City guides
Australia
Northern Territory
Things to do in Alice Springs
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 a true Australian experience, its proximity to the desert and the remarkable natural monolith, Uluru (Ayers Rock) drawing tens of thousands of tourists every year. 'The Alice', as it is known, is also the focus of Aboriginal culture in Australia. Apart from the famous Uluru, one of Australia's most iconic landmarks, visitors to Alice shouldn't miss an excursion to Tennant Creek, an old mining town which has become very popular with tourists, and the nearby Devil's Marbles, some stunning red rock formations.
The city has an exciting and slightly odd events calendar so it is a good idea for visitors to plan their Alice Springs holiday to coincide with one of these, such as the Camel Cup tournament, Finke Desert Race or Alice Springs Beanie Festival.
Tennant Creek
Now a popular holiday resort, the old mining town of Tennant Creek, about 300 miles (500km) north of Alice Springs, was allegedly born when a beer wagon en route to an Overland Tel…
Tennant Creek
Now a popular holiday resort, the old mining town of Tennant Creek, about 300 miles (500km) north of Alice Springs, was allegedly born when a beer wagon en route to an Overland Telegraph Station broke down in 1934 and the driver, Joe Kilgariff, decided to set up a store and pub at the breakdown site. Such legends abound in the Tennant Creek area, which was the site of Australia's last gold rush.
At the Battery Hill Mining Centre visitors on holiday can take a mine tour and hear the miners' stories, before enjoying a nature walk and a picnic. The small holiday town is situated at the junction of the Stuart Highway, which runs between Darwin and Alice Springs, and the Barclay Highway that travels east to Mt Isa.
Tennant Creek is an excellent point from which to make an excursion to the fascinating signature landforms of the area, the granite boulders known as the Devil's Marbles. Thousands of huge, red boulders, some nestling together and others poised on top of each other, are a compelling spectacle in this shallow valley 60 miles (100km) south of Tennant Creek. The local Aboriginal people regard the Devil's Marbles site as a sacred place, believing that the boulders are the eggs of the Rainbow Serpent.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Formerly known as Ayres Rock, Uluru rises from the surrounding plains within the Uluru, Kata Tjuta National Park, and belongs to the Anangu Aboriginal people, for whom it holds a s…
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Formerly known as Ayres Rock, Uluru rises from the surrounding plains within the Uluru, Kata Tjuta National Park, and belongs to the Anangu Aboriginal people, for whom it holds a special spiritual significance. In an isolated spot 280 miles (450km) from Alice Springs, the power of the rock draws hundreds of visitors taken on tours by Aboriginal guides who explain the monolith's importance in Aboriginal culture. A visit to this monolithic rock, the world's greatest, is an awesome experience. It is composed of a type of sandstone that has been exposed through folding, faulting, the erosion of rock and infill. At the base are caves, inlets and overhangs formed by chemical degradation and erosion.
Some opt for the 1,142ft (348m) climb to the top, which takes about 45 minutes and is not for the faint-hearted; however, it should be noted that for spiritual reasons the Anangu people request that visitors not climb the rock. Visitors should try to view Uluru at different times of the day, as a part of the magic of the rock is its constant colour changes in different lights, particularly at sunrise and sunset. Visitors can take a camel tour of the Outback at Uluru, or enjoy an unforgettable flight in a light aircraft or helicopter for a bird's eye view of the monolith.
About 19 miles (30km) from Uluru is another fascinating geological formation on the desert landscape. Known as Kata Tjuta (formerly known as the Olgas), these comprise 36 domes of red-brown earth, the tallest of which, Mount Olga, is 656ft (200m) taller than Uluru. There is a range of accommodation at Uluru, from luxury resorts to campsites. There is also an Aboriginal cultural centre and an arts and craft centre, along with restaurants, swimming pools, galleries, a supermarket, a medical centre and a post office.
Website www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru
Outback Ballooning
Surely the most iconic image of Australia is the blood-red dust of its sere and sparse Outback, and what better way to experience it than from a hot air balloon, in the dawn hours,…
Outback Ballooning
Surely the most iconic image of Australia is the blood-red dust of its sere and sparse Outback, and what better way to experience it than from a hot air balloon, in the dawn hours, with the sky full of a million colours? Alice Springs' Outback Ballooning company has been offering this once-in-a-lifetime experience to eager visitors since 1986, and has built a solid reputation for itself as a high-quality, and dependable tour operator (with an impeccable safety record).
Visitors will be accompanied on their hot air balloon ride (which also includes refreshments and a light breakfast) by an informative guide, to ensure they appreciate the full impact of the unique landscape spread out beneath them. Visitors of all ages, sizes, shapes and fitness levels are welcome, and are all bound to leave with a memory they'll cherish for the rest of their lives.
Website outbackballooning.com.au