Alice Springs Travel Guide | Top Attraction, Hotels, Foods
Alice Springs is known as the capital of the “Red Center” of Australia and is the launching pad for popular tourist attractions in the region such as Uluru and Kings Canyon. This is probably the reason why 99% of people visit and travel to Alice Springs.
You will find that when you visit Alice Springs there is not much to do here beyond Uluru and the canyon. It is a very, very small town.
But the city has tremendous natural beauty, offering visitors panoramic trails, botanical gardens and many historic buildings (which for Australia are about 150 years old).
That said, I loved Alice: the town had a good, rude and independent atmosphere and the locals are much friendlier than on the coasts. It’s that small-town charm.
Stop and stay in the city for a day or two on your way to Uluru. This is a detour that is well worth it and this Alice Springs travel guide helps you plan your trip!
Map:
Top 10 Things to Do and See in Alice Springs:
Markets at Todd Mall:
Todd Mall is the main street of Alice Springs and has markets on Sundays once or twice a month. They run from February to December and offer a wide variety of art, jewelry, local products and gifts. You will also find many cafes throughout Todd Mall, where you can try some of the local food or have a cup of coffee. If you can, go to one of the night markets in Todd Mall. Held once a month in the spring months, from August to November, the Night Markets are the best way to “shop at the Outback” and you will find aboriginal art, jewelry, clothes and much more. The night market is a great place to try local food, with a variety of different food stalls offering a variety of dishes. Enjoy the lively atmosphere, often with live music and themed markets to match Alice Springs Events.
Larapinta Trail:
The Larapinta Trail is one of the best-extended walks in the world, let alone Australia, which covers 223 km from Alice Springs to Mount Sonder. The trail is divided into 12 sections and has many famous attractions like Simpsons Gap, Glen Helen and Ellery Creek Big Hole. Following the path, you will see a lot of Australian wildlife, bushes and beautiful views of the rugged landscape. Hikers can choose the amount of trail they want to do and which sections, ranging from easier walks of 1 day to the full 223 km, take 20 days. It is recommended to walk between April and October, with 2 or more people. If you want a more personalized experience, try a Trek Larapinta guide, where you can plan your walk and learn about the history and nature of an expert’s route.
The School of the Air:
Air School is the largest classroom in the world, covering more than 1.3 million square kilometers. The aim of the school is to reach children who live remotely inside cattle stations and offer them a first level education. With currently 145 students enrolled in the school, the Air School relies solely on satellite technology to teach lessons. Once he relied on a two-way radio, the school now uses interactive distance learning, where all students have the equipment and technology to be able to see their teachers in real-time and interact with the teacher and other students. The visitor center is a 30-minute walk from the city center and offers an idea of how the school works, with the opportunity to watch a live lesson.
Desert Park:
The Alice Springs Desert Park is the best way to see all that the Australian desert has to offer, showing native animals, flora and culture, all in one place. The park is divided into different areas, grouping similar wildlife and nature. Highlights include the night house, where you can see many of Australia’s most illusory night animals, including mammals, birds and reptiles. Simply walking along the tracks through the park, you will see a lot of wildlife in their natural habitats. There is strong support from local Aboriginal people in the area, with many volunteers giving talks and demonstrations about traditional Aboriginal crafts and ways of life. With so much to see in Desert Park, be sure to arrive sooner rather than later, so you can enjoy a full day exploring.
Telegraph Station:
The Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve is a 4 km walk from the Todd Mall and marks the original European settlement in Alice Springs. The Telegraph Station was built in 1871 to transmit messages between Adelaide and Darwin, as well as to connect with a submarine cable network to London, establishing the first real communication between Australia and England. After 1932, the telegraph station was also used during the Second World War to educate Aboriginal children for a military base and a tribal reserve. Today you can see the original buildings, such as they were decorated in the 19th century, and learn about the site’s history. There are many steps you can take from the telegraph station to admire the reserve’s natural wildlife as well as the landscape and the surrounding landscapes and to find the spring named after the city.
