Guide to the Alice Springs
Alice Springs sits between the MacDonnell Ranges in the heart of Central Australia, where desert landscapes meet Aboriginal culture and outback history. Known as Mparntwe to the Arrernte people, the town brings together desert wildlife, Aboriginal art and historic sites, with Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park close at hand.
Experience Alice Springs
Alice Springs sits between the MacDonnell Ranges in the heart of Central Australia, where desert landscapes meet Aboriginal culture and outback history. Known as Mparntwe to the Arrernte people, the town brings together desert wildlife, Aboriginal art and historic sites, with Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park close at hand.
Around 7 kilometres from the town centre, Alice Springs Desert Park brings together native wildlife, plants and desert habitats. Aboriginal art centres and galleries offer another perspective on the region, reflecting its continuing cultural traditions.
Rocky ridges and desert country around Alice Springs are crossed by mountain biking trails, while walking tracks open up views across the town and ranges. At dawn, hot-air balloon flights offer a different vantage point, drifting above the Central Australian landscape as first light reaches the MacDonnell Ranges.
After sunset, clear desert skies, changing light across the ranges, and local markets give the town a different character.
Culture and Outback History
Alice Springs lies on Arrernte Country, and Aboriginal culture is fundamental to understanding the town and its surrounding landscape. Mparntwe and the ranges are connected through stories, places and cultural traditions that long predate modern settlement.
A different chapter of Central Australian history unfolds at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station. The Overland Telegraph helped connect Australia with international communications in the 19th century, and the site now marks the eastern end of the Larapinta Trail.
Together, these histories distinguish Alice Springs from other Red Centre destinations, bringing ancient cultural connections and more recent outback history into the same landscape.
