Alice Springs, the City in the Heart of Australia

In the heart of Australia lies Alice Springs and the so-called Red Centre. Many tourists come here to visit one of Australia's most notable landmarks: Uluru (Ayers Rock), a red monolith in the Outback. However, there is so much more to experience in and around Alice Springs. Therefore, I have compiled all the highlights and attractions in Alice Springs for you.

Alice Springs is the starting point for exploring the Red Centre. The Red Centre also includes the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (formerly known as Ayers Rock and the Olgas), the Watarrka National Park with Kings Canyon (Australia's largest canyon), and the MacDonnell Ranges.

If you're planning to drive on the Explorer's Way from Darwin to Adelaide, read my complete travel report here.

Alice Springs is an oasis surrounded by red sand and mountains. Lovingly called "Alice" by locals, the city, with about 28,000 inhabitants, may not seem very inviting at first glance. However, it is the perfect starting point to discover the fascinating natural wonders of the Outback in the Northern Territory. The Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, and the West MacDonnell Ranges with the famous Larapinta Trail are nearly six hours away.

The West MacDonnell Ranges and East MacDonnell Ranges located to the east and west of the city are perfect for a day trip to discover large rock paintings from the dreamtime of the Aboriginal people and learn more about their culture.

In Alice Springs, we encounter a startling number of homeless Aboriginals, many of whom have succumbed to alcohol addiction, which is a distressing sight. They often sit in the grass in front of supermarkets, and around them is a lot of packaging waste from their purchases. It's said to be the 'trash' of the wise. One feels no responsibility for it. We are conflicted and move on. The "problem" between whites and Aboriginals is particularly evident here in Alice Springs. These are also things you should know in advance. No tourism website will mention this problem.

The residents of this Australian city in the Northern Territory mainly rely on mining, camel farming, cattle ranching, and tourism.

If you're in Alice Springs, you shouldn't miss these highlights:

For Alice Springs, I highly recommend taking a hot air balloon ride early in the morning. Here you can get your first sense of what the vastness of the Outback is like. Large kangaroos jump below us, and on the horizon, we see the MacDonnell Ranges and the rising sun.

During the day, we explore the town center and pedestrian zone with Todd Mall Markets, a collection of Aboriginal art galleries, souvenir shops, and cafes on foot.

The art of the Aboriginal people is truly fascinating and one of the oldest art traditions in the world. Since they couldn't write in the past, the Aboriginals painted through rock art and engravings on the walls of mountain ranges or even on their bodies. Explore the galleries along Todd Mall in the center of Alice Springs.

Those who think that Alice Springs is just a hot and dry desert town are mistaken. You can learn about the geological composition and formation of the remarkable Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and MacDonnell Ranges at the Museum of Central Australia. There is also a large collection of Aboriginal artifacts, fossils, and minerals.

At sunset, you should visit the Anzac Hill Lookout. A war memorial from which you can view the sunset and the city from a higher perspective. From above, you might even spot The Ghan - a luxury train traversing the Outback - at the station, if you're lucky.

Unfortunately, the Kangaroo Sanctuary was closed during our visit to Alice Springs. Since we were heading into the Outback the next day, we couldn't visit it. I would have loved to check out the orphanage for baby kangaroos.

In the evening, we have a choice of numerous restaurants in the center of Alice Springs. Before that, we visit many of the numerous galleries featuring Aboriginal art.

From several larger Australian cities, Qantas offers direct flights to Alice Springs. With Virgin Australia, you can fly in from Adelaide and Darwin. By car or campervan (our tip), you can travel on the Explorers Way, taking about 16 hours from Adelaide or Darwin to Alice Springs. We traveled the entire route in 3 weeks. Along the way, there are fantastic places like Litchfield National Park, Kakadu National Park, Katherine, and the Flinders Ranges.

Another way to travel to Alice Springs is by the luxury train "The Ghan". The train runs between Adelaide and Darwin with stops in Alice Springs and Katherine.

Those who are in Alice Springs often use the place merely as a brief stop on their way to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park or Kings Canyon. We also made only a full day stop to do laundry and explore the city. We didn't particularly enjoy it.

Of course, Uluru is the highlight par excellence. However, we were not only fascinated by Uluru and the stories from the dreamtime; we also really enjoyed Kata Tjuta. I found this place at least as exciting.

The best part was of course our helicopter flight around Uluru and Kata Tjuta. You can't get better views of these important sights in Australia.

Read more: Complete travel report with tips for Uluru and Kata Tjuta

We were impressed by the beautiful landscape around Kings Canyon. Here I saw dingoes for the first time and explored the brightly colored gorge on the Kings Canyon Rim Walk and Kings Creek Walk. In the afternoon, we listened to a free talk by a ranger and enjoyed the starry sky over Kings Canyon Resort in the evening.

Read more: Complete report on Kings Canyon

The semi-arid climate of the Uluru region provides excellent travel conditions year-round. Most days of the year are filled with sunshine, allowing you to enjoy nature throughout the year.

The climate of the Outback usually results in pleasantly warm (in winter) to very hot days and cold to freezing nights. The most popular travel time among local travelers (who are clearly in the majority) is from May to September, when it's winter in the Outback. We visited in late May in Alice Springs, Kings Canyon, and Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. With our visit, winter set in from Kings Canyon, with nights dropping to -2 degrees and pleasant daytime temperatures of 16 to 22 degrees.

However, it was bitterly cold at night in the non-insulated camper without a proper blanket. I am not lying when I say we have never been this cold in our lives. Locals have obviously heated vehicles and appropriately warm blankets. Sadly, camper rentals do not have these.

The rainy season is from October to March. During this time, it's often very hot during the day, and hikes are already closed early in the morning (Kings Canyon Rim Walk or Base Walk at Uluru). So in summer, you have to start hiking by around 5 AM if you want to enjoy these amazing landscapes.

Leave a comment. I look forward to more tips and feedback!

Do you want to receive the best travel and insider tips all the time? Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads, or subscribe to my newsletter to receive regular updates and exclusive tips.