2025 NT SCHOOL PROGRAM

BILBY BUDDIES
Term 1, Week 10 or Term 2 Week 1

Students can learn about this fascinating, nocturnal marsupial that plays a crucial role in the desert ecosystem. Discover how these endangered creatures are helping to maintain the delicate balance of the environment and how you can support their conservation efforts.

Wednesday 2nd or 16 April 2025
Special Bilby Education Talk
45 Minute Guided Tour
9am, 10am or 11am

Extend your visit with a Nocturnal Tour* or Nocturnal Outback BBQ Tour* and see the bilbies and other desert wildlife in action under the stars! Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays all year round.

BOTANIC GARDENS DAY
Term 2, Week 7

Did you know that Alice Springs Desert Park is a registered Botanic Garden. with over 400 plant species that are specific to Central Australia, we also protect and nurture some of the region's most threatened species.

Bring your class for a self-guided walk through the Desert Park to identify and appreciate the colour and diversity of the plants of the Red Centre from wildflowers to established trees and all the wildlife that they sustain. 

You may like to join our Bush food and medicine talk on the day or arrange a guided tour with one of our guides*.

WILDFLOWER SEASON 
May - September 

Enjoy a self-guided walk through the Desert Park to be inspired by the colourful display. To deepen the enquiry, you could visit every month and record how the Sand Country landscape transforms through the seasons through monitoring the weather, drawing the landscape and identifying species. 

NAIDOC WEEK
Term 3, Week 1

Students can gain a greater intercultural awareness on our Cultural Walk. With a guide, explore how it is possible to survive in the desert and learn about the connection between desert plants, people, landscapes and culture.

15, 16 or 17 July 2025
1-hour Guided Tour
10am or 11am

NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK Term 3, Week 1

Decoding the Universe – Exploring the unknown with nature's hidden language

Come and uncover the hidden languages of our birdlife with an exclusive guided walk through our Desert Rivers Aviary with one of our specialist bird keepers. Learn how birds communicate between species and coexist in the unforgiving, desert environments. What can we learn from birds' behaviours and messages?

Tuesday 12 or Friday 15 August 2025
40 min Guided Tour
9.30am or 10.30am

NATIONAL TREE DAY
Mon 28 July| Term 3, Wk 3

Bring your class for a self-guided walk around the Desert Park to identify Central Australian Trees. 

There will be specific talks on the day that your class can join in on to learn more about specific tress that live in some of the harshest, arid conditions on the planet. 

CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK
Term 3, Week 5

'Book an adventure'

Celebrate 80 years off Children's Book week with story time and a special encounter in our Cinema. 

Choose from one our wildlife experiences with either a dingo, owl or echidna and enjoy an Australian-themed story read by a guide or keeper. 

Alternatively come and read some books outside at the Desert Park or join in on our Nature playgroup and story for pre-schoolers.

Dates to be determined closer to the date. 

THREATENED SPECIES DAY
Term 3, Week 8

Life can be fragile in the harsh conditions of the Central Australian Desert. Adaption, conservation and education can help to secure the survival of our unique plant and animal species.

NT schools are invited to diarise the week for a specialised presentations and activities in our Nocturnal House and around the park. 

Monday 18 - Friday 22 August 2025
40 min session
10am in the Cinema

AUSSIE BIRD COUNT
Term 4, October 2025

Bring your class to the Desert Park to partake in the 2025 Aussie Bird Count. Visit aussiebirdcount.org.au for resources to support your self-guided visit. 

Make sure you time it with our Nature Theatre Free-Flying Bird Show where your class can learn about desert dwelling raptors and some of the lesser-known birds of Central Australia. 

Nature Theatre Bird Show 10.30am & 3pm

LIFE IN COLD BLOOD WEEK
Term 4, Week 4

Life in Cold Blood Week - Join our reptile keeper and guide for an up-close look at some of our cold-blooded reptiles and insects. In our interactive program learn how cold blooded (ectothermic) animals get their energy through their environment and eating habits. There are many advantages, and some disadvantages to this strategy of survival.

Wednesday 29 & Friday 31 October 2025
30 min Guided Tour
9.30am

POLLINATORS WEEK
Term 4, Week 5

Bring your class to the Desert Park to partake in the 2025 Australian Pollinators Count. Visit Australian Pollinator Count – Australian Pollinator Week for resources to support your self-guided visit.

 Engaging citizen scientists across Australia helps researchers better understand the plight of Australia’s insect pollinators, providing important data for researchers and scientists to improve their understanding of the changes in insect abundance and diversity nationally and over time.

8 - 16 November 2025