or use Alice Wanderer's daily return transfer.

Parking

Parking for cars and coaches is free.

OUR FAMILY ASSESSMENT

Family Intelligence

Alice Springs Desert Park was founded in 1997 and is both a zoo and a botanical garden. It is closed on 25 December.

Two parts of the park keep their own clocks. The Nocturnal House is open 9:00-17:30, so it fits inside an ordinary day visit. The Nocturnal Tour is a separate evening outing: it runs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at 19:30 from April to October and at 20:00 from November to March, costs extra and has to be booked. Seeing the park’s night animals with a guide therefore means planning an evening around it rather than adding it on the day.

Family FAQ

How much does Alice Springs Desert Park cost?

Day entry to 31 March 2027: adults $41.50, children 5-16 $21; family tickets $94.50 for 2 adults and 1 child, $111.50 for 2 adults and up to 4 children.

What are the opening hours of Alice Springs Desert Park?

Open 7:30-18:00 every day.

Do you need to book Alice Springs Desert Park in advance?

Pre-booking is encouraged, but day tickets can also be bought on arrival.

Is there parking at Alice Springs Desert Park?

Parking for cars and coaches is free.

Why kids will love it

In the Nature Theatre you can watch birds of prey flying free, and the park’s Aboriginal guides share a living culture. On the separately booked evening Nocturnal Tour, an expert guide takes you inside a large predator-proof enclosure to spotlight endangered animals such as the bilby, echidna and mala.