Right in the heart of Australia, Alice Springs is certainly out of the way from most places being in the middle of the desert. Many call it ‘the real Australia’ offering the opportunity to see how life in Australia was long ago before any colonies arrived, when the surrounding natural, red landscape was untouched.
Alice Springs is a pretty vibrant place and is certainly not a dead desert town. But how many days in Alice Springs is enough for a visit? Hopefully I can answer this question for you here.
This town is the gateway to some of the country’s most iconic natural wonders, which makes the question an open one. Many people who visit Australia feel they owe a trip to the Red Centre as part of their visit. Not all visitors make it here and those often regret not fitting it in but it is a town busy with worldwide tourists.
Let’s get stuck into the must-see attractions and activities that make a visit to Alice Springs unforgettable, which will give you an idea of how many days you really need here.
1. Visit Uluru and Kata Tjuta
Let’s get it out of the way early as it is the main reason why visitors flock here. While not located within Alice Springs itself, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) are must-visit landmarks that are easily accessible from the town. These iconic red sandstone formations are sacred sites for indigenous people and they hold immense cultural significance.
I came here not looking to just visit Uluru but as part of a long road trip. I thought… ‘how exciting can a rock be?’ But there was just something about it that I can’t quite explain. Witnessing the changing colors of Uluru at sunrise and sunset is a great experience that you will always remember. I did both sides of the rock on each part of the day and it offered a different view. The nearby Kata Tjuta, with its unique dome-shaped rocks, is also really unusual and fascinating in its own right. These could be viewed at the start and/or end of the same day.
2. See the ‘Field of light’ at night
This man-made art installation in the middle of the desert known as the Field of light is a fascinating experience to enjoy. I would actually put it down as one of the best man-made-natural blended attractions in Australia.
Located in the desert near Uluru this exhibition is only viewable at night and includes 50,000 light spindles all in different colours, brightly lit up like a field of luminous mushrooms. It kind of reminds me of Avatar the movie and I’d put it down as a must-see while in Alice Springs. Take a wander around and it feels like you’re on a different planet. Very unique and it’s an exhibition that continues to be extended in its desert residency.
3. Explore the MacDonnell Ranges
No trip to Alice Springs is complete without exploring the impressive MacDonnell Ranges. Stretching for over 600 kilometres, these ancient mountains have so many good hiking trails, waterholes, and mountainous landscapes.
Whether you’re a regular hiker or just looking for a leisurely stroll with a view of the real Australian Outback this is the place for you. Another positive is that there are no crocodiles in Central Australia so the water holes are generally safe for swimming in.
4. Check out the local wildlife encounters
Alice Springs and its surrounding areas contain a good amount of outback wildlife, but you can’t always guarantee you’ll see it when searching for it in the desert. So pay a visit to one of the unique wildlife centres nearby.
From the renowned Kangaroo Sanctuary, where you can interact with orphaned kangaroos and learn about their conservation, to getting up close and personal with some of the Northern Territory’s favourite wildlife at the Reptile Centre, which is home to the largest reptile display in Central Australia. Here you can see crocs, goannas, thorny devils, and frill-necked lizards. These are two worthy highlights and feature the best of Australia wildlife.
5. Hot air ballooning over the outback
To get a bit fancy and see the unique perspective of the Red Centre, why not take a hot air balloon ride at dawn? Yes, it’ll mean getting up at the crack of dawn but drifting over the huge desert landscape as the sun rises means you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the MacDonnell Ranges and the surrounding wonders so it’ll definitely be worth it. It’s an unforgettable experience and just imagine the photos you can get here.
6. Check out the local food and drink spots
Dining options in Alice Springs have a good variety overall so spend an evening trying out the local restaurants. Despite the remote location, there is food from cultures around the world available at plenty of different restaurants around the town. Italian, Chinese, Indian and Australian cuisine are some of the options around. I had an excellent mixed grill here so can’t say I tried something too far-fetched. Why not try crocodile, emu and kangaroo, an Australian cuisine restaurant?
There are also a few nice pubs and outdoor chilled bars dotted around Alice Springs, which serve alcohol so try a bit of a bar crawl if you get the time after dinner, but don’t leave it too late due to alcohol restrictions, which are in place to create a safer Alice Springs.
I believe to fit in the above the ideal amount of time in Alice Springs is 3 days. That could feel rushed when fitting in the above so you can spread it to 4 days for a more leisurely pace as you may do a full day’s hiking for example.
3-7 days will allow you to fully immerse yourself more in the area’s natural wonders and unique experiences. Whether you’re fascinated by Indigenous culture, blown away by ancient rock formations, or simply looking to relax in the vast outback landscapes, Alice Springs has something different to offer everyone.