Aboriginal Australia Art & Culture Centre:
The Aboriginal Art and Culture Center is the perfect place to learn more about the Aboriginal population in Alice Springs and its history. The people of Arrernte lived in the Alice Springs area before European immigrants appeared, and Aboriginal locals actively participate in showing visitors the history of their people. At the Center for Art and Culture, you will have the opportunity to meet Aboriginal people and learn directly from them, as well as tours that include a walk, dance performances and didgeridoo lessons.
Kangaroo Sanctuary:
At Kangaroo Sanctuary, just outside Alice Springs, visitors can get a closer look at Australia’s most famous marsupials. The Shrine, originally created for the care of orphaned children, drew attention when it was used for the BBC2 documentary “Kangaroo Dundee”. The owner Brolga still runs the Shrine today, and you will travel home with the kangaroos on one of the tours of the sanctuary. The tours are in small groups and are done at sunset in the large wildlife reserve, which lasts about 2 hours and a half. You will learn about the eating habits, behavior and first-hand accounts of your personalities about animals while having the opportunity to feed and pet the kangaroos. The highlight for many is the opportunity to hold and feed a joey, with this photo being a great memory for many.
Olive Pink Botanical Garden:
The Olive Pink Botanical Garden is a 40-acre garden in the middle of Alice Springs, which shows the native flora of the Northern Territory of Australia. The Garden was founded in 1956 by Miss Olive Pink, an anthropologist, aboriginal fighter, artist and passionate gardener. Today, the garden is a great place to learn about some of the native plants in the area, and it is a relaxing way to spend the day. There are many walks and self-guided tours in the garden where you can learn about plants and plants, and there are wonderful views of the Alice Springs, Todd River and McDonnell ranges from Annie Myers Hill. Wildlife enthusiasts will find that the Garden is the perfect place for wildlife and bird watching since the Garden is home to more than 80 species of birds.
Sounds of Starlight Theatre:
The Sounds of Starlight Theater is located in Todd Mall and was opened by didgeridoo expert Andrew Langford in 1996. During the day, the Theater is open to visitors who wish to learn about the didgeridoo and how to play it, as well as serving as a gallery. showing the art and culture of central Australia. From April to November, Langford’s “The Didgeridoo Show Outback” takes place in theaters, an impressive show where Langford and Aboriginal myths and other musicians tell stories of the outback and stories in the form of music. The program is backed with fantastic images by Mike Gillam, to make the program a sensory adventure in the desert.
Camel Ride:
While camels may not be the first animal to think of Australia, they are actually one of the most common animals in the interior, Australia even houses the largest herd of camels in the world. Introduced in the 19th century from Arabia, Afghanistan and India, camels are now synonymous with Central and Inland Australia. A camel ride is not only a fun and memorable activity but also a great way to see the interior, especially at sunset. There are many different tours that offer camel rides, so look around, but Pyndan Camel Tracks is just outside Alice Springs and they are especially good, as they offer a variety of different tours.
Alice Springs Travel Costs:
Hostel prices: hostels cost around 25-30 AUD ($ 18-21 USD) per night for a bedroom with 6-8 beds. Private double occupancy rooms with shared bathroom cost around AUD 65 ($ 46 USD) per night, while private rooms with private bathroom cost around AUD 90 ($ 64 USD). Most hostels include free linens, free Wi-Fi, and some even include free breakfast.
Cheap hotel prices: you can find a room 2 in a 3-star hotel for only 170 AUD ($ 128 USD), but most exceed 200 AUD ($ 143 USD). Most of these hotels offer private bathrooms, TV, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and many have free breakfast. On Airbnb, a private room in an apartment has an average of 70 AUD ($ 50 USD). You can find a complete apartment for only $ 85 AUD ($ 61 USD), but the average majority is 130 AUD ($ 93 USD).
Average meal cost: there are cheap meals for less than 14 AUD ($ 10 USD) in many of the take-away and ethnic stores, but it is expected to pay around 20 AUD ($ 14 USD) for a meal in a seat. restaurant. If you cook your own meals, expect to pay AUD 95-108 ($ 68-77 USD) per week for basic foods such as pasta, vegetables, chicken and other basic foods. The food here tends to be more “pub” based on fewer fancy restaurant options than other cities.
