Alice Springs - top attractions
Below, I will take a closer look at the starting point of your adventure in the outback in the centre of Australia. Get tips for your trip to Alice Springs and find out which activities are worthwhile there!
Alice Springs is probably the best-known town in Australia’s Red Centre. Far away in the centre of the vast country, it is the main starting point for tours to the world-famous Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Ayers Rock or Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park.
The West MacDonnell Ranges in West MacDonnell National Park are somewhat less well known. In contrast to the other two sights, this beautiful mountain range is just around the corner from the popular city in the central outback and scores highly with its diversity. You can discover beautiful gorges, gigantic crevices and refreshing pools.
It gets hot in the Australian centre. From November to March, temperatures hover around 40°. The 40° mark is sometimes even broken. The cooler months from May to September are, therefore, the most pleasant months for a trip to the red heart of Australia.
Have you always wanted to hold a baby kangaroo in your arms? I’ll tell you where you can have this unique experience in this article.
Top sights, highlights and tips
Alice Springs: Overview of the most important info & tips
- Largest city in the centre of Australia (state: ‘Northern Territory’ – abbreviation NT)
- Population of Alice Springs: ~ 26,000
The Kangaroo Sanctuary
Hold a baby kangaroo in your arms? That’s probably the dream of many travellers to Australia. Yours too? Then I have great news for you. You can have this unique experience at the Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs. The sanctuary’s founder, Chris ‘Brolga’ Barns, has made it his life’s work to care for and raise orphaned ‘joeys’ – as the kangaroo babies are called in Australia.
Because behind the superficially great experience lies a serious issue. Kangaroos are hit en masse on the country’s highways. The little ‘Joeys’ often survive in their mother’s pouch and have to hope to be found by dedicated people. Brolga is one of them.
He has built up the sanctuary with much passion and love and takes you into his world on the sunset tours. The welfare of the kangaroos is his top priority. That’s why the tours only take place once a day in the late afternoon, as the kangaroos are resting during the day. The guided tour through the huge sanctuary, where you can learn much about the country’s national animal, is rounded off by holding a baby kangaroo. A truly unique and unforgettable experience! The Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs is an absolute must-do for kangaroo lovers!
Tip: The Kangaroo Sanctuary gained international fame through the TV documentary Kangaroo Dundee, which follows the life of Brolga. As a result, this tour is sometimes fully booked weeks or months in advance. It is almost impossible to get a place spontaneously or book once you have arrived. I therefore recommend that you book the tour well in advance.
Tour times: Tue – Fri (2,5 – 3h)
How to book: You can book your tour here on the Kangaroo Sanctuary website.
Kangaroo Sanctuary on Facebook: I also recommend the Kangaroo Sanctuary Facebook page. It’s one of my absolute favourite pages. The videos and photos of the cute kangaroos so often make my day. I can’t wait to hear how you get on. Feel free to leave me a comment. I’m looking forward to it!
West MacDonnell National Park
The West MacDonnell Ranges in the West MacDonnell National Park are probably one of the most interesting and worth-seeing places near Alice Springs. They are a beautiful mountain range that runs through the landscape to the west and east of the popular town in Australia’s Red Centre. This proximity and their diversity make them great for excursions when you’re in the area. The mountain ranges have a lot to offer. For example, natural waterholes are waiting to be splashed around in. Rock crevices and great viewpoints also provide a sense of adventure.
As there is so much to discover in this beautiful national park in the central outback of Australia, I have written an extra article. There, you will find all the information about the absolute highlights and must-sees in West MacDonnell National Park. Have fun!
Of course, the famous Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock) and Kings Canyon in the Australian Red Centre await you. You can make great excursions to these two top sights from Alice Springs.
I wish you a fantastic time in the Red Centre of Australia!
- The tour through the Red Centre continues to West MacDonnell National Park.
- The route from Alice Springs to Darwin continues to Elsey National Park.
- The route from Alice Springs to Cairns continues to Boodjamulla National Park.
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