Alice Springs is a remote town in Australia’s Northern Territory, halfway between Darwin and Adelaide, both 1,500km away. And I’ve heard it called ‘the centre of the outback’. It’s a popular gateway for exploring the Red Centre, the country’s interior desert region. On a trip through the outback people usually spend a few days getting to know Alice Springs attractions, as there are a number of things to see and do in Alice Springs for first timers.

Alice Springs came into existence in 1871 as part of the Overland Telegraph Line (linking Darwin and Adelaide). All this original infrastructure is preserved in the vintage buildings and equipment at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve – a definite visit during your stay in ‘Alice’. 

Alice Springs has grown since its humble beginnings with population Alice Springs about 30,000 people.

I have visited Northern Territory Alice Springs a few times now. The first time was on a school excursion way back when I was in Year 10 in high school. My second visit to Alice Springs was while I was backpacking around Australia writing my travel guide ‘Live Work and Play in Australia’ and the last time I went was on a road trip along the Stuart Highway from Adelaide to Darwin – you can read this and follow this road trip here.

Best Time to Visit Alice Springs

How to Get to Alice Springs

Alice Springs is a desert town basically in the centre of Australia, and it is a long distance from other towns. Alice Springs has an airport, Alice Springs Airport so you can fly into the city. The airport is a 15-minute drive outside of town so you can rent a car – get a quote and availability of cars here – or take the Alice Springs Airport Shuttle Service.  

Many people arrive by train on The Ghan, but most arrive by road on the Stuart Highway, this long road connects Adelaide to Darwin through the middle of the country. If you are driving, you will be interested in the following distances:

• Adelaide to Coober Pedy: 898km 9 hour drive, Coober Pedy to Alice Springs: 688km or a 7-hour drive – all up, Adelaide to Alice Springs: 1586km or a 16 hour drive
• Darwin to Alice Springs: 1497km or a 16-hour drive
• Uluru to Alice Springs: 446km or a 5-hour drive

How to Get Around Alice Springs

Alice Springs has a public bus transport network that you can ride to get your around Alice Springs. Though most people walk, ride a bike or drive a car.

Where to Stay in Alice Springs

Alice Springs has plenty of accommodation available ranging from caravan parks to five star hotels. Two things to look for in your Alice Springs accommodation, I think, are air conditioning and a pool. This is because Alice Springs weathers can be VERY hot. So hot sometimes, it is unbearable! This is why I suggest choosing accommodation with air conditioning and a pool. Here are some accommodation at Alice Springs options:

For those bringing their own accommodation in the form of a caravan or van, then there are a number of caravan parks in Alice Springs to choose to stay at. These caravan parks offer many amenities to the traveller travelling through the Northern Territory. What I love the most is the number of pools and water slides not only for the adults to cool off in, but if you are a family visiting Alice Springs with kids, the parks are extremely kid-friendly.

Click here for pricing and to book Heritage Caravan Park

Click here for pricing and to book Discovery Park Alice Springs

There is plenty fo Alice Springs accommodation for solo travellers. For a bed in a backpacker hostel check out Alice Lodge Backpackers and YHA Alice Springs.

For family friendly Alice Springs accommodation check out Desert Palms Alice Springs and the Mercure Alice Springs Resort. And for a bit of luxury, check out the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters.

What to See and Do in Alice Springs

Here’s some of the best things to see in Alice Springs and also to do in Alice Springs on your trip discovering the ‘Red Centre’ of Australia.

1. Todd Mall

Todd Mall is the pedestrian only main shopping street in Alice Springs town centre. So a walk along here and the laneways tucked down the sides of Todd Mall will be on your agenda. There are plenty of cafes to grab a bite to eat, a supermarket to grab a few things and plenty of local art, produce, jewellery and gifts. If looking to purchase some Aboriginal art or a didgeridoo, then this might be the place. While walking around check out some of the Alice Springs street art – a number of areas are in blocks off either side of Todd Street.

2. Old Telegraph Station Historical Reserve

Walk around the old buildings at the Old Telegraph Station Historical Reserve

Just north of Alice Springs, well about a 4km walk from Todd Mall along the Riverside Path or a quick drive along the Stuart Highway and Herbert Heritage Drive, you’ll find the Old Telegraph Station Historical Reserve. I found this such an interesting place to visit in Alice Springs and I think one of the best attractions in Alice Springs Australia. Considered the birthplace of the township it marks the original European settlement in Alice Springs from 1871 when the telegraph station was built establishing communication with other parts of Australia. And also linking communication between Australia and England.

You can wander around the reserve on your own or opt for going on one of the daily guided tours. I opted for a tour which took me around both the indoor and outdoor displays of the museum which are set up as how they would have been in the 19th century. While walking around see the Spring for which the town is named after.

Old Telegraph Station Historical Reserve is located, Herbert Heritage Dr, Alice Springs.

3. ANZAC Hill / Untyeyetwelye

For fabulous views over Alice Springs head to the top of ANZAC Hill. Standing over 600m tall, the hill is the perfect spot for panoramic 365-degree views of the town and the MacDonnell Ranges. The top is also a tribute to the solders who fought for the country with a war memorial erected in 1934. You can go to the top any time of day however, many head there for sunrise or sunset to get beautiful colours.

