16 unexpected things to do in Alice Springs

Aboriginal rock art, idyllic waterholes, spectacular sunsets, intriguing history and diverse culture. This is Alice Springs, and it’s filled with an abundance of things to do.

From holding a baby kangaroo wrapped in a pillowcase to hot air ballooning, mountain biking and camel rides, here is your guide to the best things to do in Alice Springs.

1. Kangaroo Sanctuary Alice Springs

Cuddling a joey is the stuff of bucket lists. Luckily, Brolga, aka Chris Barnes, is ready to make your dreams come true at his Kangaroo Sanctuary 20 minutes’ drive from Alice Springs.

kangaroos spread across The Kangaroo Sanctuary — The sanctuary is home to orphaned joeys and kangaroos. (Image: Tourism NT/Jewels Lynch)

Stroll through bushland and meet the resident mob of rescued orphaned joeys and adult kangaroos as a giant red sun sinks into the desert. Public tours are available here Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, except in the summer, when the facility is closed.

Woman petting a kangaroo at Kangaroo Sanctuary — Tours of the sanctuary run for two hours and offer plenty of opportunities to get acquainted with kangaroos. (Image: Tourism NT/Helen Orr)

2. Alice Springs art galleries

Home to the Arrernte people, Alice Springs is a major hub for Aboriginal art from around Central Australia and boasts numerous art galleries, shops and studios. Araluen Arts Centre contains about 1100 artworks and a large collection of paintings by the great Albert Namatjira.

a woman admiring an artwork on display at Araluen Arts Centre — Appreciate the artworks on display at Araluen Arts Centre. (Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught)

Commercial galleries worth a visit include the Indigenous-owned Papunya Tula Gallery in the Todd Mall and the nearby Yubu Napa Gallery and Mbantua Gallery .

a close-up of a local artist creating an Aboriginal art at Yubu Napa Art Gallery — Yubu Napa Art Gallery exhibits incredible works by Aboriginal artists. (Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught)

Tjanpi Desert Weavers is also a must-visit gallery in Alice Springs. In the gallery space, you’ll find a delightful array of baskets, jewellery and animal sculptures woven by women out on Country. The gallery also functions as a social enterprise, providing opportunities for women’s employment across 26 communities across APY Lands. Stop in to admire the artwork, learn about the project – and maybe even pick up a trinket to take home.

woven baskets on display at Tjanpi Desert Weavers — Tjanpi Desert Weavers showcases baskets and items intricately woven by women out on Country. (Image: Tourism Australia)

3. Alice Springs hot air balloon rides

Wake up before 5am to get a bird’s eye view of the desert on a hot air balloon ride. Outback Ballooning offers half-hour and hour-long flights with guaranteed angelic views over the desert plains.

Outback Ballooning in Alice Springs — There’s no better way to watch the sunset in Alice Springs than a hot air balloon ride. (Image: Tourism NT)

If you prefer to stay on terra firma, opt for the hot air balloon chase, where you watch your friends or family take flight before following in a 4WD.

two hot air balloons floating above Alice Springs — Float above the vast and rugged landscapes with Outback Ballooning. (Image: Tourism NT/Daniel Tran)

4. Earth Sanctuary Alice Springs

If spotting constellations, super giants and planets is on your bucket list, you’ll want to plan a trip to one of the best stargazing spots in the world.

stargazing at the Earth Sanctuary, Alice Springs — Witness the night skies dazzle at the Earth Sanctuary. (Image: Tourism NT/Plenty of Dust)

On the 40-hectare property at Earth Sanctuary the one-hour astronomy tour takes you on a trip through the night sky, where you’ll learn how to navigate using the stars and hear ancient Aboriginal stories interwoven with modern science. You’ll also get to look at the glittering cosmos through deep sky telescopes at the Earth Sanctuary Observatory – a sight that’s bound to reframe your sense of perspective.

an aerial view of the Earth Sanctuary, Alice Springs — Go camping at the Earth Sanctuary for the best stargazing views. (Image: Tourism NT)

5. Olive Pink Botanic Garden Alice Springs

Just a few minutes’ drive from the Todd Mall, the beautiful Olive Pink Botanic Garden is home to about 2,500 plantings of over 600 species. Take the easy ascent to Annie Meyers Hill for some of the best views of Alice Springs.

