Author: Matt and Danielle
01 November 2023
Australia's Northern Territory is culturally rich, beautiful, red, raw and rugged. It's also home to the Heart of Central Australia, Alice Springs. This small city is located right in the centre of Australia, and while it is less explored than others, it's no less remarkable. This part of Australia, known as the Red Centre, is full of amazing natural wonders, some spectacular places to visit and very sacred sites. The national parks here are full of beautiful rock formations and rugged terrain. You can still see plenty in a 2-wheel drive, but for the best experience, you will want to explore in a 4-wheel drive. This means that there is nothing you cannot conquer, explore and experience. For anyone travelling in a 2WD that wants to leave no stone unturned, don't worry. There are a bunch of outstanding tours that you can book for all these places. We will share the tours that guarantee you will experience the best that Alice Springs has to offer. First things first, before you do anything you need to get a National Park Pass to visit most places in the NT in general. Find out more on the National Park Pass, and get yours here.
Here are the best day trips from Alice Springs to ensure you have an unforgettable experience.
The MacDonnell Ranges are home to some of the most stunning landscapes around Alice Springs. They are found within the Tjoritja National Park and are one of the best things you can explore during your time here. They are also very large, so for day trips we have broken them up into East and West. They are full of refreshing swimming holes, nature walks, 4WD tracks and spectacular landscapes.
We loved Ormiston Gorge, which is where you can enjoy nature hikes around the mountain range, swim and enjoy a beautiful beach. We couldn't believe it, but you can actually find sandy beaches thousands of miles away from any coastline, right in the heart of Australia. You can stay overnight if you love it, or enjoy it for a day trip. It costs $6.60 per adult and $3.30 per child, or they do a family bundle which is $15.40 for 2 adults and 4 children. You cannot reserve, it's first come, first serve. The beach and waterhole are a short walk from the campsite, so you can enjoy a nice relaxing day at the beach.
That's not the only thing to do in the West Macdonnell National Park. There are still plenty of awesome spots to cover. Simpsons Gap, Glen Helen Gorge, Ochre Pits, Ellery Creek Big Hole and Serpentine Gorge are all popular stop-offs.
Book a guided tour here to guarantee you see all the best places in the West Macdonnell Ranges.
While still located in the West Macdonnell Ranges, it is one worth mentioning on its own. Standley Chasm is one of the most popular places to visit in the stunning West Macdonnell Ranges. Its original name is Angkerle Atwatye and this site is owned by the local Arnette community. Unlike the rest of the Macdonnell Ranges, your National Park Pass alone will not grant you entry here. It's $12 per person to visit and it's only a short walk to the chasm itself. The best time to visit Standley Chasm is at midday. This is when the sun is high in the sky and falls perfectly between the towering red rocks and it lights them up. It's a spectacular sight.
Like its Western counterpart, the East Macdonnell Ranges are a stunning area. They are packed with awesome hikes, beautiful sites and a tonne of things to do. The rugged Macdonnell Ranges are for the nature lovers out there. Where this natural wonder differs from the Western side is the number of tourists that visit. You will likely have many of these places to yourself, or with very few others. There is nothing quite like having a beautiful and serene spot all to yourself. The West may be the most popular day trip to take, but that doesn't mean you should overlook the East.
The most popular of them all would be Emily Gap and Jessie Gap. Alice Springs is the perfect place to visit these spectacular spots, as they're only 20 minutes from the town centre. If you have a 4WD, or you're looking for a more adventurous day out then you can keep going further. Trephina Gorge National Park is where you can find John Hayes Rock Hole, but you'll need a 4WD to reach it. If you're more interested in nature walks then you can head on the popular walking trail to see the largest ghost gum in Australia. There is also a beautiful scenic ridgetop walk. N'Dhala Gorge Nature Park is a longer drive from Alice Springs as it's around 100km away and 4WD only. Furthest of spot of them all? Ruby Gap. This will take you 3 or 4 hours to reach, but it is beautiful and there is a natural swimming hole a few more kilometres away.
Anything you decide to see in the East Macdonald Ranges will be epic. As long as you love the beautiful towering red rock formations and natural scenery that is. If you don't have a 4WD then you can always book onto a tour. That way you can also make sure that you fit in all the best places in the East Macdonnell Ranges. Check out this awesome 4-wheel drive day tour from Alice Springs.
Alice Springs offers something different to the other cities in Australia. It is a beautiful rural city, and you need to set time aside to explore it when you visit. Looking for a unique experience, to learn about indigenous culture or fun family activities? You can find it all in Alice Springs.
