What to do in Alice Springs
The things to do in Alice Springs are the Alice Springs Desert Park, the Telegraph Station, the gorges of the West MacDonnell Ranges such as Standley Chasm and Ormiston Gorge, and a walk on the Larapinta Trail. Standley Chasm lies about 40 minutes west of town on a sealed road, and the Desert Park takes 3 to 4 hours to see.
Alice Springs sits in the Red Centre between the East and West MacDonnell Ranges. Mparntwe is the Arrernte name for the town, and the Central Arrernte are its Traditional Owners. Entries 1 to 4 are in town, entries 5 to 8 in the West MacDonnell Ranges, entries 9 and 10 on foot and to the east, and entries 11 and 12 reach into the air and out to Uluru.
In Alice Springs town (1 to 4)
A desert park, the original telegraph station, a flying doctor base and a school on the air.
1. Walk the Alice Springs Desert Park
The Desert Park is open daily except 25 December from 07:30 to 18:00, with last entry at 16:30, and the operator suggests 3 to 4 hours. The Nocturnal House opens from 09:00 to 17:30. An adult day ticket costs 28.24 USD (41.5 AUD) until 31 March 2027, and children under 5 enter free. See the Alice Springs wildlife guide for what lives in the desert around town.
2. Explore the Telegraph Station
The Telegraph Station was set up in 1871 around the waterhole that gave Alice Springs its name, and the Overland Telegraph was finished on 22 August 1872. It lies 4 km north of the centre, reachable by road or on foot and by bike along the Todd River. The historical precinct is open daily from 08:00 to 16:00 except 25 and 26 December and 1 January, and an adult ticket of 11.23 USD (16.5 AUD) includes a guided tour. The history and Arrernte culture page places the station next to the story of Mparntwe.
3. Visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service base
The RFDS Tourist Facility on Stuart Terrace is open Monday to Saturday from 09:30 to 17:00 and on Sunday and public holidays from 13:00 to 17:00. The last tour starts at 16:00.
4. Sit in at the School of the Air
The School of the Air lies 3.5 km north of the centre and a visit takes about 45 minutes. It is open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 15:00 and closed on weekends; public holiday hours are 13:30 to 16:30. Adults pay 11.57 USD (17 AUD) and children aged 5 to 16 pay 9.53 USD (14 AUD), plus a small online booking fee. The school is closed from 24 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, and live lessons run only when possible, otherwise you see recordings.
Our picks: things to do from Alice Springs
The West MacDonnell day tour includes lunch and Standley Chasm entry, while the half-day small-group outing and the town and nature tour stay close to Alice Springs. The camping journeys reach Uluru and Kings Canyon.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Uluru and Kings Canyon camping journey
- 2 nights permanent outback eco tented campsites
- All National Park pass entry fees
- Guided bush walks
The swag option requires a sleeping bag. Depending on the option, the trip ends in Alice Springs or Yulara, with a shuttle required for Yulara.
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Red Centre camping journey from Alice Springs
- Camping and national park fees
- All meals
- Air-conditioned bus
Select the Alice Springs departure if starting in town. A sleeping bag is available to rent.
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Alice Springs town and country outing
- Entrance fees
- NT Parks Visitor Pass
- Tea and coffee
Travel by air-conditioned bus with an experienced guide.
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Alice Springs sights and nature
- Experienced driver guide
- Comprehensive commentary
- Air-conditioned coach
The NT Parks Pass is extra through 31 March 2027; the product includes it from 1 April 2027.
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West MacDonnell Ranges day tour with lunch
- Lunch and snacks
- Standley Chasm entry
- Guided bush walks
The NT Parks Day Pass is not included. Guided walks of 3 to 4 km depend on your fitness level.
Check availability →Tours and day trips from Alice Springs
West MacDonnell day tours, a half-day small-group outing and camping journeys to Uluru and Kings Canyon, with live prices and availability.
West MacDonnell Ranges (5 to 8)
Four gorges west of town, each a different distance and a different kind of stop.
5. See Standley Chasm
Standley Chasm is a narrow red gorge about 40 minutes west of Alice Springs on a sealed road. Entry is charged separately and is not part of the NT Parks Visitor Pass. The West MacDonnell day tour with lunch includes Standley Chasm entry. The West MacDonnell Ranges guide covers the other gorges in detail.
