Alice Springs

Adelaide House

The first stone building in Alice, on the Todd Mall and well worth a visit if only for the absolutely amazing early air-conditioning system. Really cool display of old communications technology, like the bike-powered communications radio. Run by a couple old women who serve tea - an excellent place to have a sit-down. Nice and quiet.

Alice Springs Desert Park

Truly memorable in its examples of local flora and fauna. They give a number of interesting lectures, such as Aboriginal use of local plants for food. The nocturnal exhibit is excellent, a very low-light building with offset day and night schedule to induce the nocturnal critters to come out during the day so people can see them. The best time to go to the park is early morning, before it gets hot; you can spend a full day walking the trails, going to the birds of prey exhibition where they fly the local aerial predators overhead, and getting the bushfoods and medicine tour.

7:30AM-6PM·$25

Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve

Where it all began, this is the original telegraph station, with some exhibits about its history. The area around has walking trails through lovely serene desert scenery, including the actual Alice "springs". The reserve is free if you don't want to access the historical buildings.

8AM-9PM·$15

Araluen Arts & Cultural Centre

An amazing local art museum, with works by Namatjira and other local artists. Regular travelling art shows, plays, and film festivals. The front desk will know what events are ongoing - there's always something ongoing.

Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve

Explore the 12 craters, which were formed when a meteor hit the earth’s surface 4,700 years ago. The Henbury Meteor, weighing several tonnes and accelerating to over 40,000 km/h, disintegrated before impact, and the fragments formed the 12 craters.

free entry

Loco Burrito

The first burrito joint in town, it does a reasonable job from a friendly, hole-in-the-wall outlet.

11AM-7:30AM·$10-$13

Museum of Central Australia

The exhibitions explore the unique features of the region through time and space, following the evolution of the landscape and the creatures that inhabited it. Featured is a replica of a local paleontological dig, an ancient waterhole with some surprising mega fauna including a giant freshwater crocodile and the largest bird that ever lived, Dromornis stirtoni, dated at eight million years old. Other exhibits include present day Central Australian mammals, reptiles, insects and meteorite fragments.

Entry fees apply

National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame

Hundreds of women are recognized for their special contributions to Australia’s heritage. Exhibitions include the 'Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Lives - Women First in Their Field', the Signature Quilt - 'Women at the Heart' and 'Women's Work of yesteryear'. The Old Gaol buildings are open for visitors to look through and gaol stories are told in a complementary booklet. The museum is devoted to the women who picked up stakes, hauled a whole house in a wagon out to the hottest, most dangerous place they could find, plunked themselves down where you couldn't see another house for a thousand miles in any direction and said, "This looks like a nice spot to live." Amazing stories. There is plenty to see and do for all ages with a gift shop, toilets and access for people with disabilities available.

entry fees apply

Old Ghan Heritage Railway and Museum

Next to (or part of, but with a separate entrance fee) the Road Transport Hall of Fame, this is a museum about Australia's wildest train line, The Ghan. Old equipment, photos and videos plus several carriages to explore.

9AM-4PM·$12

Olive Pink Botanical Garden

A desert botanical garden. Doesn't bloom much, but if you happen to get here after a rain, it's a really nice spot. Bring your sunscreen. There's a biography at Dymock's on the life of the lady it's named after, Olive Pink.

8AM-6PM·Free

Pioneer Park Races

The local racetrack with pretty much guaranteed lovely weather.

Reptile Centre

Examples of the local reptiles and one NT croc specially imported, on display by the guy the locals call when something with fangs is in the kitchen.

Road Transport Hall of Fame

Huge collection of trucks (with a few buses, cars and motorcycles), some historically-relevant to central Australia. Also a genuine hall of fame with hundreds of bios of notable truckies (Australian slang for truck drivers).

9AM-4PM·$15

The Residency

Built in 1927 as the residence of the Government Representative to Central Australia, the house was the centre of government and social activity right up to the early 1970s. Visited by foreign dignitaries, government officials, and even royalty, the Residency operates as a museum house where people immerse themselves in the early administrative history of the town and region. Speak with one of the friendly volunteers who are on hand to answer your questions. Located on the corner of Parsons and Hartley Streets. Entry is by gold-coin donation, and opening hours are M-F 10AM-2PM. It's generally closed over the very quiet summer months, December til late March.

Alice Masters Games

Sports cup for people of all ages. A week-long event held every 2nd year (even-numbered years).

Alice Show

The annual festival with shopping, fair ground rides, animal displays, fireworks, art and crafts, races and performances.

Beanie Festival

Knitting festival including mostly 'beanie' hats knit from every conceivable material in every conceivable pattern, all for sale. Also afternoon teas and art displays and music.

Bojangles

Probably the most popular joint for a beer. Every night people coming or leaving for a tour have some fun here. At the weekend it can get a little bit rowdy. There's a live webcast of the place online, and the local radio station (96.9 Sun FM) broadcasts live from Bo's most nights - and your friends and family from home can go on the internet and buy you a drink voucher!

Camels Australia

Say hello to one of their friendly camels, take a short ride around the enclosure or browse through the interesting assortment of souvenirs and local Aboriginal art on display in their shop. Sit back, relax and enjoy the view while enjoying a cold drink and something to eat.

free entry

Finke Desert Race

Motorcycles or 4wd buggies racing over the Finke river track.

Henley On Todd Regatta

River sand race poking fun at the British tradition of boat racing, held on the third Saturday of August each year. The "race" is cancelled whenever the Todd River actually has water.

Ling's Supermarket

It has a huge range of Asian food available including: noodles, (white, red and black) rice, sauces, kimchi, dried, fresh and frozen products. They have an interesting range of authentic Asian Cooking gear and health products to see and you will find a quality vegetarian range to choose from. Open seven days with very helpful staff.

Mon-Thu 9AM-5:30PM, Fri 9AM-6PM, Sat 8:30AM-5PM, Sun 10AM-3:30PM

Stargazing

Alice Springs is in the middle of the largest land area without lights on earth, so the view of the Milky Way is unmatched unless you're on a dark boat in the middle of the ocean. Anyone from the city stopping on the road just out of town at night and tipping their head back is likely to fall over from the sheer shock of all those stars. as a result astronomy is popular in town.

Totem Theatre

Not open to the public unless a play is on - the little local theatre, heritage listed building put up during World War II to entertain the troops after they retreated from Darwin because of the Japanese bombing. Small local theatre groups put on productions on a semi-regular basis; ask at Dymocks if there are any tickets. Theatre on a shoestring budget!

Town and Country

A pub on the Todd Mall. They serve light meals, and it's usually got quite a nice atmosphere about it.

Anzac Hill

Hill with good views and some history of Alice Springs.

Bean Tree Cafe

Solid cafe set amidst the trees and birds.

8AM-4PM

Royal Flying Doctor Service

With School of the Air - a museum and cafe. Famous!

Camel Cup

Camel race day – a fun day out held in early July.