a couple exploring the Olive Pink Botanic Garden — Hike to Annie Myers Hill in Olive Pink Botanic Garden to appreciate the views. (Image: Tourism NT / Shaana McNaught)

For breakfast or lunch, pop into the quaint Bean Tree café for banana pancakes, smashed avo on toast and creamy oat lattes.

a table-top view of the breakfast menu at Bean Tree café — Start your day with a sweet or savoury option for breakfast at Bean Tree. (Image: Tourism NT/Christopher Nayna)

6. Royal Flying Doctor Service Alice Springs

Housed in Alice Springs’ original Royal Flying Doctor Service base, this centre includes a museum with historic radios, medical equipment and a replica fuselage you can sit in.

Go hi-tech and don a virtual reality headset to experience flying as a patient in the outback. You can also ‘see and hear’ founder John Flynn, who appears as a life-size hologram.

the plane on display at Royal Flying Doctor Service in Alice Springs — Check out the plane replica and the virtual reality headset. (Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught)

7. National Road Transport Museum

From the early days of camel trains to the birth of the Ghan train, you can learn about all things transport in Central Australia at the National Road Transport Museum . If you want to stay longer, there’s a campground with powered and unpowered sites – just beware that the train line runs directly behind the campground and the train horn is a common sound.

abandoned vehicles at the National Road Transport Museum, Alice Springs — Learn about all things transport at National Road Transport Museum. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

8. Alice Springs camel rides

If you feel like throwing your leg over a camel and setting off into the desert there are several farms that offer tours. Just 20 minutes’ drive from Alice Springs, Pyndan Camel Tracks has one-hour rides at noon, mid-afternoon and sunset. Opt for the sunset tour to see the sky turn from pink to a rich orange and to enjoy a bubbly and bar snacks after the ride.

camel rides at sunset, Pyndan Camel Tracks — Ride a camel at sundown. (Image: Tourism NT)

9. Megafauna Central

At Megafauna Central in the Todd Mall you can see life-size replicas of some long-vanished creatures, including the world’s largest bird known as Dromornis and a colossal crocodile species called Baru. It’s part of the Museum of Central Australia , which presents the geological history of the region starting from the big bang and continuing to the present day.

10. Alice Springs Desert Park

Just 10 minutes’ drive from town, Alice Springs Desert Park features a jam-packed list of daily presentations, including talks on dingos, emus, echidnas, plant medicine and red kangaroos.

a man admiring a dingo at Alice Springs Desert Park — See a dingo at Alice Springs Desert Park. (Image: Tourism NT/Helen Orr)

Make sure you catch the bird show and grab a free self-guided audio tour to explore the three habitats – woodlands, sand country and desert rivers.

an echidna at Alice Springs Desert Park — Catch the talk on echidnas while you’re there. (Image: Tourism NT)

11. Alice Springs Telegraph Station

Visit the spot where European settlement began in Alice Springs by taking the short drive to the Telegraph Station , Learn how the Telegraph Station was established in 1871 to relay messages between Darwin and Adelaide along the Overland Telegraph Line and walk through the lovely historic stone buildings, which are open for daily tours.

12. Alice Springs Reptile Centre

Home to over 100 snakes, lizards and crocodiles, Alice Springs Reptile Centre offers educational tours, with talks covering topics such as reptile habitats and how to avoid encounters with snakes in the wild.

visitors at Alice Springs Reptile Centre while admiring a crocodile in a glass cage — See Terry the saltwater crocodile through the glass. (Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught)

Catch one of the daily shows and don’t forget to grab a selfie with a friendly python.

a kid holding a lizard at Alice Springs Reptile Centre — The reptile show will give you an up-close experience. (Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught)

13. Sunrise or sunset at ANZAC Hill

For the early riser, a sunrise at ANZAC Hill will reward you with stunning views of Alice Springs waking up. Sunset is just as sweet from atop the 608-metre hill when a giant orange sun sinks into the vast desert landscape.

Close to the centre of Alice Springs, ANZAC Hill landmark serves as a memorial to Australia’s military history and offers a serene spot to reflect on those who fought for the country during the Second World War.

a group of hikers traversing the trail to ANZAC Hill — Traverse the beautiful hiking trail to ANZAC Hill. (Image: Tourism NT/Chloe Erlich)

14. Todd Mall markets

Start the day with a mango smoothie and fresh pastries from the Todd Mall markets , held every Sunday from 9am between March and December. You can peruse plenty of stalls with unique handmade jewellery, postcards and Aboriginal paintings.

