There are so many compelling reasons to add Alice Springs to your travel bucket list. Here are ten of the very best.
1. Rich culture
Aboriginal Australians are the oldest living culture in the world. Alice Springs embraces its Aboriginal heritance and is home to sacred sites, intriguing museums, and fascinating art galleries. Listen to Dreamtime stories about Alice Springs, and learn about the unique connection that indigenous Australians have to the landscape.
2. Discover the heart of Australia
The outback is the heart of Australia, making up a huge part of the country. The red centre (Uluru) is as much an Aussie icon as the Sydney Opera House or the Great Barrier Reef and not something that should be missed by Australians or international visitors.
3. Landscapes like no other
Alice Springs lies in a desert, surrounded by soaring mountains, dramatic gorges, and stunning nature parks. Aside from the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, visitors are often surprised by the beautiful waterholes and lush greenery that can be found here. The landscape is like no other.
4. The flora and fauna
Alice Springs and the surrounding area are home to Australian icons such as kangaroos, wallabies, snakes, and dingoes, but there’s so much more plant life and wildlife to see. Venture to Palm Valley in the West MacDonnell Ranges, a tropical oasis in the desert that’s home to Red Cabbage Palms not found anywhere else on earth.
5. Stargazing
Crystal clear skies and minimal light pollution make the outback the best place in Australia to stargaze. Gazing up at the stars shining brightly over the desert is an experience you will treasure forever.
6. Tantalise your taste buds
The exquisite Alice Springs food scene offers plenty of variety; however it’s one of the best places in Australia to sample real bush tucker – think kangaroo, crocodile, emu, and native fruits. Aboriginal and European cuisine are perfectly blended in the most delicious way.
7. Swim in nature’s swimming pools
Visitors often don’t expect the desert landscape to contain such wonderful waterholes. Man-made swimming pools simply don’t compare to natural swimming holes surrounded by sensational scenery.
8. Aboriginal art
Aboriginal art is an important part of Australian culture. Alice Springs is home to some excellent galleries, including Yubu Napa where you can meet the artists and see them at work. Meanwhile, the Albert Namatjira Gallery features work by renowned Aboriginal watercolourist Albert Namatjira which is inspired by the ranges surrounding Alice Springs.
9. Fossick for treasures
The Alice Springs area is renowned for having a wide array of high-quality gemstones and minerals just waiting to be found. You may discover gold, amethyst, garnet, and other high-quality gemstones.
10. Connections to other places
To say that Alice Springs is a worthwhile destination in itself is an understatement. However, it’s also a perfect base to venture to other incredible locations, such as the world-famous Uluru, or the cascading waterfalls of the top end. Alice Springs also provides an ideal place to begin, end, or stop off on an outback roadtrip.
