A kangaroo that hopped around the Sunshine Coast for a week with an arrow through its head has been saved from a "slow and painful death".

The injured kangaroo, which had avoided rescuers, was caught and taken to Australia Zoo after previously eluding the RSPCA in the Toorbul area.

A kangaroo shot in the head with an arrow in Toorbul has undergone surgery at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. Credit:Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital

RSPCA chief inspector Daniel Young managed to tranquilise the injured kangaroo with a dart on Tuesday morning.

"The arrow missed the brain and eye by millimetres," Inspector Young said.