The NT need not be about four-wheel drives, dirt tracks, big rocks and big crocs.

Amidst the wide expanses of desert across the Red Centre, Alice Springs is a refreshing oasis of modernity.

Rich in history and culture, as well as natural beauty, Alice has the best of both worlds.

With the largest population in the Australian ‘red centre’ Alice enjoys a considerable array of shops, alfresco cafes, galleries and souvenir outlets.

While the town can’t boast about any iconic beaches (since it’s practically the geographical centre of the continent) its mix of scenic attractions make a nice change for a traveller weary of the dusty Outback and baked beans!

Under a baby-blue desert sky stroll down Todd Mall, a relaxing pedestrian street full of shops, galleries and outdoor-dining. If you’re after a didgeridoo, you’ll find one inside one of the many galleries along this Mall.

If you’d like to see some art inspired by the town's surrounding landscape, visit Panorama Guth on Hartley St, where you’ll find unique landscapes by Henk Guth and original Albert Namatjira watercolours.

And if admiring more local art tickles your fancy, make your way to the town’s cultural precinct. Araluen Centre for Arts and Entertainment is the place to be for all things to do with performance art in the region. It has a 500-seat theatre, cinema, and art galleries.

But abstract dance and painted faces isn’t everybody's thing. You might prefer to head to the Central Australian Aviation Museum. It houses aircraft that pioneered travel in the Outback.

Talking of aircraft, hot air ballooning around the Alice at dawn is highly recommended. With a glass of champagne in one hand, and a view from above of the red landscape at sunrise, it’s not hard to fall in love with a town like Alice.

And if you’re not too sure about flying in a big wing-less ball, you can still have a great view over Alice with two feet on the ground on top of Anzac Hill.

You can also check out the local fauna at The Museum of Central Australia. From the largest bird that ever lived to locally-discovered meteorites, your bound to learn something new.

A more recent addition to Alice’s array of attractions is the Alice Springs Desert Park. Beneath the ranges topped by Mount Gillen, the park displays several natural environments of the Northern Territory. The centre’s ecology spans several habitats including a creek, sand dunes, woodlands and the nocturnal house where the rarely-seen Outback animals scuttle about in the simulated moonlight.

And if you’re there in October, there’s no missing the Henley on Todd Regatta. Held every October, this locally-renowned event is a hoot. Crowds cheer as bottomless boats race down the dry riverbed.


The tourism information office in Alice Springs is in Gregory Terrace at the river end.

There is a wide range of choices for Alice Springs Accommodation – motels, self-contained apartments, hostels, campsites and caravan parks– to suit your taste and pocket.

Since the town’s sights are scattered, hiring a car will save some long hours under the unrelenting desert sun.

Alice also makes a great base from which to discover the majestic sites around.

The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National park – including Ayer’s Rock and the Olgas – is only one of many places in the Red Centre where the elemental beauty of nature hits you with all its visual force.

The Devils’ Marbles, just over 100 kilometres south of Tennant creek, are another set of aesthetically-pleasing rocks in the area. These oddly-shaped boulders, are only 2 kilometres off the highway.

Visit our Alice Springs car hire webpage for a wide range of discount deals from all the leading car hire companies.