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City Guide
- Overview
- The Basics
- Contacts
- Attractions
- City Tours
- Excursions
- Transport
- Climate
- Photos
- Hotels in Alice Springs
- Flights to Alice Springs
Directory
Time
Why? Once a remote outpost, it is now easy to travel to
Alice Springs, situated in the heart of the Australian Outback. A
holiday in Alice Springs is an exciting true Australian experience,
its proximity to the desert and the remarkable natural monolith,
Uluru (Ayers Rock) drawing thousands of tourists every year. 'The
Alice', as it is known, is also the focus of Aboriginal
culture.
When? There is no need to pack a brolly when you travel to
Alice Springs, where rain is a rarity. It is hot and dry all year
round, but nights can be very cold in winter (July/August). The
city has an exciting event calendar so it is a good idea to plan
your Alice Springs holiday to coincide with one of these, like the
Camel Cup tournament, Finke Desert Race or Alice Springs Beanie
Festival, see our event pages for details.
Who for? Anyone who has a fascination with the rough and
ready life of Central Australia will enjoy a holiday in Alice
Springs, which is an ideal base for excursions into the surrounding
desert.
More Info: To find out how to travel to Alice Springs, and
what to expect when you get there, consult our up-to-date,
comprehensive Alice Springs travel guide.
Overview
Alice Springs, the vibrant hub of central Australia, grew up around a permanent waterhole that was a key terminal for the Overland Telegraph Station in 1870. It became a tough frontier town serviced by camel trains from the railhead at Oodnadatta, until the railway reached it in 1929 and it became a major terminus centre. Today the city, with a population of 25,000 and stylish shopping and dining facilities, provides a perfect base from which to access all of the surrounding natural wonders, including Uluru (Ayer's Rock), and learn more about the local Arrernte Aboriginal tribal group who have inhabited the area for 20,000 years. The city is also the point from which intrepid adventurers strike south to explore the Simpson Desert, or east to visit the ghost towns of the MacDonnell Ranges. Alice Springs has good connections to Australia's capital cities; there are daily flights to and from the capitals and road and rail access from all capital cities is possible.