Activities: There is something for every budget in Alice Springs, but if you want to get to Uluru (either by rental car or on a tour), it will cost you. A multi-day tour will cost around 225 AUD ($ 160 USD) per day for everything, including food and lodging. If you want to drive yourself, rental cars start at around AUD 90 ($ 65 USD) per day. The entrance to natural gardens, like the Alice Springs Natural Park, starts at about 25 AUD ($ 18), while the entrance to museums and historical sites is 17 AUD ($ 12 USD) (although there are also many free sites).
Tours to Uluru and Kings Canyon: you will not visit Alice Springs without seeing Uluru. While multi-day tours will cost around 225 AUD per day, you can book a shorter half-day tour if you have a limited budget. The tours at dawn last a couple of hours and allow you to enjoy the views while the sun rises. They will cost about 74৪ ADD ($ 55 USD) per person. You can also do a short guided walk for about 175 AUD ($ 125 USD) a day. If you want to rent a car and see the park itself, expect to pay around 125ADD ($ 90 USD). Admission to the park costs AUD 25 and the rental of a car will cost around AUD 90 ($ 65 USD) per day. If you have a limited budget, try to divide costs with other travelers. That way, you can share the cost of rent to and gas, as well as actual driving.
Kings Canyon day tours start around 200 AUD ($ 141 USD). If you want to visit yourself, the entrance fee is 35 AUD ($ 25 USD) per vehicle or 20 AUD ($ 14 USD) per person on foot. Again, if you can share a car rental with someone, you can save money here, especially at the entrance to the park.
Backpacking Alice Springs Suggested Budgets:
How much does it cost to see Alice Springs?
With a budget for backpackers, you can visit here for 60-80 AUD ($ 42-56 USD) per day. This is a suggested budget, assuming that you are staying in a cheap hostel or camp, that you cook all your meals and that you use local transportation to get around. With this budget, you could stick to mostly free activities or admission fees for museums/sites. If you want to rent a car to see Uluru, you must add another 125 AUD ($ 90 USD) to your budget (a little less if you can divide the rent with other travelers).
With a mid-range budget of around 245 AUD ($ 175 USD), you can stay in a private hostel room, eat fast food, book a rental car to get to Uluru and pay the entrance fee to Uluru National Park – Keita Jajuta.
With a luxury budget of more than 505 AUD ($ 360 + USD), you can stay in 4-star accommodation, enjoy a meal in restaurants, rent a rental car to move around or opt for a multi-day excursion to Yesterday’s Rock.
Alice Springs Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips:
Alice Springs can be a very, very expensive country to travel to. If you are not careful, you will spend your entire budget in no time! Here are many ways to save money when you visit Alice Springs:
- Take food to Uluru: food in the visitor’s cafe near Uluru is very expensive. Try to stock up on supermarket snacks before embarking on an adventure in this area.
- Go camping: if you intend to spend a few days in Uluru, camping is an option, since the resorts here are expensive. Expect to pay AUD 65 ($ 46 USD) for a place with electricity during the high summer season and 55 AUD ($ 40 USD) during the low winter season.
- Combine Tours: Combine tours of Uluru, Kings Canyon and Kata Jajuta to save money on a single trip. Expect to pay around 675 AUD ($ 482 USD) for three days and two nights, including accommodation.
- Couchsurf – Living in Australia can be quite expensive. you can usually find really nice Couchsurfing hosts across the country. This way, you not only have a place to stay, but you will also have a local host who can tell you the best places to go and things to see.
- Drink goon (box wine): Goon is infamous on the trail of the Australian backpacker’s hostel. This cheap wine box is the best way to drink, have fun and save a lot of money at the same time. Four liters of goon generally cost 13 AUD ($ 9 USD) (compared to a pack of six beers for the same price). Drink this before leaving and save money at the bar (where it costs around 10 AUD / $ 7 USD per drink). Also, exploding the bag when you’re done and have a small pillow to rest!
