TOP THINGS TO DO IN ALICE SPRINGS

Located in the centre of Australia and surrounded by giant deserts, Alice Springs enjoys a legendary status. The cosmopolitan city offers an interesting mix of Aboriginal and European colonial history and is the best stepping-off point for outback adventures. Furthermore, Alice Springs has a bustling arts scene, rich cultural life and plenty of other things to do.

Street Markets

Running February to December and held along Todd Mall, the Sunday Market’s stalls offer art, craft and local products. Many of the cafés along the mall are open at the same time and in addition to that, there is diversified live entertainment. Another lovely market is the monthly Alice Springs Night Market, that operates August to November. Alongside Indigenous art, handmade clothing and souvenirs, it also offers delicious multicultural street food.

Reptile Centre

You can get very close to the world’s most poisonous snakes at The Alice Springs Reptile Centre on Stuart Terrace. Besides deadly taipans, snakes and adders, you can also find huge goannas, frilled-neck lizards and thorny devils. Meet a giant saltwater crocodile, handle a python and watch lizards being fed.

The West MacDonnell Ranges

The West MacDonnell Ranges offer great views, swimming holes and diverse wildlife. You can book a great tour with Tailormade Tours, which provides 4WD adventures from Alice Springs. The West MacDonnell Ranges and Desert Park tour includes Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm and other attractions. In addition to that, there are also other tours to Uluru, Kings Canyon and the MacDonnell Ranges.

Alice Springs Desert Park

Alice Springs is a birdwatcher’s paradise, where you can visit the desert and hear the screech of a cockatoo or the call of a pied butcher bird. The diverse landscapes of Central Australia support around 180 bird species, including many species of waterfowl.

The Desert near Alice Springs

Before rail and road, camels provided the main form of transport in Central Australia. If you want to enjoy spectacular desert views on camel-back, you just have to drive 15 minutes from Alice Springs. Once there, Pyndan Camel Tracks offers you a half-day trek to Temple Bar Gap and if your time is limited, book the one-hour sunset tour.

Find out more about top things to do in Alice Springs and the Northern Territory.

 

Pictures by Alli Polin https://www.flickr.com/photos/allipolin/, Mark Roy https://www.flickr.com/photos/electricnerve/ and Richard Fisher https://www.flickr.com/photos/richardfisher/.