Shoppers at Todd Mall Markets in Alice Springs — Find a local treasure to take home or a treat to eat at the local markets. (Image: Tourism NT)

15. West MacDonnell Ranges

Take a day trip to the West Macs to enjoy some fabulous outback scenery and a cool dip in one of the spectacular waterholes, such as Ellery Creek, Ormiston Gorge, Glen Helen and Redbank Gorge.

Aerial view of Glen Helen — Find spectacular waterholes at Glen Helen. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

Highlights you shouldn’t miss include the dramatic gorges of Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm, and the Ochre Pits, a colourful outcrop of ochre on the banks of a sandy creek.

Simpsons Gap near Alice Springs — Simpsons Gap is one of the highlights of exploring West MacDonnell Ranges. (Image: Tourism NT/Sean Scott)

a group of travellers exploring the Ochre Pits — Explore the extraordinary Ochre Pits in the West MacDonnell Ranges. (Image: Tourism NT/The Salty Travellers)

16. East MacDonnell Ranges

Situated 85 kilometres east of Alice Springs and home to the largest ghost gum in Australia, Trephina Gorge is considered the main attraction of the East Macs. Here you’ll find dramatic gorges, ridges and plenty of short walks. If you have a 4WD you can continue a further five kilometres on an unsealed road to take a dip in the John Hayes Rockhole.

the Trephina Gorge in the East MacDonnell Ranges — Trephina Gorge is the main attraction of the East MacDonnell Ranges. (Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught)

For more incredible ways to explore, read our travel guide to Alice Springs.

Spend a few days visiting the real-life Central Australian locations that inspired the new film everyone is talking about, and discover why Alice Springs is such an important part of Australian culture.

In the credits of the new Australian film Kangaroo , the first name under ‘cast’ should read ‘The Northern Territory ’. Not only is Alice Springs (and the surrounding landscape) integral to the movie itself, but the spiritual heart of Australia and its local Indigenous owners also inform the look and feel of every frame, explains Producer Trisha Morton-Thomas of Brindle Films, who also plays Charlie’s grandmother Gwennie.

“By setting Kangaroo in Alice Springs (Mparntwe), the film embraces how visible Aboriginal people are here, and the living Aboriginal culture that is woven through this community,” she explains.

still from kangarro film — See *Kangaroo*, then visit the real-life filming locations.

And while shooting in such a sacred part of the Northern Territory required extra planning, it was something the cast and crew were highly invested in.

“There are incredibly significant sacred sites and places of deep cultural stories in the area, that at times are very gender-specific, which we’ve kept out of the production,” she explains. “Even if overhead drone footage captures a sacred site that isn’t meant to be seen by other people outside of that clan, we’ve made sure to omit it from the film.”

If Kangaroo piqued your interest in a Central Australian holiday, we don’t blame you. Read on to discover eight places featured in the movie that you can visit in real life – and get planning. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen and a hat.

1. Alice Springs/ Mparntwe

artist at Many Hands Art Centre — Visit the galleries of Alice Springs, like Many Hands Art Centre. (Image: Tourism NT/ Helen Orr/ Many Hands Art Centre)

The red and dusty streets of the film’s fictional town of Silvergum were filmed on the outskirts of Alice Springs. And, while the art gallery featured in the film is fictional, Alice Springs is a hub of creativity. See the work of local artists at the Araluen Art Centre , Yubu Napa Art Gallery , Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Art Centre and the famous Tjanpi Desert Weavers .

2. The Kangaroo Sanctuary & Kangaroo Rescue Centre

The Kangaroo Sanctuary Alice Springs, the inspiration for the Kangaroo move — Visit the movie’s inspiration at Kangaroo Sanctuary. (Image: Tourism NT/ Kangaroo Sanctuary)

Kangaroo was inspired by the journey of Chris ‘Brolga’ Barns, who founded the now world-renowned Kangaroo Sanctuary based in Alice Springs. For lead actor, Aussie Ryan Corr, the animals were central to the movie, alongside the landscapes.

“The animals in this story were a real calling point for me,” he explains. “What this story tries to tell us about the connection between humans and animals is beautiful.”

