Alice Springs itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Alice Springs, day by day: the Alice Springs Desert Park, the Araluen Cultural Precinct, the old town's Adelaide House, Todd Mall and Stuart Town Gaol, ANZAC Hill and the Telegraph Station first, then the Reptile Centre, the School of the Air, the National Road Transport Museum, Emily Gap in the East MacDonnell Ranges, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Olive Pink Botanic Garden on a second day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Alice Springs in 1 day
Day 1
Alice Springs Desert Park Must see
Wildlife park at the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges showing Central Australian desert animals and plants, with nocturnal houses and bird shows.
Araluen Cultural Precinct
Arts and museum precinct with the Araluen Arts Centre, known for Aboriginal art and the paintings of Albert Namatjira.
Adelaide House
Former Australian Inland Mission hospital on Todd Mall designed by John Flynn, founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, now a museum.
Todd Mall
Pedestrian main street of Alice Springs with Aboriginal art galleries, cafes and shops, and markets on some days.
Stuart Town Gaol
The oldest surviving building in Alice Springs, a stone jail from the early 1900s, now kept as a small museum.
ANZAC Hill
Hill with a war memorial just north of the centre, giving wide views over Alice Springs and the MacDonnell Ranges.
Alice Springs Telegraph Station
Restored 1870s Overland Telegraph station by the original spring that gave the town its name, with walking trails around it.
Alice Springs in 2 days
Day 1
Alice Springs Desert Park Must see
Wildlife park at the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges showing Central Australian desert animals and plants, with nocturnal houses and bird shows.
Araluen Cultural Precinct
Arts and museum precinct with the Araluen Arts Centre, known for Aboriginal art and the paintings of Albert Namatjira.
Alice Springs Reptile Centre Must see
Small reptile centre near the town centre with lizards, snakes and a saltwater crocodile, and talks where visitors can hold reptiles.
Alice Springs School of the Air
Visitor centre of the school that teaches children on remote outback stations at a distance, with displays and a view of lessons.
Alice Springs Telegraph Station
Restored 1870s Overland Telegraph station by the original spring that gave the town its name, with walking trails around it.
Day 2
National Road Transport Museum
Museum of Australian trucks, cars and road transport history south of the town, beside the Old Ghan heritage railway.
Emily Gap
Gap in the East MacDonnell Ranges east of town, a sacred Arrernte site with caterpillar Dreaming rock paintings.
Stuart Town Gaol
The oldest surviving building in Alice Springs, a stone jail from the early 1900s, now kept as a small museum.
Adelaide House
Former Australian Inland Mission hospital on Todd Mall designed by John Flynn, founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, now a museum.
Todd Mall
Pedestrian main street of Alice Springs with Aboriginal art galleries, cafes and shops, and markets on some days.
Royal Flying Doctor Service Tourist Facility
Visitor centre of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in the town centre, with displays on the history of the outback air medical service.
Olive Pink Botanic Garden Must see
Botanic garden of arid-zone plants beside the Todd River, with walking trails, a hilltop lookout and a cafe.
ANZAC Hill
Hill with a war memorial just north of the centre, giving wide views over Alice Springs and the MacDonnell Ranges.
Watch: Alice Springs
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Alice Springs
April to September is the best time to visit, with warm sunny days and cold, clear nights; winter nights can drop near freezing. Summer, from November to March, is very hot and storms can bring sudden rain. The Henley-on-Todd regatta, raced in bottomless boats on the dry riverbed, is usually held in August.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Alice Springs on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Alice Springs on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Alice Springs on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Australia from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Alice Springs
- The sights are spread around town and into the ranges, so a car or a bike makes a day much easier; the Desert Park and Emily Gap are outside the centre.
- Start early at the Alice Springs Desert Park, when the desert animals are most active and before the midday heat.
- Carry plenty of water, a hat and sunscreen on every walk; the dry heat and sun are strong for much of the year.
- Climb ANZAC Hill late in the day for a sunset view over the town and the MacDonnell Ranges.
- Emily Gap is a sacred Arrernte site with rock art; follow the signs, stay on the paths and do not touch the paintings.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- ANZAC Hill: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Adelaide House: Gabriele Delhey, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Alice Springs Desert Park: Dpritchard16000, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Alice Springs Reptile Centre: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Alice Springs School of the Air: LecomteB, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Alice Springs Telegraph Station: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Araluen Cultural Precinct: Tourism NT, Attribution
- National Road Transport Museum: unknown author, Fair use
- Olive Pink Botanic Garden: John Hill, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Stuart Town Gaol: Bradshaw Collection, CC0
- Todd Mall: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
