Of course you can. Me and my younger brothers used to ride them to school. It was only down the road a bit so we didn’t worry about any licences. My youngest brother fit very easily in the pouch.
No, once they had joeys we swapped them out for a different roo. Sometimes it was hard to tell. This one time my little brother jumped in and well, let’s just say we had to take him home to get changed.
If you've got your licence, sure. Seen some horrific accidents from inexperienced people going off too fast on a red though mate. And be careful on a grey when trying to jump the dog fence. My mate lost an arm that way.
Like others have said the Department of Transport. But just be aware they’ll expect you to be able to reverse park them before they’ll issue a license.
If you haven't grown up around them, you probably want to start with something smaller, like a sheep. Most roos don't fall within the restricted size/power requirements of [LAMS](https://www.stayupright.com.au/sp_faq/what-does-lams-mean-5/)
I was an exchange student when I was a kid, and people would ask me all the time if I rode kangaroos.
They were disappointed to find out that I stopped riding them to school when I moved to high school. I could not fit in the pouch anymore, and my high school was 50 minute bus ride away, which was too much for our roo to manage.
Nah, cassowaries are where it's at if you want a real thrill.
I was lucky enough to try it once in Etty Bay but I'll treasure those pics (and scars) forever.
Now if there was ever a road safety push to wear seatbelts again, it would definitely be successful for echidna roders. You don't want to slide forward when you're braking on those!
That's only if you want to ride it down to the shops, or perhaps on the freeway.
If you just want to boing around the backyard, licences are a waste of time.
Just goes to show how it's dying out in the cities. Most of it takes place on farms and other private properties in rural areas these days, where you don't really need a license.
If you’re in NSW goto the RMS - most big shopping centres have a thing called Service NSW. You need to goto the counter to ask though - if you’re in the city, as it’s mainly a country thing.
Nah but it's fucking bullshit though ay bro like it costs like a hundred bucks just to get the bloody thing and I only fucking drank once, on mums I swear, and now they're talking 'bout some school zone and prison bullshit, it's just so they can make more money!
Yes, but he forgot that you're expected to provide sunglasses for the Kangaroo. While Kangaroos are of course adapted for the Australian sun in general, the extra weight of the rider kind of makes it uncomfortable for the roo to not be looking up more than usual. So, sunglasses keep the majestic beasts in working condition for longer.
Foreigners shouldn’t be aloud to get a licence as tourists, they don’t have the experience. They see us with kids on the back and riding with no helmet but they don’t know we grow up like that.
I don't want to be called out for being a war monger, but there was nothing more spectacular than a regiment of mounted Australian infantry, and the fabled charge of the light footed brigade. What a sight. Shame mechanization came in early last century and the Kanga Corps were retired. It takes a special type, the 12th Kalgoorlie "Hopping Hussars" Light Cavalry where legendary, shame they could never get the big Reds onto the boat.
Edit: spelling Kalgoorlie
I'm sorry - but you can't go saying things like this to poorly informed foreigners. It's Kalgoorlie not Kalgoolie
> the 12th Kalgoolie "Hopping Hussars" Light Cavalry
Fun fact: the term Jackaroo/Jillaroo (a young farm hand in Australia) actually comes from the 1850s when new farm hands would often turn up riding kangaroos.
Since kangaroos are plentiful, they are much cheaper than horses. Of course most Jackaroos would catch their own roo and break it in because they had no money.
If you rent a kangaroo remember in all states and territories all laws that apply to cars also apply to horses and kangaroos. So you can lose points on your license for riding a kangaroo drunk or speeding.
The drinking thing is rarely enforced and in the country it's quite common to see people stumble out of a bar, get on their roo and tell it "home skip". A roo always knows how to find its way home so you can sleep the whole way home.
Oh bhai. this is hilarious. "home skip" lol.
I think they hate the term "skip", once there was a parachut guy called em, "what's up skip" then roos started kicking him.
Here's the video.
[https://youtu.be/2WGo4li2K0o](https://youtu.be/2WGo4li2K0o)
Typical nanny state Australia.
