Alice Springs
If you are interested in visiting Alice Springs call Westoe Travel on 0800 0850878 to hear our great holidays and packages including this fabulous destination or contact us hereFramed by the MacDonnell Ranges and an intense desert landscape, the township of Alice Springs is Australia’s most famous outback town.
Called Mpwante by the traditional owners, the Arrernte people, and situated just 200 kilometres south of the geographic centre of Australia, the town of Alice Springs began as a repeater station along the Overland Telegraph Line.
The introduction of camels, development of pastoral industry and discovery of alluvial gold, combined with the town’s secluded location, has lead to the creation of an unrivalled community identity and a wealth of quirky festivals and events.
Alice Springs desert climate and landscapes encourage a healthy outdoor lifestyle and sets a great scene for outback adventure. Quad and mountain-bike riding, trekking along the Larapinta Trail, four-wheel driving, bush camping and swimming in lush waterholes are popular activities.
The stories of Australian history and heritage overflow in Alice Springs, with a rich cast of characters, Afghan cameleers, flying doctors and outback explorers. Today it is possible to pay homage to their legacy at various sites around the town and surrounding area.
Alive with culture and Aboriginal art, the pedestrian-only Todd Mall gives a sneak peek into the traditions and stories of the Arrernte people with water colours of desert landscapes and dot paintings of the seasons. Alice Springs Sections - click to expand
Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve
The township of Alice Springs obtained its name from the waterhole at this historic Telegraph Station. This historical reserve marks the original site of the first European settlement in Alice Springs. Established in 1872 to relay messages between Darwin and Adelaide, the Alice Springs Telegraph Station is the best preserved of the 12 stations along the Overland Telegraph Line.
The Telegraph Station features the original buildings of stone which have been restored with house furnishings and artefacts from the early 1900s. Set against the magnificent MacDonnell Ranges, the reserve also offers opportunities for walking, picnicking and wildlife observation. Located four kilometres north of the new Alice Springs, the reserve is easily accessed by conventional two-wheel drive vehicle. Alternatively, there is a walking or cycling track into the reserve from the highway and the Todd River.
Entry to the Historical Reserve is free but an entry fee applies to the Historic Precinct which includes a guided tour
Outback Ballooning
Outback Ballooning has been operating in Alice Springs since 1986, and is one of Australia’s largest and longest established ballooning companies. They operator everyday, weather permitting, and their fleet of large balloons carrying up to 20 passengers each, provides great booking flexibility. The reliable desert weather means they have one of the lowest cancellation rates in the world.
The setting over the remote desert, serviced only by a few bush tracks, enhances the sense of adventure for their clients. The location also ensures that passengers are treated to the spectacular colours of the early morning sunrise over the MacDonnell Ranges. On most days you'll also see Australian wildlife, particularly red kangaroos, in their natural environment.
Henley-on-Todd Regatta - August
Be a part of the chaos at this unique Northern Territory event, when the dry, sandy bed of the Todd River becomes the race track for a crew of Flintstone-style boats, propelled towards the finish line by the sheer will and might of their creators. Head to Alice Springs in August and watch from the sidelines, or create your own craft and join the contest. Whichever you choose, you’ll have fun.
Alice Desert Festival - September
The Alice Desert Festival is Central Australia’s premier arts and cultural festival, celebrating the desert and its peoples.
The Alice Desert Festival shares the stories, songs and the unique lifestyle of Central Australia’s arid region. Featuring a vibrant program borne out of the desert landscape, they celebrate the dynamic exchange between cultures in the heart of Australia.
Artists, dancers and musicians from some of the remotest communities in Central Australia perform beside a selection of Australia’s hottest acts.
Indigenous musicians drive hundreds of red dusty kilometres to perform in the Bush Bands Bash. Wild bush foods are harvested and cooked into succulent dishes and Choirs sing amidst ancient desert landscapes of gorges and gaps.