What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Alice Springs, Australia.
Photo: Grungly / Pixabay
Alice Springs is an inland town of about 31,120 people in Australia. Most visitors come for nature. The town centre is compact. Todd Mall, Anzac Hill, the Reptile Centre and the Royal Flying Doctor Service are all there, so first-timers without a car can stay in the CBD. Simpsons Gap, in West MacDonnell National Park, is outside town, and Larapinta suits self-drivers. The best months to go are May, June, July and August.
Plan several full days, not a quick stop. The Desert Park, Araluen Cultural Precinct and Simpsons Gap each take half a day. Add the Telegraph Station (2–3 hours) and several town sights of 1–2 hours each.
Larapinta
A large park at the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges that shows the plants, animals and habitats of Central Australia. The nocturnal house and the free-flying bird show are the highlights. Go early in the day, before the heat builds.
North of town centre
The restored stone buildings of the old telegraph station, near the waterhole that gave the town its name. It explains how the town began and how the telegraph line linked Australia to the world. Walking and cycling tracks lead here from town along the Todd River.
Town centre
A small hill with a war memorial and a clear view over the town and the MacDonnell Ranges. It is a short, steep walk or a quick drive up. Sunset is the most popular time.
Araluen
A group of galleries and museums in one area, including the Araluen Arts Centre, the Museum of Central Australia and the Central Australian Aviation Museum. The Aboriginal art collection is the main reason to come, especially work from the Hermannsburg and Papunya schools.
Town centre
A visitor centre about the air medical service that reaches people across the remote outback. Displays and a short film show how the service works and why it matters to people living far from hospitals.
Braitling
Explains how children on remote cattle stations and in small communities are taught by distance learning. On school days you may be able to watch a lesson being delivered.
East side of the Todd River
A quiet garden of arid-zone plants with short walking tracks and a hill with views over town. Birdlife is good, particularly in the early morning. There is a café on site.
Town centre
A small centre with snakes, lizards and a saltwater crocodile from across the Northern Territory. Handling sessions let you hold some of the gentler animals. A good option for families or on a very hot afternoon.
Town centre
The pedestrian main street, with Aboriginal art galleries, cafés and souvenir shops. It hosts regular markets. Buy art from galleries that clearly show where the work comes from and how artists are paid.
West MacDonnell National Park
A dramatic gap in the ranges with a waterhole and tall red cliffs, the closest of the West MacDonnell gorges to town. Look for black-footed rock-wallabies on the rocks, most likely in the early morning or late afternoon. You need your own transport or a tour to get here.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35°C / 23°C | 7 days (74 mm) | 11.4 h/day | 2.4/10 |
| February | 35°C / 22°C | 2 days (15 mm) | 11.9 h/day | 3.5/10 |
| March | 33°C / 20°C | 3 days (40 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 3.5/10 |
| April | 28°C / 15°C | 1 day (5 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 7.9/10 |
| Best month: May | 23°C / 10°C | 1 day (18 mm) | 9.6 h/day | 9.7/10 |
| Best month: June | 20°C / 7°C | 2 days (9 mm) | 9.3 h/day | 9.5/10 |
| Best month: July | 20°C / 7°C | 1 day (3 mm) | 10.0 h/day | 9.9/10 |
| Best month: August | 23°C / 10°C | 1 day (5 mm) | 10.6 h/day | 9.8/10 |
| September | 27°C / 13°C | 2 days (12 mm) | 11.0 h/day | 8.1/10 |
| October | 32°C / 18°C | 2 days (11 mm) | 11.5 h/day | 6.1/10 |
| November | 33°C / 20°C | 6 days (40 mm) | 11.6 h/day | 3.1/10 |
| December | 35°C / 23°C | 6 days (50 mm) | 11.5 h/day | 2.6/10 |
High 35°C with rain on 7 days (74 mm), the wettest month. Score 2.4, so avoid it: the heat makes walks and outdoor trips hard.
High 35.4°C, rain on about 2 days. It is still very hot. Score 3.5, so avoid it unless you cope well with heat.
High 33.3°C, rain on about 3 days. The heat eases slowly. Score 3.5, so this is still a poor time to go.
High 28.4°C, rain on less than 1 day. Days are warm and dry, and nights are cooler. Score 7.9, so it is a best month.
High 22.6°C, lows near 10°C, rain on about 1 day. Score 9.7, so it is among the best months to visit.
High 19.5°C, cold nights near 7°C, rain on about 2 days. Score 9.5, so it is a best month. Pack warm layers.