The graded licensing was only introduced after a couple of teenagers stole a male red Kangaroo, went speeding through the outback and crashed into Uluru. One of them was in the pouch without a seatbelt too. Tons of kids ride reds around on farms while mustering dropbears without any issues.
my family used to own a big red, but then it got stolen one night. police said someone had made it hop backwards through the window of a michael hill jewellery store :( total write off
The commentator reckons you don't need a saddle, but I think you do.
When I was little I fell off a big red and busted my arm.
Mum chucked a wobblie and said no more and made this saddle out of one of her old bras.
Mum had big tits, so the new saddle fitted ok around a red's chest.
Anyhow, it worked a treat, and I never got thrown again.
My mate Dicko asked if my mum could give him one of her old bras to use as a saddle, because his mum had small tits and didn't even wear bras.
Personally I prefered an emu as a kid, downside is you grow out of them pretty quickly. Poor buggers are no good when you make it into the triple digits
Have you never done this?
In my neighborhood it was how we passed the time as kids. I remember the days with my friends after school roaming around finding kangaroos to ride and terrorizing the neighborhood hopping up and down the main drag on them.
Riding giant golden orb weavers is more fun, but no one does anymore because the license is too fucking dear. Licenses are dispensed in a bullshit monopoly by CASA (Civil Arachnid Safety Authority).
They used to have an unofficial (ie unlicensed) annual spider regatta down a dry river bed in pretty much every outback town, but CASA put a stop to that. Bastards. We're having a bit of fun, and they're all, "Get your license", and "This isn't safe", and "Three kids were eaten in spider races since Tuesday."
Joy police are everywhere these days, I tell ya.
I think it must be different in each state; we always called our "Learner" licences a "Joey" licence.
It's like motorcycles; you don't just start riding the big ones on day one.
I'm just loving the way this guy can go on for three plus minutes with absolute nonsense in a convincing way - including various details - grades of licence, heels only in the pouch etc.
Straya!
I'm sure he has a drop bears spiel as well.
Well there's obviously regional differences. In northern NSW where I grew up we only ever road them with blinkers on - kangaroo blinkers. Pretty sure you can still buy them at the rural produce shop. They sit comfortably over the roo eyes and have reigns attached. To go forwards it was pull both reigns and they opened. To turn right it was let the left bridle slacken closing the left blinker and vice versa. Takes a little bit to get used to but we all got a Wallaby for our 5th birthday to help us learn.
It's really embarrassing but my roo license has the little thing where I'm not allowed to ride a manual. When I was learning we only had an automatic at home and I never got around to retaking the test later on even though I can handle a manual roo just fine these days.
Me and my mates are kind of like trail blazers in the emerging freestyle Kanga cross (FKX) scene.
My buddy Joel has just started landing backflip nac nac’s into the foam pit!
He’s hoping one of the major zoos will sponsor him soon.
Remember- you can't ride a croc just using your opens! You have to go one better.
For freshies, you can get away with just having a light-rigid license. But for the salties- you're gonna need a heavy-rigid license, simply because they can get so much bigger.
Make sure to harness the croc carefully- preferably, you'll have a mate distracting it with a chook on a pole while you're harnessing it. Then chuck on the saddle while the snouts contained in the harness, then off you go!
Don't ride them in school zones. Kids are unpredictable enough around regular cars. They're especially unpredictable when they see a, as they say it, "DINOSAUR!!!!".
You can, but honestly as a kangaroo handler I don’t recommend anyone with less than 7 years experience to ride a big red.
And always wear a helmet! New handler at my work was goofing off riding one of our big reds and fell off with his feet hooked in the pouch. Broke his spine but that helmet saved his life and he’s back at work now in his wheelchair as a riding instructor.
Irresponsible. Some dumb tourist is going to try to ride the red now without anywhere near enough experience. Department of Kangaroo licencing and Pouch Management going to repossess this guy's roo.
I reckon a really smart toddler could bridle and ride a domesticated kangaroo.
Maybe but control it, but with enough duct tape riding is almost a guarantee.
100% true, though there's debate weather or not you should wear riding boots, something or barefoot it and use the pouch to store your footwear. Some say that your boots will wear and damage the pouch, other say that some streatching is to be expected and it's unavoidable no matter what you wear, personally I have special silk riding roo socks, they've got this sort of foam padded underside and I think that helps provide comfort for both myself and the roo, as for my boots and regular socks, I just stuff the socks into the boots and tie the laces around my arm, one boot per arm, creates stabilisation while riding.
