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Time Out
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Where was ‘Kangaroo' filmed? The iconic Australian locations you can actually visit
Lights, camera, outback! Australia's newest homegrown film, Kangaroo, is about to hit the big screens. Inspired by the real-life rescue work of the world-famous Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs (Mparntwe), this heartwarming movie is a tribute to the Northern Territory 's stunning and culturally rich landscapes. The family comedy stars Aussie actor Ryan Corr (best known for Packed to the Rafters) in the role of Chris 'Brolga' Barns – the legend who established a baby kangaroo rescue centre in 2005, which later became The Kangaroo Sanctuary. From the breathtaking Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges and Ilparpa Claypans to Indigenous art galleries and outback eateries, here's where Kangaroo was filmed across Australia. What happens in Kangaroo? Kangaroo is inspired by the true story of Chris 'Brolga' Barns – the man who founded the Baby Kangaroo Rescue Centre in Alice Springs in 2005, before going on to build The Kangaroo Sanctuary – an 188-acre wildlife haven for rescued orphaned joeys and adult kangaroos that officially opened in 2011. The actual film follows Chris Masterman (played by Ryan Corr), an ex-TV personality who finds himself stranded in a remote town just outside Alice Springs. There, he forms an unlikely friendship with 12-year-old Indigenous Australian girl Charlie (played by Lily Whiteley). Together, the duo embark on a mission to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned joeys in the fictional outback town of Silver Gum - an adventure that transforms their lives and brings lasting change to the local community. When is the Kangaroo movie coming out? Kangaroo will come out in cinemas across Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, September 18. Where was Kangaroo filmed? Mainly filmed on location in and around Alice Springs (Mparntwe), Kangaroo showcases many of the Northern Territory's most majestic natural landscapes, along with vibrant local galleries and eateries. While Bondi Beach makes a brief cameo at the start, audiences can expect to spot both iconic landmarks and hidden NT gems throughout the film, including: Bondi Beach, Sydney Kangaroo opens with TV weatherman Chris Masterman broadcasting live from Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach, where he's interviewing lifeguard Jacko (played by Bondi Rescue 's Ryan Clark). But when Chris is suddenly fired, he swaps the golden sands for the red outback dirt, setting off in his trusty Corvette for a new gig. Ilparpa, Alice Springs Just ten minutes north of Alice Springs city centre, Ilparpa was a key filming location for Kangaroo – specifically the site of 'The Shed'. Inspired by the actual shack where Brolga lived when he founded The Kangaroo Sanctuary, this is where all of Chris' home scenes were shot. You'll see him sleeping alongside joeys, bathing them and being joined by young Charlie after school to help with feeding time. Mount Ertwa, Alice Springs Outside The Shed, a large fenced enclosure was built for Roger, the red kangaroo being nursed by Chris. From here, you can admire vistas of the majestic Mount Ertwa, which stands tall at roughly 807 metres above sea level. Simpsons Gap, Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges The road into Simpsons Gap set the stage for one of the film's most pivotal scenes – when Chris' Corvette hits an adult kangaroo. Spoiler alert: he rescues the joey, Liz, from her mother's pouch. On the day, the role was played by a baby kangaroo named Sharona, who stepped in for Margot – the star joey who plays Liz throughout the film. Margot grew up so fast during production, so Sharona became her (adorable) stunt double. Larapinta Drive Stretching from Alice Springs to Hermannsburg, Larapinta Drive is easily one of Central Australia's most spectacular roads. Its dramatic backdrop set the scene for several driving shots in the film, including trips between Silver Gum and the vet with the rescued roos. St Mary's Hostel, Alice Springs 'Kangaroo' is set in the fictional town of Silver Gum/Tangitjarr, with many key scenes unfolding at the Silver Gum Hotel. Inspired by classic outback pubs across the NT, the hotel was built inside the former mess hall of the Anglican hostel St Mary's – a place that provided accommodation and schooling for Aboriginal children placed by their families or committed to the Hostel by the Director of Native Affairs from 1947 onward. The inside of the Silver Gum Hotel was fully furnished with NT products, including beer on tap! Undoolya Station, Alice Springs The Northern Territory's oldest cattle station was the perfect location for the 'Kangaroo Highway' in the film. Two memorable scenes were shot here: one where Charlie runs alongside a mob of kangaroos at dusk, and another where Chris rescues an injured male roo while driving a tourist bus. While Undoolya isn't open to the public, visitors can soak up incredible views of the station when visiting Emily Gap and Jesse Gap. Eastside, Alice Springs Charlie's house is located in Eastside – one of the first suburbs established in Alice Springs – showcasing original architecture of the town, complete with beautiful desert gardens. Local galleries like Tangentyere Artists and Hermannsburg Potters supplied real artworks that appear throughout the film's sets. Blatherskite Park, Alice Springs Alice Springs' biggest indoor and outdoor venue served as a base for the film's production, design and art departments. Blatherskite Park's huge sheds were filled with everything from street signs and props to locally sourced products used in the Silver Gum Hotel set. When it's not doubling as a film set, Blatherskite Park is a hub for local events. It hosts the annual Alice Springs Show, camel races, concerts and community gatherings – including the Friday night BMX Club and the Alice Springs Pony Club. The Kangaroo Sanctuary, Alice Springs The Kangaroo Sanctuary is the heart and soul of the film, with every joey you see on screen having been raised there. Founder Brolga, his wife Tahnee and a team of volunteers work around the clock – feeding the orphaned and injured joeys every three hours – to nurture them back to health. Once old and strong enough, the joeys are released back into the wild, or if they're not fit for release, they become a cherished part of the Sanctuary's resident mob. Although it wasn't a filming location, the 188-acre wildlife sanctuary remains one of Alice Springs' most popular and sought-after visitor experiences. Kangaroo comes out in cinemas across Australia on September 18, and you can watch the trailer here. 🌳 The best things to do in Alice Springs 🎬 ✅
