Alice Springs

Alice Springs is the only town of significance in the barren heart of Australia. This community in the state Northern Territory has roughly 27.000 inhabitants. In the centre, you can visit several compelling museums and the Alice Springs Reptile Centre. The closest large cities are Darwin (1500 kilometres north) and Adelaide (1500 kilometres south), so prepare for an adventure way of the beaten path!

Alice Springs is part of Australia’ so-called ‘Red Centre’, and the climate here can be quite brutal. On summer days, temperatures over 40 degrees are typical, while in winter it can get frosty on the ground.  

Despite being a remote place, Alice Springs gives many other Australian cities a run for their money when it comes to bold activities. Some of the most exhilarating ventures is a hot air balloon ride above Alice Springs around sunrise. Get epic views of the MacDonnell Ranges and watch the first sun rays gleam over the Red Centre.

A more personal way to discover the mind-blowing MacDonnell Ranges is by a 4WD Day Tour. During this journey, you get to fully appreciate the scenic walks, towering red rocks and swimming holes this national park is noted for. You can even feast on a barbecue lunch in the middle of this stunning reserve, a real Australian undertaking!

If you can’t get enough of the wild outback, a quad safari at Kings Creek Station might just be the right activity for you. Get a glimpse of the sunset, spot kangaroos and dingos, and get the adrenaline pumping at all the tracks of this operating cattle station. 

Uluru, one of the most sacred sites to the native Aboriginals, lies within a reasonable distance from Alice Springs and can be visited through numerous different tours. Usually, Uluru is included in multi-day itineraries, but if you’re shorter on time, it’s worth doing an overnight camping tour. This trip - which starts and terminates in Uluru itself - shows the magnificence of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, including the iconic sandstone rock formation and the Mutijulu Waterhole. You can take a 3 days 2 nights camping tour from Alice Springs to Uluru.

Alice Springs can easily be dubbed ‘Adventure Capital of the Outback’!