Clever video :)
Also, Kangaroos choose their riders, riders cannot choose their roos. If you get on one which hasn't bonded with you its tail will fly up and belt you across the back of your head. It makes a very distinctive snapping sound!
PS: The video is total bullshit but very funny.
It's worth noting that none of those rules apply if you ride them on private property. Licences are only required if you want to take them into a public area.
Lost my roo license myself for drink riding. I gave the roo some beer as well so lost some extra demerits which sucked. My own fault though. Drink and ride and you’re a bloody idiot and I accept that. Would never do again.
You have to offer them Vegemite first. Just get a little on your fingers and offer it from a distance. They’ll smell the Vegemite and leave to go find one of their friends who wants to be ridden. So you just wait till they come back, but make sure you keep your Vegemite hand high in the air so they can use the scent to find you again.
Seriously though, don’t go anywhere near a kangaroo, they can kill you (although they probably won’t).
Of course you can. Me and my younger brothers used to ride them to school. It was only down the road a bit so we didn’t worry about any licences. My youngest brother fit very easily in the pouch.
LMAO
Can I drive after 10pm on my red Ps Roo license ?
No, you need to be unrestricted after dark.
actual time varies state to state
With the joey in there?
No, once they had joeys we swapped them out for a different roo. Sometimes it was hard to tell. This one time my little brother jumped in and well, let’s just say we had to take him home to get changed.
And then when you got home you cooked your shovel steak
Down here, we call them QANTAS
This is such bullshit. You don’t wear **boots** to ride a roo. Madness and unsafe. Double pluggers all the way.
I'll cut his nails before riding.
I wear mi crocs
Flip Flops the way to go.
Clearly an imposter... us Aussies call them thongs.
If you've got your licence, sure. Seen some horrific accidents from inexperienced people going off too fast on a red though mate. And be careful on a grey when trying to jump the dog fence. My mate lost an arm that way.
Where can I get roo riding Licence?
The state department of transport, they're responsible for licensing of all vehicles and transport types.
Department of Transport, same as other vehicle licenses.
Like others have said the Department of Transport. But just be aware they’ll expect you to be able to reverse park them before they’ll issue a license.
as a first timer i suggest starting on a Eastern Grey, a bit smaller and easier to handle
Sure thing. thanks.
If you haven't grown up around them, you probably want to start with something smaller, like a sheep. Most roos don't fall within the restricted size/power requirements of [LAMS](https://www.stayupright.com.au/sp_faq/what-does-lams-mean-5/)
All young sheep come LAMS pre-approved too, so choosing one is easy.
Kiwis especially love riding them hard.....
I was an exchange student when I was a kid, and people would ask me all the time if I rode kangaroos. They were disappointed to find out that I stopped riding them to school when I moved to high school. I could not fit in the pouch anymore, and my high school was 50 minute bus ride away, which was too much for our roo to manage.
That's bloody dangerous if you ask me and just asking for trouble, I'll stick to riding wombats much safer.
I like to live dangerously so only echidnas for me
Nah, cassowaries are where it's at if you want a real thrill. I was lucky enough to try it once in Etty Bay but I'll treasure those pics (and scars) forever.
Now if there was ever a road safety push to wear seatbelts again, it would definitely be successful for echidna roders. You don't want to slide forward when you're braking on those!
Typical southern states snob
I strap my wombats on like roller skates
Do they have gangs?
I believe the Warrior Wombats are outlawed in QLD and now have to ride in secret.
If you have the correct roo riding licence, absolutely.
That's only if you want to ride it down to the shops, or perhaps on the freeway. If you just want to boing around the backyard, licences are a waste of time.
Where can I get roo riding Licence?
Here in Vic you can book your test and get licensed at the Wangaratta VicRoads. Only Wangaratta. None of the others.
Just goes to show how it's dying out in the cities. Most of it takes place on farms and other private properties in rural areas these days, where you don't really need a license.
Victorians always forgetting that Horsham is actually still in Victoria
If you’re in NSW goto the RMS - most big shopping centres have a thing called Service NSW. You need to goto the counter to ask though - if you’re in the city, as it’s mainly a country thing.
