Alice Springs – known to locals as simply "Alice" – is at the heart of Australia's Red Centre. Surrounded by red earth and hauntingly beautiful mountain ranges, it’s a city of arts and events. It's a great base for exploring the natural wonders of the Northern Territory's outback, including Uluru, Kata Tjuta, King’s Canyon, the West MacDonnell Ranges and their iconic Larapinta Trail, the red sands of the Simpson Desert and the haunting sight of the Devil’s Marbles. It's also a fascinating spot to explore Australia's Aboriginal culture.
How to get there
You can fly direct with Quantas from most major cities in Australia. Virgin offers direct flights from Adelaide and Darwin. Alice Springs sits between the capital cities of Darwin and Adelaide, with a major route connecting the three destinations. It's about 16 hours from Alice Springs to either city and the road has regular petrol stations, small towns and places to get food and drink. Another popular way to experience the area is via The Ghan, a comfortable and scenic train journey between Adelaide and Darwin via Alice Springs and Katherine.
Where to Stay
Alice Springs is the perfect base from which to explore the fascinating and culturally rich red heart of the country, with a number of unique outback attractions right on the city's doorstep. The best time to visit is between May and November, when days are warm and nights are cool. There are plenty of good options when it comes to finding somewhere to stay, but it's a good idea to book ahead during these busy cooler months as rooms can fill up fast.
Here’s a selection of accommodation choices:
Lasseters
Lasseters is Alice Springs' most luxurious hotel and is located in the only casino complex in Australia's Red Centre. Rooms are decorated with Aboriginal art and most have a view of the majestic MacDonnell Ranges, which stretch east and west of the city. There are four restaurants and four bars, a resort-style pool and spa and a gym. The hotel and casino complex is less than 2 kilometres from the centre of Alice Springs, where you'll find shops, cafés and art galleries. You can use one of the hotel's free mountain bikes and cycle into town or follow the footpath beside the usually dry but picturesque Todd River. It takes about 15 minutes to walk from the hotel to the town centre.
Hilton DoubleTree
This hotel has a great location next to the 18-hole Alice Springs Golf Club. It’s also home to one of the best eateries in central Australia. The Hanuman Restaurant serves Thai and Indian cuisine and has a cult following. You can walk to Lasseters Casino to try your luck - it's only one block away.
Desert Palms
The studio villas at this family-friendly motel complex have verandas and kitchenettes, and are surrounded by lovely tropical gardens and lots of palm trees. The pool is a big hit with kids. It's only a few minutes walk to the bars and restaurants of Lasseters Casino or the Alice Springs Golf Club, and about a 10 minute riverside stroll to the cafés, galleries and shops in the centre of the citys. There’s plenty of parking, a guest laundry and free Wi-Fi.
Diplomat
The Diplomat is a great choice if you want to stay in the centre of Alice Springs. It's just a few minutes walk from the art galleries, cafés and shops of Todd Mall, which is a car-free, gallery-lined shopping street. If you feel like staying in, the hotel has its own tavern and restaurant, as well as a saltwater swimming pool.
YHA
YHA is a well-known brand in Australia and the largest backpacker accommodation network in the nation. The in-house movies are bigger and better here because the YHA used to be an outdoor cinema before it was transformed into a hostel, and movies are still shown on the outdoor screen every night. Private rooms are available as well as shared dormitories.
Alice Springs Tourist Park
If you’re on a budget, nothing beats the freedom of the open road, and hiring a campervan or motorhome is a great way to explore the outback. At the tourist park, you can park your van or pitch a tent in one of the shady sites, or stay in one of the ensuite cabins. Facilities include a swimming pool, laundry, kiosk and playground. There are plenty of good caravan parks in Alice Springs, but this one is just 3 kilometres from the galleries, hotels and shops in the centre of town.
Title Image Credit: Kyle Taylor (Image Cropped)