If feeling energetic you can walk to the top of ANZAC Hill. Or ride a bike like I did after hiring one for the day at my Alice Springs hostel accommodation. The easiest option is to drive. No matter how you get there, going to the top of ANZAC Hill is one of the best things to do in Alice Springs when you visit.

The view from the top of ANZAC Hill

4. Alice Springs Desert Park

Australia is home to some incredible animals which we don’t always get to see when we live in cities. If you want to get up close and personal with some of the best Aussie animals – dingos, kangaroos, bilbies, birds and thorny devils, then a visit to the Alice Springs Desert Park should be on your Alice Springs Australia attractions list of things to do while in Alice Springs. It is by far the best thing to do in Alice Springs with kids, if you’re travelling with family, but also great for solo travellers and big kids alike!

The 1300 hectare park is a desert zoo where you can walk around visiting animals in their natural habitats. Of which there are three habitat areas, Desert Rivers, Sand Country and Woodland. There are also animal demonstrations such as the live birds of prey demonstration. You better duck from those owls and eagles swooping! If you are travelling through Central Australia with kids, they will absolutely love this. Though I did find it a little scary!

Alice Springs Desert Park, Larapinta Drive – on the way to the West McDonnell Ranges.

5. School of the Air

One way to explore the lives of outback communities is by visiting the School of the Air Experience. If you are travelling with kids and homeschooling them as you travel, you may find this extremely interesting. What started as an idea to help educate those in remote communities now services kids spread over some 1.3 million square kilometres. That’s why it is called the largest classroom in the world! Once relying on two-way radio, the school nows uses interactive learning using modern equipment and technology. It is interesting to see how the whole system works.

6. Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre

Learn more about the Royal Flying Doctor Service as the tourist facility in Alice Springs. Discover the history of how it all began in the 1920s to how services are provided today.

It’s open from Monday to Saturday, with tours offered every half an hour. Tickets are $19 per adult, $12 per child or $56 per family. It’s a not-for-profit organisation so you can be assured that the money goes back into helping this vital service be continued for the outback communities.

7. Flynns Grave

If you’re heading out to the Desert Park, make a stop at Flynns Grave. John Flynn’s ashes are interred here, under this massive stone. John Flynn OBE was an Australian Presbyterian minister who founded the Australian Inland Mission, and also was a founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service – so he is an important figure in this part of Australia.

8. Larapinta Trail

The Telegraph Station marks the beginning or end of the Larapinta Trail. This is one of the best trails in the NT that is 223km long and traverses across the West MacDonnell Ranges to Mt Sonder. You can hike this trail to discover the West McDonnell Ranges or go on a day tour from Alice Springs to explore the West MacDonnell Ranges. If you’re into hiking, then get details about this the Larapinta Trail Central Australia here. 

9. Simpsons Gap

A mere 18km west of Alice Springs is the spectacular Simpsons Gap. It is part of the West MacDonnell Ranges but as it is only 18km away from Alice Springs, many people visit without going further into the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Simpsons gap is quite spectacular with sheer walls and a permanent waterhole. The area is of great spiritual significance to the Aranda Aboriginal peoples. It is on the Larapinta Trail if you are hiking that.

Simpsons gap holds a prominent waterhole that is of great spiritual significance to the Aranda Aboriginal people

10. The West MacDonnell Ranges

Last on my list of best things to see and do in Alice Springs is actually not in Alice Springs! The West MacDonnell Ranges is home to some spectacular scenery including Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge. A visit to Alice Springs wouldn’t be a visit to Alice Springs if you didn’t make time to visit these. As the West MacDonnell Ranges are just over 100km away from Alice Springs, they make a great day trip from Alice Springs. They are truly spectacular! And if you can extend your stay to longer than a day, this is definitely one place in the Northern Territory I would spend extra time.

See plenty of natural wonders in West MacDonnell Ranges

How to spend your days in Alice Springs

Now you know the best things to do in Alice Springs, you can put them together to make your day fun-filled. Here;s how you could spend your time in Alice Springs.

Day 1 – Todd Mall, Old Telegraph Station and sunset at ANZAC Hill.

If you’re interested in seeing the highlights with a local, I would recommend this ‘A Town Like Alice’ half day tour.

Day 2 – Flynns Grave, Desert Park, West MacDonnell Ranges  – if not driving yourself, go on a tour such as this day tour to the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Day 3 – If staying longer in Alice Springs, there are other things to see and do. Consider visiting a camel farm. Do some more shopping in Todd Mall. Visit indigenous art galleries. Kick back and relax in an Alice Springs cafe or two!

Are You Ready to Discover Alice Springs?

I hope my guide helps you explore Alice Springs. It is an interesting city with mesmerising natural wonders to discover.

Where to next after Alice Springs?

From Alice Springs, most people head north towards Darwin or south towards Adelaide (there aren’t really many other options!). Of course, most people take a long detour to Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon on the Red Centre Way as well. Uluru is located some 462 km South-West of Alice Springs. For all of these options, I’ve got you covered! Check out some of my helpful posts here:

What to See and Do in Adelaide
Fun Things to See and Do in Darwin
8 Day Central Australia Tour
Stuart Highway Road Trip
Extend your stay in Alice Springs – Get a Travel Job – Alice Springs being remote and long distances from other towns relies on transients to fill job vacancies. Jobs can be found particularly in the hospitality industry – bartending in the bars. Working in road houses and cafes and in the accommodation – hostels, hotels and caravan parks. You could even offer your own services like haircuts, car maintenance or handy man services.