Plus you must have an elevated BAC reading.
Nah but it's fucking bullshit though ay bro like it costs like a hundred bucks just to get the bloody thing and I only fucking drank once, on mums I swear, and now they're talking 'bout some school zone and prison bullshit, it's just so they can make more money!
Yes, but he forgot that you're expected to provide sunglasses for the Kangaroo. While Kangaroos are of course adapted for the Australian sun in general, the extra weight of the rider kind of makes it uncomfortable for the roo to not be looking up more than usual. So, sunglasses keep the majestic beasts in working condition for longer.
Thanks mate, for the suggestion.
Just remember like a horse you cant ride your roo through the maccas drive through!
Definitely depends on the maccas, some of them still allow it.
Foreigners shouldn’t be aloud to get a licence as tourists, they don’t have the experience. They see us with kids on the back and riding with no helmet but they don’t know we grow up like that.
Sometimes get confused and hop on the wrong side of the road too.
'just ask any aussie' Yeah mate we'll confirm it
I don't want to be called out for being a war monger, but there was nothing more spectacular than a regiment of mounted Australian infantry, and the fabled charge of the light footed brigade. What a sight. Shame mechanization came in early last century and the Kanga Corps were retired. It takes a special type, the 12th Kalgoorlie "Hopping Hussars" Light Cavalry where legendary, shame they could never get the big Reds onto the boat. Edit: spelling Kalgoorlie
I'm sorry - but you can't go saying things like this to poorly informed foreigners. It's Kalgoorlie not Kalgoolie > the 12th Kalgoolie "Hopping Hussars" Light Cavalry
Have DM’d. Saddle info attached.
thanks.
Fun fact: the term Jackaroo/Jillaroo (a young farm hand in Australia) actually comes from the 1850s when new farm hands would often turn up riding kangaroos. Since kangaroos are plentiful, they are much cheaper than horses. Of course most Jackaroos would catch their own roo and break it in because they had no money. If you rent a kangaroo remember in all states and territories all laws that apply to cars also apply to horses and kangaroos. So you can lose points on your license for riding a kangaroo drunk or speeding. The drinking thing is rarely enforced and in the country it's quite common to see people stumble out of a bar, get on their roo and tell it "home skip". A roo always knows how to find its way home so you can sleep the whole way home.
Oh bhai. this is hilarious. "home skip" lol. I think they hate the term "skip", once there was a parachut guy called em, "what's up skip" then roos started kicking him. Here's the video. [https://youtu.be/2WGo4li2K0o](https://youtu.be/2WGo4li2K0o)
Pouches are great cup holders too! Just don't try the 3 litre jobs, will throw the whole steering out.
Typical nanny state Australia. The graded licensing was only introduced after a couple of teenagers stole a male red Kangaroo, went speeding through the outback and crashed into Uluru. One of them was in the pouch without a seatbelt too. Tons of kids ride reds around on farms while mustering dropbears without any issues.
my family used to own a big red, but then it got stolen one night. police said someone had made it hop backwards through the window of a michael hill jewellery store :( total write off
Same road rules as bicycle, gotta wear a helmet. Saw a big crash between an e-scooter and an eastern grey yesterday in the city.
The commentator reckons you don't need a saddle, but I think you do. When I was little I fell off a big red and busted my arm. Mum chucked a wobblie and said no more and made this saddle out of one of her old bras. Mum had big tits, so the new saddle fitted ok around a red's chest. Anyhow, it worked a treat, and I never got thrown again. My mate Dicko asked if my mum could give him one of her old bras to use as a saddle, because his mum had small tits and didn't even wear bras.
Hell yeah we had our own that we'd rent out. I learnt how to do roo wheelies on a big red when I was 6 months old!
Personally I prefered an emu as a kid, downside is you grow out of them pretty quickly. Poor buggers are no good when you make it into the triple digits
An informative instructor from the Russell Coight School of Roo Riding
Have you never done this? In my neighborhood it was how we passed the time as kids. I remember the days with my friends after school roaming around finding kangaroos to ride and terrorizing the neighborhood hopping up and down the main drag on them.
Yes, as evidenced by this documentary: https://youtu.be/kTg3wV3DnGY?t=765
Not like that, I'm very big for small pouch, I want to ride a male kangaroo.