Once you step foot into the Northern Territory you will hear all about aboriginal art. In Alice Springs you can find a bunch of art galleries to see these beautiful works of art up close. Within the CBD area in Alice Springs, you can find a bunch of awesome local galleries. Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists Gallery, Araluen Arts Centre and Tjanpi Desert Weavers are a few worth visiting. You can also explore the local museums to find out even more about the rich history of Central Australia. The Royal Flying Doctor Service is one such museum. You'll notice that this part of Australia is very rural with lots of remote communities. The Royal Flying Doctor Service was founded to help give aid to the various people in the surrounding area. This museum shares the history of the nurses and pilots who helped save countless lives throughout the area.
It's not all galleries and museums, as there are some incredible hiking trails too. A popular route takes you along the Todd River, around the Alice Springs Telegraph Station and over towards the Discovery Park. You can also learn more about some of the animals that call this part of Australia home. Snakes and Crocs are the first things that come to mind when anyone mentions Australia. A fun trip to the Alice Springs Reptile Centre can help you understand them better. It's the perfect place to visit if you're looking for fun activities for the whole family.
Finally, you can check out the Todd Mall. This is a pedestrian shopping area where you can find anything you want or need. It's the perfect place to grab a memento of the incredible time you've had in Central Australia.
While we are talking about animals, there is a perfect spot for families 10 minutes outside of Alice Springs. The Desert Park is a popular spot where you can learn all about the native wildlife, lush vegetation and the local aboriginal people. As far as cultural experiences go, this is an amazing one. Although you may think the desert is a barren wasteland, it's quite the opposite. You can visit during the day, or go after the sunsets for a nocturnal tour to see what animals come out at night.
You can book your general entry ticket here, and the nocturnal tour here.
If you're looking to learn more about Central Australia's unique animals then you need to also visit the Kangaroo Sanctuary. It's a short drive from Alice Springs and a popular destination for families. Established as a baby kangaroo rescue centre back in 2005 it later expanded to take in adult kangaroos and other animals. It's a great day out for the whole family where you can see one of Australia's most unique and iconic animals. Check out their website here to book your tickets and even sponsor your own kangaroo!
This beautiful national park is around 140 km from Alice Springs. It's one of the more remote areas as is only accessible by 4WD. Palm Valley is what this national park is best known for, which is a rare sight this far out in Central Australia. This is like peering back millions of years when this part of Australia had a thriving tropical rainforest. The remnants of which are still seen today as you can see groves of rare red cabbage palms. This national park was named after the Finke River, which flows through the northern Territory and into South Australia. It is thought to be one of the oldest rivers in the world.
You can also pay a visit to the nearby town of Hurmannsburg which is full of rich history. This town's original inhabitants are the Western Arrarnta People. Here you can learn all about their traditions and the stories that have passed down from generation to generation.
Rainbow Valley is an easy site to visit, and a must for any landscape and nature photographers. The best time to visit is either early morning or later in the afternoon. This is when the nearby rock formations turn incredible shades of red, orange and purple. The surrounding landscape also makes for a real feast for the eyes. With the beautiful sandstone bluffs, towering cliffs and rugged terrain all around, you will not be short of things to look at. It's about 75 km from Alice Springs and should be done in a 4WD. If you don't have a 4WD then the best way to reach here is with a local tour guide. Also, when you take a guided tour they can tell you all about the rich cultural heritage of the area. You don't have to drive either, you get to sit back and enjoy all the natural beauty.
Rainbow Valley is part of the James Range, and it is an important site to the Southern Arrernte people. The large rock formation which you visit is a registered sacred site. It has a lot of cultural significance. It's a much more memorable experience if you have a local guide. This way you can learn all about the traditional owners of the land, and the aboriginal culture. When you combine this with the stunning landscapes you're guaranteed a great day.
Chambers Pillar is 170 km from Alice Springs. It is a towering 50m sandstone pillar that looks out on the Simpson Desert Plain. You can't miss it. It sticks out so much that it was an important marker for this region's earliest pioneers. Photographers will love visiting here, it's an ideal spot to get some great snaps. Once you've taken your pictures you can head down any of the great walking trails in the surrounding area.
Chambers Pillar and Rainbow Valley are both ideal to do together. You can even book this 4WD full-day tour from Alice Springs to see them both.
While it's not an Alice Springs day trip, it is an amazing opportunity to see the vast remoteness and beauty of the Australian Outback. A lot of animals are way more active around sunrise, and the best vantage spot to see them is from the air. Big Red Kangaroos are prominent this far into the Outback. A hot air balloon ride is the perfect way to spot them hopping around. The animals are one reason people take this tour, the other is the colours you'll see. During this time of day, the sun hits the landscape and the vibrant scenery comes alive. The Red Centre is full of reds, oranges and yellows. A hot air balloon ride at sunrise lights up the landscape in a way that will stay with you forever.