6. Spot rock-wallabies at Simpsons Gap
Simpsons Gap is about 20 minutes by car from Alice Springs. Rock-wallabies can sometimes be seen in the morning or evening, though sightings are never guaranteed. Swimming is banned here. A cycle path starts opposite Flynn's Grave, 7 km from town, and runs 17 km one way to the gap.
7. Cool off at Ellery Creek Big Hole
Ellery Creek Big Hole lies 80 km west of Alice Springs, and the last 2 km of the road are unsealed. The waterhole is a walk of about 5 minutes from the car park. Swimming is possible, but the water is very cold and can cause hypothermia even in summer, so do not jump or dive in.
8. Swim and walk at Ormiston Gorge
Ormiston Gorge is 135 km west of Alice Springs on a sealed road, and its waterhole sits 500 m from the Visitor Centre. Swim only in the marked areas, keep glass 10 m back from the water and watch for storms, which can change conditions fast.
On foot and to the east (9 and 10)
A long-distance trail from the edge of town and a short drive along the Ross Highway.
9. Walk a section of the Larapinta Trail
The Larapinta Trail runs for over 230 km in 12 sections, from the Telegraph Station to the summit of Mount Sonder, and each section takes roughly 1 to 2 days. NT recommends April to September for walking. You do not need to walk all of it, because many trailheads can be reached by vehicle. The Larapinta Trail guide explains fees, water and safety.
10. Drive out to Emily and Jessie Gaps
Emily and Jessie Gaps (Yeperenye) lie about 10 km east of Alice Springs on the Ross Highway. The rock art there relates to the Caterpillar Dreaming. Do not touch or photograph it, and do not climb the rocks, as the Traditional Owners ask. Camping and pets are not allowed, and the gaps are open all year, with April to September the more comfortable months.
Up in the air and out to Uluru (11 and 12)
A dawn balloon flight and a longer journey south.
11. Fly over the desert in a hot-air balloon
Balloon flights run daily, weather permitting, in flights of 30 or 60 minutes. Pickup is about 1 hour before first light, and the whole experience takes up to 4 hours. From 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 an adult 30-minute flight costs 258.55 USD (380 AUD). Children aged 6 to 14 fly with an adult, and you must be able to climb over a basket edge about 1.2 m high and stand during the flight.
12. Join a trip to Uluru and Kings Canyon
Uluru is 468 km and Kings Canyon about 450 km from Alice Springs, so both call for a long day or a camping trip. The 4-day Rock to Rock tour and the 3-day Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon trip both offer departures from Alice Springs and include camping. The Uluru and Kings Canyon tours page compares the options.
Planning your things to do in Alice Springs
Alice Springs is easiest to plan in two blocks: a town day for entries 1 to 4 and one or more drives west for entries 5 to 8. Anyone with little time can take the half-day small-group outing or the town and nature tour, and anyone who wants Uluru can choose a camping journey starting in town.
An NT Parks Visitor Pass is needed for many parks, including the West MacDonnell National Park, and costs 6.80 USD (10 AUD) for an adult for 1 day or 13.61 USD (20 AUD) for 3 days. It is bought online before you drive, and the Uluru-Kata Tjuta park uses its own pass at 25.86 USD (38 AUD) for 3 days. As of November 2026, city buses cost 0 USD. The best time to visit Alice Springs, the flights and transport guide and the where to stay page help with the rest. Check the park status page for the gorges before you set out.
Questions about things to do in Alice Springs
What is a day trip from Alice Springs?
Standley Chasm is about 40 minutes west, Simpsons Gap about 20 minutes, and Ormiston Gorge 135 km. A day tour with lunch includes Standley Chasm entry, while the NT Parks Visitor Pass is bought separately.
Can you swim in the gorges near Alice Springs?
Yes, in marked areas at Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge. Simpsons Gap does not allow swimming. The water can be dangerously cold even in summer, so do not jump or dive, keep children supervised and leave glass at least 10 m from the water.
Do you need a pass for the West MacDonnell Ranges?
Yes. Visitors need an NT Parks Visitor Pass for the West MacDonnell National Park. An adult pass costs 6.80 USD (10 AUD) for 1 day, bought online before the trip. Standley Chasm charges its own entry, which is not part of that pass.