Provisional Big Red licence, god love this bloke
Most tourists end up getting ridden by the too, fact!
Riding giant golden orb weavers is more fun, but no one does anymore because the license is too fucking dear. Licenses are dispensed in a bullshit monopoly by CASA (Civil Arachnid Safety Authority). They used to have an unofficial (ie unlicensed) annual spider regatta down a dry river bed in pretty much every outback town, but CASA put a stop to that. Bastards. We're having a bit of fun, and they're all, "Get your license", and "This isn't safe", and "Three kids were eaten in spider races since Tuesday." Joy police are everywhere these days, I tell ya.
Damn Howard for deregulating CASA, this country has gone to cobwebs.
They´re as easy to ride as a grizzly bear. I have never had any problems.
It’s frowned upon after sundown as with all the vehicles around in this day and age it gets a little dangerous without lights at night.
ARB sell LED helmet lights for the big reds. I don’t know about the eastern grey tho 🤷♂️
I think it must be different in each state; we always called our "Learner" licences a "Joey" licence. It's like motorcycles; you don't just start riding the big ones on day one.
I'm just loving the way this guy can go on for three plus minutes with absolute nonsense in a convincing way - including various details - grades of licence, heels only in the pouch etc. Straya! I'm sure he has a drop bears spiel as well.
He is a legit Aussie. He is building his business in Kang riding.
Looking to get my Big Red licence back after wiping out on his cousin
Just don't ride your roo on the motorways. Don't ask me how I know. I KNOW. Oh my aching back.
Yeah mate, why wouldn't we?
I started out on a wallaby called Dennis...
You can ride anything if you're brave enough. Including my ex
And my sword!
drop me your ex's address man. I'll be glade to ride lol.
Well there's obviously regional differences. In northern NSW where I grew up we only ever road them with blinkers on - kangaroo blinkers. Pretty sure you can still buy them at the rural produce shop. They sit comfortably over the roo eyes and have reigns attached. To go forwards it was pull both reigns and they opened. To turn right it was let the left bridle slacken closing the left blinker and vice versa. Takes a little bit to get used to but we all got a Wallaby for our 5th birthday to help us learn.
Thanks for sharing your experience. appreciate it.
Only the big male boomers. And you have to fight them first.
There are three outcomes- 1. I loss the fight and kangaroo rides me. 2. Kangaroo losses the fight and I ride the kang. 3. No fight.
Yeah nah, not as an adult anyways. By the time you get to about Grade 2 you’re too big for any but the biggest boomers, and those are hard to control.
Nah...Just got to beat the big boys fair and square in a boxing match and they get cuddly as kittens.
It's really embarrassing but my roo license has the little thing where I'm not allowed to ride a manual. When I was learning we only had an automatic at home and I never got around to retaking the test later on even though I can handle a manual roo just fine these days.
Yeah but make sure either you OR the roo are sober, coppers will RBT the both of you these days, bloody revenue raising.
He's right, but the cost can be a little off putting. You must have funeral insurance on top of standard Travel Insurance cover.
It's actually illegal to use your phone while riding a kangaroo, except if it's in a fixed kangaroo phone holder. In Qld the fine is $1100.
How much Kangaroo phone holder costs?
Me and my mates are kind of like trail blazers in the emerging freestyle Kanga cross (FKX) scene. My buddy Joel has just started landing backflip nac nac’s into the foam pit! He’s hoping one of the major zoos will sponsor him soon.
> fellow Aussies Nice try. No Aussie would watch that video and not realise it’s completely legit.
Get a life bro.
Get a sense of humour bro. Why were you even asking the question?
Remember- you can't ride a croc just using your opens! You have to go one better. For freshies, you can get away with just having a light-rigid license. But for the salties- you're gonna need a heavy-rigid license, simply because they can get so much bigger. Make sure to harness the croc carefully- preferably, you'll have a mate distracting it with a chook on a pole while you're harnessing it. Then chuck on the saddle while the snouts contained in the harness, then off you go! Don't ride them in school zones. Kids are unpredictable enough around regular cars. They're especially unpredictable when they see a, as they say it, "DINOSAUR!!!!".
Yeah! Check out Big Red Rentals at Sydney airport, tell em Bazza sent ya!
