Museums and galleries in Alice Springs

Museums and galleries in Alice Springs

1. See

   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

2. Do

   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.

3. Do

   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

4. See

   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

5. See

   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

6. See

   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.

7. See

   Royal Flying Doctor Service

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

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Alice Springs (CC BY-SA 4.0).