- Cooking and picnics – Again, eating out are not cheap. The best way to reduce your spending is to cook as much as possible. Alice Springs is a great place to bring snacks and snacks. You can have your picnic outside!
- Find Free Internet: In Australia, the internet is painfully slow and expensive (ask an Australian how you feel about it), but you can use free Wi-Fi at the library and McDonald’s.
Where To Stay in Alice Springs:
I have been a backpacker here for years and I have accumulated a long list of places to stay. These are some of my favorite places to stay in Alice Springs:
How to Get Around Alice Springs:
Walking: The downtown Alice Springs area is incredibly passable, so it is completely possible to move around without spending much on transportation.
Public bus: Alice Springs has a public bus system. A single ticket costs 3 AUD ($ 2.15 USD) and gives you three hours of unlimited bus travel. A one-day ticket costs AUD 7 ($ 5 USD). You can save 10 AUD ($ 7.15 USD) by getting your tickets for “Flexi-Trip”, which gives you 10 valid individual trips for 3 hours each for 20 AUD ($ 14 USD) or by obtaining a one-week pass, which It is also 20 AUD ($ 14 USD).
Taxi: Taxis are expensive (fares have a minimum of 4 AUD ($ 3 USD) and cost 2 AUD (1.45 USD) per km, so this is not the best option.
Bicycle rental: Bicycle rentals are common in Alice Springs, starting at approximately AUD 25 ($ 18 USD) per day. My Ride is Alice Springs is one of the best rental places in the city.
Car rental: Getting a car rental is one of the most practical ways to get around Alice Springs and the area, and you can find prices from approximately 90 AUD ($ 65 USD) per day. That may be out of budget, but it is cheaper to drive to Yesterday Rock than to get on a multi-day tour. Also, you may be able to find someone with whom to divide costs.
Use rentalcars.com to search for available vehicles. It is a search aggregator, so it will yield better deals than if you trust large companies like Hertz.
Multi-day tours: You can combine tours of Uluru, Kings Canyon and cut-shoe socks to save money on separate trips. Expect to pay around 675 AUD ($ 482 USD) for 3 days and 2 nights, including accommodation (the lowest-priced tours usually include camping). Depending on your travel style, this price may increase rapidly. Some tours will include all the extras, such as meals.
When to Go to Alice Springs:
The climate of Alice Springs can be quite extreme, with hot summers and cold winters. Summer lasts from December to February, and average temperatures range between 60-95 ° F (20-35 ° C), but sometimes they can rise to 104 ° F (40 ° C). It is dry here most of the year, but January is considered the wettest month.
Winter (June to August) is “winter”, with an average temperature of 41-68 68 F (5-20 ° C) and July is the coldest month. Temperatures can even fall below zero, so it is not the best time to camp! On the other hand, prices are definitely lower during winter.
Spring (September to November) is pleasant with warm temperatures, but autumn (March to May) is really the best time to visit. The days are warm and the nights are cool, with temperatures ranging between 54-81 ° F (12-27 ° C). This is also a good time to go to Uluru, but it can be much colder, sometimes going down to 46 ° F (8 ° C). Pack many layers!
How to Stay Safe in Alice Springs:
Alice Springs is an incredibly safe place to travel and backpack. People are friendly and helpful and you are unlikely to get into trouble.
Most of the Alice Springs incidents tend to occur because visitors are not accustomed to the unique climate and nature of the country. Make sure you have enough sunscreen and stay as hydrated as possible. This is especially true if you drive inside. There are long, long distances with no city insight, so if it falls apart, you’ll want to be prepared. If you are going on an excursion, make sure you know what to expect in advance. Watch for snakes and spiders, and if you are bitten, seek immediate attention. (However, don’t worry, all those horror stories about giant spiders and vicious animals are quite rare!)
Always trust your instinct.
If you don’t do it at home, don’t do it when you’re in Alice Springs. Follow that rule and you’ll be fine.
The most important advice I can offer is to buy good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect against illness, injury, cancellation and theft. This is complete protection in case something goes wrong. I never go without him, as I have been used to it many times in the past.
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