1. Explore the Alice Springs Desert Park 

This award-winning park offers an immersive experience that showcases the flora, fauna, and cultural heritage of the Red Centre. Meet dingos and kangaroos, check out the daily birds of prey show and wander through the unique desert landscapes. You can also do self guided audio tours to learn about the different desert environments and animals as you walk around the park.

2. Visit the Araluen Arts Centre

The Araluen Arts Centre is a cultural hub, showcasing the artistic diversity of the Red Centre region through visual and performing arts. It features several galleries and exhibition spaces with both contemporary and traditional Indigenous art, as well as a theatre hosting a variety of performances including music, dance, and theatre productions. The centre also hosts workshops and events throughout the year, making it a vibrant and important part of the Alice Springs community.

3. Watch the sunset from Anzac Hill

This popular lookout point offers stunning panoramic views of Alice Springs. It's a great spot to relax and watch the sunset over the surrounding desert. Anzac Hill is a short 5-10 minute drive from the city centre, or you can choose to walk or cycle along the path. 

4. Wander through the Olive Pink Botanic Gardens 

Take a stroll through the beautiful Olive Pink Botanic Gardens to see a variety of native plants and wildlife. This is Australia’s only arid zone botanic garden, and it’s a great place to see the unique plant species in native to the Red Centre. 

5. Check out the Old Telegraph Station

The Alice Springs Telegraph Station is a historic site that played a significant role in the development of Central Australia. It was established in 1872 as part of the Overland Telegraph Line and served as a vital communication link between Adelaide and Darwin. Today, visitors can explore the restored buildings, learn about the history of the telegraph station and enjoy the scenic walking trails around the site.

6. Explore the art galleries

Alice Springs is known for its vibrant arts scene, particularly Aboriginal art from the Central and Western Desert regions. There’s plenty of galleries to explore around town where you can browse, buy and learn about Aboriginal art. Some of our favourites are Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists, Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Art Centre and Papunya Tula Artists.

7. Hire a mountain bike and explore

Alice Springs is surrounded by a huge network of mountain bike trails, known as the Westside Trails and Eastside Trails. Hire a bike for the day and explore the trails, from scenic cross country routes to technical single tracks. Take a look at the trail map before you go, and make sure you understand the difficulty ratings too.

8. Make the most of Alice Springs vibrant foodie scene

This unsuspecting desert town is home to a tasty selection of cafes, bars and restaurants. You can expect locally brewed beer, locally roasted coffee, fresh bakery eats and lots more. Check out our foodies guide to Alice Springs for a few of our top picks. 

9. Have a hit at the golf course

Have a hit of golf at this picturesque desert golf course. The lush green course surrounded by the stunning backdrop of the West MacDonnell Ranges makes Alice Springs Golf Club truly unique. There's options for players of all skill levels, and you can get involved in lawn bowls too.

10. Take a drive to Simpsons Gap

In just a 20 minute drive from Alice Springs you'll reach the towering red cliffs of Simpsons Gap. Take a walk along the sandy banks to the permanent waterhole and spot some wildlife along the way. At dusk or dawn you might be lucky and spot a black-footed rock wallaby. There's also short walks you can do in the area. If you're keen to see more of the West Macs, check out our guide to the West MacDonnell Ranges.