High 20.2°C, lows of 6.8°C, rain on less than 1 day. With the top score of 9.9, this is the best time to go.
High 23.3°C, rain on about 1 day. Mild days and cool nights. Score 9.8, so it is a best month.
High 27°C, rain on about 2 days. It is warming up but still comfortable. Score 8.1, so it is still a best month.
High 31.7°C, rain on about 2 days. Score 6.1, so it is good, but the heat is building. Plan outdoor time for mornings.
High 33.2°C, rain on about 6 days (40 mm). Score 3.1, so avoid it: the heat is back and rain is more common.
High 35.1°C, rain on about 6 days (50 mm). Score 2.6, so avoid it: it is very hot for time outdoors.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Australia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, no car
The compact grid around Todd Mall has most cafes, galleries, tour pick-ups and the visitor centre within walking distance. It is the easiest base if you are not driving. Drawback: the centre goes quiet after shops close, and locals often advise taking a taxi rather than walking alone late at night.
Good for couples, quiet stays
A leafy residential area just across the usually dry Todd River from the centre, with holiday rentals and a few small guesthouses. You can walk into town in daylight but sleep somewhere calmer. Drawback: few shops or places to eat, and the walk back after dark is less pleasant.
Good for culture lovers, longer stays
West of the centre, these residential suburbs sit close to the Araluen Cultural Precinct with its art gallery and museums. Stays here are mostly private rentals with a local feel. Drawback: limited dining nearby and a longish walk to Todd Mall.
Good for hikers, self-drivers
On the western edge of town, Larapinta puts you closest to the road out to the West MacDonnell Ranges, handy for early starts to gorges and walking trails. Views of the ranges are good and nights are quiet. Drawback: you really need a car, as the centre and most services are a drive away.
Lean, dark red meat from a native animal. Many pubs and restaurants in town serve it grilled. Order it rare or medium, because it dries out quickly when cooked longer.
A simple bush bread of flour, water and salt, traditionally baked in the coals of a campfire. You will often find it at outback dinners and on tours, served with butter or golden syrup.
A small, tart red fruit that grows in the desert, sometimes called the desert peach. It turns up in pies, jams and sauces at cafés and local produce stalls.
A small desert fruit that is dried and used as a spice. It has a strong, savoury taste and appears in chutneys, relishes and meat rubs in local kitchens.
Roasted and ground seeds from native acacia trees, with a nutty, coffee-like flavour. Cafés use it in bread, ice cream, desserts and sometimes in coffee drinks.
A large white larva that is a traditional Aboriginal bush food, eaten raw or lightly cooked. It is rarely on restaurant menus, so you are most likely to try it on an Aboriginal-led cultural tour.
Best: Apr, May, Aug, Sep
Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
Best: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
The best time is May to August. July scores 9.9 out of 10, August 9.8, May 9.7 and June 9.5. Days are mild, with average highs between 19.5°C and 23.3°C. It rarely rains: July averages only 3 mm on 0.6 days. You still get 9 to 11 hours of sun a day. April and September are also rated best, but they are warmer, with highs of 28.4°C and 27°C.
No, we suggest you avoid them. January scores 2.4 out of 10 and December 2.6. Average highs are 35.1°C in December and 35.2°C in January. Nights stay warm, at about 22°C to 23°C. January is also the wettest month, with 74 mm of rain on 7 days. February is just as hot at 35.4°C, and it scores 3.5. November scores 3.1.
The nights are cold, but the days are pleasant. In July the average low is 6.8°C and the average high is 20.2°C. June is similar, with a low of 7.3°C. Pack warm layers for early mornings and evenings. July is still the top-rated month, with a score of 9.9. It is dry, with 0.6 rain days, and gets 10 hours of sun a day.
Yes, October is good, though it is not the best month. It scores 6.1 out of 10. The average high is 31.7°C, so midday walks get hot. It is still dry, with 11 mm of rain on 1.7 days, and it gets 11.5 hours of sun. If you want cooler walking weather, September scores 8.1 and has a high of 27°C.
Plan about 2 to 3 full days for the main sights in and around town. Alice Springs Desert Park, Araluen Cultural Precinct and Simpsons Gap each take half a day. The Telegraph Station Historical Reserve takes 2–3 hours. The Royal Flying Doctor Service, Olive Pink Botanic Garden and Todd Mall take 1–2 hours each. School of the Air and the Reptile Centre take 1 hour each. Anzac Hill takes under 1 hour.
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