Places | Australia

Our Guide to Alice Springs

A town that lies surrounded by some of Australia’s most spectacular (and thus most famous) scenery, Alice Springs has piqued the interest of many an adventurous traveller over the past few years. Despite this obvious boom in tourism, however, this is still an incredible place to visit; its uniqueness is all-consuming and its history that of legend.

At a Glance

You’re right in the heart of the country when you make it to Alice Springs, surrounded by vast desert landscapes and endless rock formations dating back thousands of years. An area dominated by Aboriginal culture, a trip here will no doubt be filled with days spent viewing indigenous art and getting to grips with the long and eclectic history of this former frontier settlement.

Of course, you’re also on the doorstep of the MacDonnell Ranges, which stretch from the eastern and western edges of the town centre. So, as soon as you’ve explored what you can of the town, it’s out into the wilderness for adventures of the like only the Northern Territory can provide.

What to See

To give the town some context, head over to the Alice Springs Trail Station. It’s here that you’ll get an insight into the town’s humble European beginnings and a place that will teach you all about the areas development from the station’s opening in the 1870’s. Set within beautiful parklands, bring some food to cook on the free barbeques to enjoy after your tour and take time to just take in the beauty of your surroundings. This is also the meeting point for numerous cycling paths around the region, the heart for trails in Australia’s mountain biking capital.

The Aboriginal Arts and Culture centre is well worth a visit too. Meet with some Aboriginal people and let them teach you about their ancient and contemporary cultures. We can also arrange experiences here that include bushwalks, traditional performances and even didgeridoo lessons.

When you’re eager to explore a little further afield, then a foray out to the enchanting landscapes of the MacDonnell Ranges by 4WD or chartered flight will leave you awe-inspired. We also recommend you head out to the the Alice Springs Desert Park where you’ve got the chance of spotting a huge variety of central Australian wildlife including native birds, dingo’s and the region’s famous ‘Thorny Devil’ lizard.

Why we like it

Alice Springs is a place of legend; the original desert frontier.  No doubt if you’re planning a trip to the Northern Territory, Alice Springs is high up on your list of places to go, and trust us when we say that it won’t disappoint. We quickly fell in love with both its heritage and its position in amongst the country’s iconic landscapes, so we’re pretty sure you will too.

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