Alice Springs is the perfect destination to reach one of Central Australia's best attractions. We are getting further and further from the city now, but no Northern Territory trip would be complete without visiting the iconic Uluru. There are a lot of iconic landmarks in Australia, but this might claim the top spot. A trip to Uluru is an unforgettable experience. You can learn about an ancient culture and see unrivalled natural beauty. The spiritual significance of this ancient site cannot be understated. The local Anangu people are the inhabitants of this incredible land. Paying a trip to this national park is a unique opportunity to learn all about their rich history. The cultural centre is the perfect place to start. This is where you can learn all about the park and the land's original inhabitants. From here you can go on a guided walk to learn even more about this incredible place.
Visiting Uluru is not only about history, it's also like seeing something from another world. It's the closest thing you will ever see to Mars. The landscape here is unlike anywhere else, and it's beautiful. There are a bunch of incredible nature walks that take you to see the stunning sights of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Valley of the Winds is one of the more challenging, but also rewarding walks that you can do. Out of everything in the national park, there are two standout things we would recommend. Uluru at sunset and sunrise. You can make your way over to the designated viewing areas and marvel as the sun turns the huge red rocks the most spectacular shade of orange. Seeing it light up that way is amazing. Mutitjulu Waterhole and Walpa Gorge are a few other sites you can add to your itinerary. They are well worth visiting while you're in the area.
To visit the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park from Alice Springs is a long drive. It will take around 4 hours each way, so if you want to do it as a day trip you will need to set off bright and early. If you want to stay over then book a night at the Ayers Rock Resort. It's the best-located accommodation in the area. That way you can get straight into the national park and start exploring.
Uluru's breathtaking next-door neighbour and it's only a cool 3-hour drive away. Like Uluru, Kings Canyon is a natural wonder full of scenic walks and astonishing landscapes. In truth, it's not something that you can do in 1 day from Alice Springs. If you're looking at other incredible places to visit while you're over this way then Kings Canyon is it. It's got similar rugged and red terrain as Uluru, but with tall towering ridges that you can walk along. Kings Canyon Rim Walk is one of the more popular hiking trails. It will take you 3 or 4 hours to complete but comes with amazing views of the surrounding landscape.
Coober Pedy is a mining town south of Alice Springs along the Stuart Highway. It's a quirky underground town, and where most of the world's opals come from. It's a surreal place that will feel like a ghost town at first because 70% of the population lives underground. This is how they escape the blistering heat and harsh environment. It's a unique and crazy place to explore as you work your way through the tunnels and see how these people live.
It is a 6-hour drive from Alice Springs, so tough to do as a return journey, but still a great place to stop on your Australian Outback adventure.
The most remote city in Australia is surprisingly easy to reach...if you want to make it easy. The simplest way to get to Alice Springs is to fly. This is also the most expensive route and you will likely need to rent a car when you get there. Qantas are the only ones who make the trip to Alice Springs so they set the rates. Book your flight to Alice Springs here.
A different way, which is more of an adventure and the way we did it, is an epic road trip. We drove 2,500 km from Cairns when we made our way to Alice Springs, but you can drive from Adelaide in 16 short hours. From anywhere else in Australia it will take you at least 3 days to reach because it's so remote. Fuel also gets more and more expensive the further you get into the Outback. Don't let that deter you though. It's a fun and free adventure that you will never forget.
The final option, if you don't want to drive, is to get the Whimit Greyhound. You can only get this from Adelaide or Darwin.
Once you've made it to Alice Springs, what's the best way to get around? Well, if you've driven there then you can keep on driving. For the ultimate freedom you will need a 4WD, because this way nothing is out of reach. Visiting in a 2WD will put limitations on places you can reach yourself. To get to some places you will need to book Alice Springs Tours to fill any gaps that you can't get to.
If you've flown, or taken the Greyhound Whimit then you will need to rent a vehicle. We haven't done this in Alice Springs, so we don't know any reputable companies to go with. The only advice we can give is not to book at the airport when you land. This will be overpriced. Instead, make your way into town via taxi and then rent a vehicle from there.
The Australian Outback is an unforgiving place if you're there at the wrong time. If you're planning a trip and want everything to be perfect, then you will want to time this well. The best time to visit Alice Springs is Autumn, which is from March to May. This time of year is perfect because the days will still be warm, but not unbearably hot, and the nights are cool. It means you can comfortably explore all the national parks and historical sites.
We hope this guide to the best Alice Springs day trips helps you plan an epic road trip around the Red Centre. There are a lot of natural wonders to see here, and it's a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich culture of this land's first inhabitants. Check out our Northern Territory Itinerary for more awesome places you can see. This is perfect if you're looking to visit somewhere like Litchfield or Kakadu National Park.
Have we given you the travel bug? Book your flights, accommodation and travel insurance all here.
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