Are you planning on booking a tour from Alice Springs to Darwin or from Darwin to Alice Springs? If not, you should be! We often find our guests have a day in Alice Springs to spend before heading off on tour or before flying out.
If you find yourself in this situation and you don’t have your own wheels, we’ve put together a list of the 5 best things to do in the Alice without a car.
1. One Day 4WD West MacDonnell Ranges Tour
Does swimming in picturesque waterholes, hiking the towering red walls of gorges and visiting the historic Ochre Pits sound right up your alley? Did you know that you can do all that in a day from Alice Springs with Wayoutback?
Departing from most Alice Springs accommodation at approximately 6:00am, we head 130 kilometres west and spend the day hiking at Ormiston Gorge, learning about the Ochre Pits that were used by Indigenous Australians and brave the cool waters at picture perfect Ellery Creek Big Hole.
This full day tour, including a BBQ lunch, covers the best of the West Macs (as it’s locally known). Find out more and book here.
Tip: Make sure you’re camera is charged and you have made space for the many photos you are about to take! Seriously, this area is magical!
2. Alice Springs Desert Park
The Alice Springs Desert Park is the perfect place to spend a day. The park is easily accessible by Public Bus (Route 400 followed by an easy 20-25 minute walk) or via Alice Wanderer transfer service (phone 08 8952 2111 for details).
The Park has a Summer and Winter program that offers a wide range of daily activities to entertain and educate visitors or you can simply wander the 3 kilometre walking trails that take you through three desert habitats and showcases the native plants and animals of Central Australia.
See their website for Entry fees.
Tip: Arrive early to beat the heat and be sure to remember to pack sunscreen, a hat and lots of water.
3. Kangaroo Sanctuary
Want to visit a sanctuary for rescued orphan baby kangaroos and adult kangaroos? Then you better hop on your chance with the Kangaroo Sanctuary!
The Kangaroo Sanctuary was built by – and still run by – Brolga to be a refuge for all kangaroos that have been raised by wildlife carers and cannot be released back into the wild. It gained worldwide exposure through a BBC documentary series called Kangaroo Dundee which covers Brolga’s work with the sanctuary.
The Sanctuary can only be visited on a pre-booked guided sunset tour and is open Tuesday to Friday. Bookings are essential with bus transfers included from most accommodation.
Tip: Book in advance because the tours are limited to 30 people and sell out fast!
4. Todd Mall Markets
From mid-February to December an outdoor market operates in the Todd Mall every Second Sunday. The Todd Mall is located in the heart of Alice Springs tour and features a wide range of stalls selling local produce, arts, crafts and food from 9am until 1pm. These markets are the perfect place to grab a one-of-a-kind treasure for someone special back home or a souvenir for yourself!
Tip: If you are visiting from August to September, keep an eye out for the Night Markets which are often themed and coincide with a major event such as Christmas or Alice Desert Festival.
5. Outback Cycling Bike Hire
If you are looking for an easy way to explore Alice Springs for the day, you can hire a townie bike from Outback Cycling. Located in the Todd Mall, Outback Cycling is easy to locate. Spend the afternoon cycling along the Riverside path, to cafés and art galleries or plan a day to visit The Telegraph Station and Olive Pink Botanical Gardens; there’s a lot to do in the town itself!
Hire can be a half day, full day or even longer to suit your needs and you can see pricing and book online here.
For those a little more adventurous you can also hire Mountain Bikes for the day or week and take advantage of the various Mountain Bike trails.
Tip: Be sure to wear comfortable, unrestricting clothing, and closed in runners/walking shoes.
Written by : Wayoutback on 29 December
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