Sky News AU
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Packed to the Rafters star Erik Thomson finds love again with single mum in Tasmania following split from wife of 25 years
Erik Thomson has reportedly found love again, following the shock breakdown of his decades-long marriage to fellow actor Caitlin McDougall. The Packed to the Rafters star, 58, is now believed to be dating Courtney Simpson, a single mother based in Hobart, Tasmania, according to New Idea. While the pair have not made any official statement, their romance appears to be Instagram-official, with the couple sharing several affectionate posts over the past few months. In February, Courtney posted a sweet Valentines Day photo of the two together, writing: "Happy Valentine's Day my (love)," which the actor reshared to his Instagram Stories. More recently, she paid tribute to Thomson on his birthday on April 27, calling him her "love" and writing: "There's a version of him the world knows, and a version I get to keep- the one made of tenderness, complexity, and quiet strength. "He feels everything deeply, carries more than he ever lets on, and gives more than he ever asks for. Loving him is easy and fierce and real. I'm grateful for him, for all of it, every day." Just last Friday, Simpson shared a black-and-white snap of Thomson lounging with her dachshund, Hemingway. "Love is these two," she captioned the post. News of Thomson's relationship comes just months after it was revealed he and McDougall had quietly separated after nearly 25 years of marriage. Neither has commented publicly on the split. According to the Herald Sun, Thomson relocated to Tasmania last year, while McDougall remains in their former family home in Port Willunga, about 40km south of Adelaide, where she works as an artist from her coastal studio. The former couple first met in a pub while watching Adelaide's AFL Grand Final victory in 1997 and tied the knot two years later at Penny's Hill, a winery in McLaren Vale founded by McDougall's stepfather, Tony Parkinson. They share two children: daughter Eilish, 15, and son Magnus, 12. Last month, the Scottish-born Australian bravely opened up about his long-term battle with addiction during a candid interview on Rae Bonney's podcast, where he discussed the emotional challenges that came with his profession. "I really hung my identity on my profession, and as long as things were going well in my profession, things were going well for me," he said. "But if things slowed down, I started slowing down, and I started feeling like, 'Oh hang on, there's something wrong with me'." The actor admitted that how one navigates that downtime can "make all the difference." "I've done both (healthy and unhealthy coping), "he said. When asked about the "unhealthy" coping mechanisms, Thomson revealed he had struggled with sobriety on and off since 2011. "I've had long, long periods of sobriety, and I've had times where I've fallen off the wagon, and I've needed to find some solace or whatever in a drug, in something that I needed to just fill that hole," he said.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Rebecca Gibney doesn't look like this anymore! Packed to the Rafters star unveils dramatic transformation
Rebecca Gibney has unveiled a dramatic hair transformation. The 60-year-old actress has been synonymous with her signature shoulder-length blonde tresses since she first appeared on Packed to the Rafters in 2008. On Monday, Rebecca took to Instagram to unveil a more natural look, showcasing her freshly cut brunette hair. 'Did a thing. Then stole my sons beanie. 60 going on 14. Some things never change,' she wrote, while thanking her hairdresser for 'indulging' the request. Rebecca couldn't contain her happiness in the carousel of pictures she shared. The actress' smile reached her eyes, as she showed off the shoulder-length bob cut and fresh highlights in her brown-toned locks in a few selfies. While the actress has occasionally dyed her hair brown for particular roles, she has always reverted back to her trademark bright blonde. Chestnut bronde, a blend of blonde and brunette, was declared the shade of 2025 by hairstylist Chris McMillan— the man behind Jennifer Anniston's hair on Friends. The in-between shade, seen recently on the likes of Ariana Grande, Hailey Bieber, and Margot Robbie, tends to trend in times of global economic hardship because it requires less salon upkeep. The change comes after the actress admitted filming the new season of Dancing With The Stars was 'the most challenging thing' she has ever done. 'Will I come out of it a pro dancer? No. Has there been tears? Yes. Lots. But it's also the most rewarding, amazing thing I've ever done,' she recently posted to Instagram. 'I've been asked a few times, and never been able to do it,' she told Stellar magazine. 'And I've always gone, "But I wouldn't anyway, because it's too hard and it's not my field." 'Then I found myself saying yes; the voice in my head said yes, even though the rest of me was going no,' she added. 'I was having this inner dialogue with myself, going, "What are you doing?" 'I realised that – particularly with turning 60, it's apparently the third act – I want to say yes more than no. 'I want to do things that frighten and challenge me, and hopefully that will give me a little bit extra longevity.' Rebecca is the fourth woman ever to be inducted into the TV Week Logie Hall of Fame. She follows Noni Hazlehurst, Kerri-Anne Kennerley and the late Ruth Cracknel.
