Things to do
Alice Springs is the perfect base from which to explore the Red Centre.
The Red Centre’s only city, Alice Springs is in the middle of some of Australia's most awe-inspiring landscapes. Surrounded by deserts and ancient mountain ranges with rocky gorges and hidden water holes, rich in Aboriginal sacred sites and home to a thriving indigenous art scene, it's one of Australia’s most fascinating Outback destinations. Here are seven of the most amazing things to do around Alice Springs:
Go myth busting at Alice Springs Desert Park
Visit the Desert Park on the outskirts of Alice Springs and discover that the desert is not the "dead" heart of Australia. This stunning park – part wildlife sanctuary, part botanic garden – is a mix of carefully re-created desert habitats (sand, woodland and desert rivers) and is bursting with life. Get up close to kangaroos, watch birds of prey in free flight, walk through aviaries, see snakes and animals that normally only make an appearance after dark and marvel at delicate desert wildflowers. For an after-dark adventure join a guided nocturnal tour to see rare and endangered animals by spotlight.
Take to the skies in a hot air balloon
For a bird's-eye view of the desert, take a hot-air balloon flight. They take off before dawn, but once you're up this is a magical way to watch the sunrise over the vast spinifex-studded desert plains that surround Alice Springs. From the air, the landscape looks just like the dot paintings hanging in the art galleries in town. There are 30-minute and 60-minute flights. A picnic breakfast and celebratory sparkling wine are included in the price. Wear a warm jacket and a hat – it can be cold up there!
Meet Kangaroo Dundee
It's almost impossible not to fall in love at first sight with the adorable orphaned joeys being cared for by Chris Barnes (better known as "Brolga", star of the hit television series, Kangaroo Dundee). Chris's kangaroo sanctuary is about a 20 minute drive from Alice Springs, and open for tours every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening. Tours depart from Alice Springs and take about two and a half hours. Depending on his filming schedule, you might even get to meet Kangaroo Dundee himself.
Follow the Desert Art Trail
For art lovers, there’s lots to learn about Aboriginal art from the art galleries of Alice Springs. The Araluen Arts Centre on the edge of town has several galleries of Central Australian Aboriginal art as well as one of the country's largest collection of works by the renowned Albert Namatjira. It also hosts the annual Desert Mob exhibition in September and October, showing works from desert communities across the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. The Tjanpi Desert Weavers in Wilkinson Street – a group of more than 400 women artists from 26 remote communities – make beautiful baskets adorned with seeds and feathers, as well as quirky fibre sculptures of dogs and desert animals. Tangentyere Artists (16 Fogarty Street) also produces quirky sculptures as well as beautiful fabrics, blankets and jewellery, all made from recycled metal and wood and abandoned objects found in and around the town camps. In Todd Mall, the pedestrianised shopping strip of Alice Springs, Papunya Tula Artists and Mbantua Gallery (which also has a small museum that focuses on Aboriginal culture) are good places to buy beautiful painted canvases to take home.
Find ancient rock art at Emily Gap
creation story that tells how the MacDonnell Ranges were formed by great mounds of caterpillars, killed in a battle with their enemies, the stink bugs. The gaps in the ranges, including the one at the southern entrance to Alice Springs, were made when the heads of the caterpillars were bitten off. There are several sacred sites around town, but the most impressive is the caterpillar rock art that covers the rock walls at Emily Gap, 10 kilometres east of town along the Ross Highway. You can drive, cycle or join a tour.
Cycle to Simpsons Gap
Just 18 kilometres from Alice Springs along Larapinta Drive is Simpson’s Gap , a spectacular gorge with a permanent waterhole at its base. Floating in this refreshing, natural plunge pool in the middle of the desert is one of Outback Australia's most memorable experiences, and a great way to cool off after a bike ride through the desert. You can drive there, but it's much more fun to bike it along the sealed route of Simpsons Gap Bike Path.
Walk the Larapinta Trail
The 223 kilometre Larapinta Trail is one of the world’s great long-distance hikes. Snaking along the backbone of the spectacular West MacDonnell Ranges between Alice Springs and Kings Canyon, it's an adventure like no other. The whole thing takes at least 12 days, but there is an easier way. Adventure travel company World Expeditions runs 6-day walking holidays that take in all the highlights of the trail with overnight stays in three luxury safari camps, complete with hot showers and camp cooks who whip up tasty meals while you relax. With no need to haul a heavy pack, it's the best way to walk the desert in style.
Title Image Credit: Travis (Image Cropped)