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Alice Springs

As the second largest town in Australia’s Northern Territory, Alice Springs is home to many popular tourist attractions.  Alice Springs is known as the capital of Australia’s Red Centre and there is a variety of ways for you to explore this vast and beautiful Outback.  The area is full of tremendous natural beauty, offering visitors scenic bushwalking trails, botanic gardens, historic buildings and a great base from which to check out Uluru (or Ayers Rock), which is probably the reason why 99% of people come here. I liked Alice. The town had a good, rough, independent feel too it.

Costs in Alice Springs

• Hostel Prices: Hostels cost from $25AUD per night if staying in a private room.
• Budget Hotel Prices: Expect to pay from $35AUD for a night in a budget hotel with $60AUD being the average.
• Average Cost of Food: There are cheap meals for under $10AUD but expect to pay around $15AUD for a meal in a casual restaurant.
• Cost of Internet: Most hostels and hotels will have wifi, but if not, internet cafes charge $4AUD per hour.
• Transportation Costs: Taxis are expensive in Alice Springs costing around $10AUD for a 5 minute journey although the downtown area is walkable and there’s no real reason to ever take a taxi anywhere.  A shuttle from Alice Springs to Uluru costs $140 AUD and takes 6 hours. You are much better off going down there as part of a multi-day tour.

Things to do in Alice Springs

• Uluru – Also known as Ayers Rock, Uluru is a popular trip from Alice Springs. This giant rock is well, simply a giant rock in the ground but beautiful nonetheless. It’s of religious importance to the local Aborigines and as such climbing is really frowned upon.  A 3 day pass costs $25 AUD, so this should give you plenty of time to explore. Try to catch a sunset and sunrise over the rock as this is a fantastic experience. Uluru is designated as a World Heritage Site.
• Camel rides - Take a camel ride along the picturesque Ilparpa Valley alongside the MacDonnell Ranges. Trips range from hour long to 5 day excursions, which really allow you time to explore the bush.  This is a unique way to explore the outback and the camels are pretty cool!
• Alice Springs Reptile Centre – If you’re fascinated by these cold-blooded creatures then a trip to the Alice Springs Reptile Centre is essential; it’s the largest reptile house in Central Australia.  Inside you’ll find poisonous snakes like Inland Taipans, Death Adders and Mulgas as well as a range of lizards for instance the Perentie Goanna, Frill Neck Lizards and Thorny Devils.
• Museums – Head for the Alice Springs Cultural Precinct where highlights include the Sculpture Garden, the Museum of Central Australia and the Namatjira gallery, displaying the territory’s largest collection of original painting by the famous Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira. You’ll be able to see a lot of indigenous art and learn about the natural history of the area.
• Hot Air Ballooning – Get an aerial view of the Outback by taking a trip in a hot air balloon.  This is a really popular activity and there are many companies offering ballooning in and around Alice Springs.  Expect to pay around $240AUD for a half hour journey.
• Alice Springs Desert Park – Just ten miles from the centre of Alice Springs lies the Alice Springs Desert Park.  The hundreds of species of plants and animals found in Central Australia are all here to see as you walk through the trails of the Desert Rivers, Sand Country and Woodland habitat.  The nocturnal house is particularly great as it has many animals which are endangered in the wild.
• Royal Flying Doctors Service – If you have an hour to spare in downtown Alice Springs then take the time to go to this little museum.  The Flying Doctors patrol the outback to provide emergency medical care to the remote communities of the outback and were the first and largest and aeromedical organization in the world.  This short museum tour provides all you need to know about this fascinating service!
• MacDonnell Ranges -The ridges of the MacDonnell Ranges run parallel to the east and west of Alice Springs and cover 400 miles of outback in Central Australia.  The West MacDonnell National Park is great for a day’s walk or a longer tour.
• Olive Pink Botanic Garden – The Olive Pink Botanical Gardens, in central Alice Springs, are located close to the scenic Todd River.  Stroll through the magnificent landscaped gardens and check out their important collections of exotic plants, mature native trees and shrubs. This place is also packed with picnic spots.
• The Old Court House -Built in 1928 (which in Australia terms is very old), The Old Courthouse in Alice Springs was originally the office of the administrator for this part of Australia, before becoming the Alice Springs Courthouse until 1980. The Old Courthouse is now home to the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame, a small museum immortalizing 100 Australian women who were pioneering in their field.

Budget Tips for Alice Springs

• Uluru. Food at the visitor’s café near Uluru is highly overpriced.  Try to stock up on snacks from the supermarket in Alice Springs before you set off.
• Camp. If you intend to spend a few days up at Uluru, camping is an option as the resorts here are expensive.  Expect to pay $19AUD for a site with electricity.
• Travel off-season. Consider travelling between October and April to take advantage of reduced accommodation rates and smaller crowds of visitors!
• Combine tours. Combine tours of Uluru, King’s Canyon and Kata Tjuta to save money on the cost of individual excursion.  Expect to pay around $500AUD for 3 days and 2 nights including accommodation.
• The Larapinta Trail – For hiking enthusiasts, this is a 155 mile trail through high mountains, in a semi-desert area. Within a national park, the area is heavily populated by a range of bird species. This trail can be hiked in sections, but make sure to remember drinking water.
• Alice Springs Telegraph Station Reserve – Established in 1872, this site is the first European settlement in Australia. The reserve is open year round and is the best reserved of the 12 stations that make up the Overland Telegraph Line. The history you will discover here is fascinating.
• Aboriginal Australia Culture Center – This awesome gallery highlights the cultural history of the Aboriginal people of Australia. You can do everything from listen to traditional music to learning how to play a didgeridoo and how to throw a spear. For those that are interested in learning about the native people of the area, this is a good place to start.

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