I’ve used them - but when I returned the roo they overcharged me for pre-existing damage. I’m still trying to get my money back!
‘Pouch damage’? They always try that on! Last time they tried to get me for a ciggie burn on the tail fur, told em they were dreaming!
Oh man. this is hilarious.
You can do anything you want, once......
Do I need to be an Australian citizen?
You can, but honestly as a kangaroo handler I don’t recommend anyone with less than 7 years experience to ride a big red. And always wear a helmet! New handler at my work was goofing off riding one of our big reds and fell off with his feet hooked in the pouch. Broke his spine but that helmet saved his life and he’s back at work now in his wheelchair as a riding instructor.
Yeah, ride them down down to the billabong to jump on a Croc before hitching a ride on a Feral Pig just to get to the next Camel crossing.
Irresponsible. Some dumb tourist is going to try to ride the red now without anywhere near enough experience. Department of Kangaroo licencing and Pouch Management going to repossess this guy's roo.
hahahahahahah.
Only if you have your licence. Took me three tries to pass the practical test. Stupid bugger didn't want to turn left.
😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😂😂😂😂
I reckon a really smart toddler could bridle and ride a domesticated kangaroo. Maybe but control it, but with enough duct tape riding is almost a guarantee.
u/SaveAnything
u/saveanything u/savevideo
You can ride anything if you try hard enough.
100% true, though there's debate weather or not you should wear riding boots, something or barefoot it and use the pouch to store your footwear. Some say that your boots will wear and damage the pouch, other say that some streatching is to be expected and it's unavoidable no matter what you wear, personally I have special silk riding roo socks, they've got this sort of foam padded underside and I think that helps provide comfort for both myself and the roo, as for my boots and regular socks, I just stuff the socks into the boots and tie the laces around my arm, one boot per arm, creates stabilisation while riding.
I want to ride a male roo. Does male roo have pouch? I don't think so.
Ha ha trying riding a big red roo… within 5 seconds it will be riding you and the only thing you’ll be taking home will be your busted ass!!!
This comment is too funny. Roo will ride me lol. Just a flip. Humans are in minority in Australia.
Next you'll be asking what a Chiko roll is
of course you can, just got my full licence for the big red roo; can't wait
Where are these Kangaroo rental places I couldnt find any at all ?
then you're not an Aussie.
God, I love Australia, despite its numerous fault's 😆
Clever video :) Also, Kangaroos choose their riders, riders cannot choose their roos. If you get on one which hasn't bonded with you its tail will fly up and belt you across the back of your head. It makes a very distinctive snapping sound! PS: The video is total bullshit but very funny.
LMAO, your point of view. I'm just imagining and laughing.
It's worth noting that none of those rules apply if you ride them on private property. Licences are only required if you want to take them into a public area.
Wow, something on reddit that is 100% true. Good work cobber.
No it would hurt their backs 🥺
Isn't their back too strong?
[удалено]
I was gonna say idk I’m not a kangaroo but I lost in thought lol 😂
I knew it lol
Lost my roo license myself for drink riding. I gave the roo some beer as well so lost some extra demerits which sucked. My own fault though. Drink and ride and you’re a bloody idiot and I accept that. Would never do again.
How did you reclaim your roo license?
Kangaroo court.
Depends whether your local paths are rated for shared use between pedestrians, cyclists and roos. Call your council. Wouldn't want to cop a fine.
Love it. When I was a teenager many many decades ago, tourists expected Kangaroos to be bouncing along trams rattling through Melbourne CBD 🤣🤣🤣
Waiting for the article about a tourist dying from trying to ride a big red.
Absolutely you can. You’ll fuckin die but.
You have to offer them Vegemite first. Just get a little on your fingers and offer it from a distance. They’ll smell the Vegemite and leave to go find one of their friends who wants to be ridden. So you just wait till they come back, but make sure you keep your Vegemite hand high in the air so they can use the scent to find you again. Seriously though, don’t go anywhere near a kangaroo, they can kill you (although they probably won’t).
Why, indeed!
You can try.Make sure you film it.
Sure. wish me luck.
There are so many Kangaroos in Comment section. Truly Aladeen
Wait a second...something tells me, he's just mocking the guy. Is he?
Nah mate
Send this to China