To gain a real insight into the fauna and flora of the Red Centre, you can visit the Kangaroo Sanctuary on a sunset tour, where you might even get the chance to hold a baby kangaroo.

3. Ormiston Gorge

woman walking along the edge of Ormiston Gorge near alice springs — Take a dip in Ormiston Gorge. (Image: Tourism NT/ @domandjesso)

The film captures the raw beauty of the West MacDonnell Ranges, known in the Arrernte language as Tjoritja. This national park is rich in Indigenous culture and stark geological wonders.

Only a 15-minute drive from Alice Springs, Tjoritja offers visitors the chance to camp, hike and swim among ancient landscapes (most attractions are less than a three-hour drive away).

Ormiston Gorge , a cooling oasis in among the red desert sands, is one of the most popular destinations, no doubt because of the permanent swimming hole and towering red cliffs. From here, visitors can also embark on the beautiful Ormiston Pound Walk and the shorter – more accessible – Ghost Gum Walk. Bring your bathers – it’s safe for swimming.

4. Standley Chasm

woman walking through Standley Chasm near alice springs — Wander through Standley Chasm. (Image: Tourism NT)

The 1.2-kilometre walk to nearby Standley Chasm will be a highlight for any visitor as the imposing 40 metre-high chasm walls project strength and ancient wisdom.

Visit at midday to experience the path illumined by the midday sun. Not only will you fill your camera roll with vibrant red images of the gorge and its intoxicating shadows, but you can also camp nearby in a powered or unpowered site so you can watch the brilliance of the desert stars fill the night sky after dusk.

5. Simpsons Gap

three people walking on path through simpsons gap near alice springs — Walk the trails of Simpson’s Gap. (Image: Tourism NT/ Helen Orr)

Closer to Alice Springs, the photogenic Simpsons Gap is the perfect place to spot the endangered Black-footed Rock wallaby near the permanent watering hole. While swimming isn’t permitted, soaking up the sun and views certainly is.

Explore the area’s numerous walking trails, appreciate the soaring cliffs on either side of the ‘gap’ and pick out the shooting locations of Kangaroo in the area.

6. Ellery Creek Big Hole

aerial of Ellery Creek Big Hole near alice springs — Dive into Ellery Creek Big Hole. (Image: Tourism NT/ Tourism Australia)

When it comes to classic Northern Territory landscapes, you can’t go past Ellery Creek Big Hole/ Udepata : tall gum trees sidling up to a refreshing watering hole (fed by the West MacDonnell Ranges and surrounded by rugged red cliffs.

Swim in the cooling waters, hike the cliff tops, watch for birds and even stargaze as you camp here overnight. It’s locations like this that attracted the film’s director Kate Woods to the project.

“It humbles you to be in this environment: it’s so beautiful, so old and so vast,” she explains. “I was thrilled to get a chance to … shoot such a beautiful story in the incredible landscape of the Northern Territory.”

7. Larapinta Drive

aerial of Larapinta Drive into alice springs — Drive along Larapinta Drive. (Image: Tourism NT)

There is no better way to get a feel for how the characters arrived at the fictional Central Australian town of Silvergum than to travel along the iconic state road, Larapinta Drive.

Connecting Alice Springs to the mighty King’s Canyon in the west, via the historic community of Hermannsburg, this road takes in the West MacDonnell National Park, Alice Springs Desert Park and artist Albert Namatjira’s house, among other attractions. Take your time, bring a camera and prepare for numerous stops along the way.

8. Todd River

competitors in Henley on Todd Regatta, alice springs — Join in the fun of the quirky Henley on Todd Regatta. (Image: Tourism NT/ TImparja Creative)

Meandering through Alice Springs like a lazy Western Brown snake, the Todd River is a central part of Alice Springs culture. Known as an ‘intermittent river’, the Todd can go from a dry dusty riverbed to a flowing waterscape in less than 15 minutes after heavy rainfall.

When it’s dry, the famous Henley on Todd Regatta fills the sandy riverbed with handmade ‘boats’ carried by sailors. This is the world’s only dry river boating event, and it’s referenced in the ‘Silvergum Boat Race’ in the movie. Inspired by the real-life event, the characters built quirky “Flintstones-style boats” and competed in teams.

See Kangaroo in cinemas now, and start planning your NT getaway at northernterritory.com.