Part 1
Attractions around the outskirts
So, I hear you’re seeking a little guidance about things to do in Alice Springs before embarking on your monumental Red Centre adventure. Well, you’ve come to the right place! Hopefully the following information will offer you enough options and ideas to design your ultimate Alice Springs holiday, starting with stuff to see that’s not conveniently located in town.
Getting to and from these things to do in Alice Springs
To get to any places of interest listed below that don’t provide collection and drop-off from your hotel, you can self-drive if you have wheels, or walk (for the more energetically inclined). Always bring plenty of water and sun protection when walking. You can also catch the local bus where possible. Timetables are fairly ‘loose’, but the bus will take you to most places out of town. Or grab a taxi: 132227.
Arrange a Red Earth Roaming private charter for a personalised and enriching guided day tour of quirky old Alice Springs with Kirsty, your favorite local tour guide!
Look up AAT Kings ‘A Town Like Alice’ tour to see if that might blow your hair back. Destinations are limited, and group sizes are usually large, but they’re informative tours that will certainly give you a general taste of the town.
NORTH end of Alice Springs
Alice Springs Telegraph Station – Just 4km north of town, you can drive or take the walking track along the riverbed to see the beautifully preserved, original buildings of old Stuart town. Learn about the history and hardships of the early settlers who built this place and worked on the construction of the overland telegraph line, as well as some confronting truths about the local Indigenous folk who were displaced from the area during these early times.
School of the Air – Also around 4km out the north side of town, this friendly, superbly run facility will blow your mind as you learn about the largest classroom in the world, educating kids in remote regions across the far reaches of this vast country. Take a town bus or grab a cab to get here. Book ahead for a tour if you want to get the most out of this place.
SOUTH end of Alice Springs
National Road Transport Hall of Fame & Old Ghan Museum– This place is a highly underrated, completely fascinating venue with a lot to see over a large area. I literally couldn’t drag my Dad away from here! From the history of the Ghan railway to war memorabilia, this place is completely dedicated to the preservation of Australia’s unique transport heritage. Plan for at least a couple of hours here to make the most of this amazingly diverse learning centre.
Alice Springs brewing Co. – I just thought I’d add this in case you were feeling thirsty after your long visit to the Transport museum! Great setting in a quiet area out of town, yummy food and lots of locally brewed beer!
The Kangaroo Sanctuary – Book a sunset tour and cuddle a joey while you learn about the secrets and wonders of the amazing world of macropods. Watch out for the upcoming movie “Kangaroo’, which was filmed here and around Alice Springs this year. It must be worth a look in if it’s worth making a movie about it!
The Earth Sanctuary – Perhaps partake in an astronomy tour with the trio of stargazing paramedic brothers if you happen to be here on a cloudless eve. Get your geek on and Gaze through a giant telescope at our distant neighbors while learning all about that glistening blanket of star spangled mystery.
EAST Side of Alice
Olive Pink Botanic Garden – For the avid botanist to even the most mediocre green thumb, these gardens are a wondrous haven for learning all about Central Australian plants. Grab a tasty meal in the café, and hike the ‘donkey trail’ up the hill to peruse the landscape for the elusive but extremely cute black footed rock wallaby!
WEST side of Alice
Araluen Arts Centre – A couple of kilometers west of the town centre lies a veritable treasure trove for art enthusiasts, with constantly rotating exhibitions and performances. Tacked onto the side sits the lovely little Yaye’s café, just to add to the charm of the place.
The Museum of Central Australia – Nestled right beside Araluen Arts Centre, this one’s my personal favourite! Get your geek on once again folks, and prepare yourselves for an entourage of facts from geology, meteorites and orogenies to flora, fauna, fossils and camel trains. Enjoy the outstanding black and white photography exhibition for a snapshot of 19th and early 20th century life in the Red Centre.
Alice Springs Desert Park – This haven lies 6km out of town, and of all the things to do in Alice Springs, the Desert Park is an absolute must on your list of essential destinations. Morning is the best time to visit this beautifully laid out park which displays the endemic habitats, flora, fauna and indigenous culture of the Red Centre. Don’t miss the free-flying bird show with the chance of seeing the mighty wedge-tailed eagle soar down from the cliffs above the arena and snatch up a tasty snack from its’ trainers awaiting glove. This attraction boasts the largest nocturnal house in the southern hemisphere, and also offers a night time tour to an offset area that houses the cute little beasties that once roamed the centre of Australia before the effects of Western culture caused their local extinction from this environment.
Now you have an idea of the top 10 things to do in Alice Springs around the outskirts of town. Stay tuned for part 2, where we'll cover the top 10 things to do in Alice Springs town centre.
For options a little further afield, see Red Earth Roaming's 'East Mac's Adventure' day tour bookable online, or check out my other blogs: