What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Alice Springs, Australia.
Photo: Grungly / Pixabay
Alice Springs sits in the red centre of Australia, far from any coast, with around 31,120 people calling it home. It's a nature-focused base for exploring the MacDonnell Ranges, desert parks and Aboriginal culture. Days are hot and dry most of the year, but July, August, May and June bring cooler, more comfortable temperatures for walking and sightseeing outdoors. Summer months can be very hot, which shapes when most visitors choose to come.
Plan on 2 to 3 days. That's enough time to see the town centre sights like the Telegraph Station and Desert Park, plus a half-day trip out to Simpsons Gap in West MacDonnell National Park.
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 |
Highs reach 35.2°C with 7 rain days and 74mm of rain, the wettest month. Score 2.4, a tough month for heat and humidity.
Still hot at 35.4°C high, with 2.3 rain days and 15mm rain. Score 3.5, heat keeps this one off the best list.
Highs drop a little to 33.3°C, with 3.4 rain days and 40mm rain. Score 3.5, still too warm for comfortable sightseeing.
Highs ease to 28.4°C, rain almost stops at 0.6 days and 5mm. Score 7.9, a best-rated month as conditions turn mild.
Cooler days at 22.6°C high, lows near 10.1°C, just 1.2 rain days. Score 9.7, one of the top months to visit.
Highs of 19.5°C and cold nights down to 7.3°C, with 2.1 rain days. Score 9.5, cool and dry, rated among the best.
Winter here: 20.2°C high, 6.8°C low, only 0.6 rain days and 10 hours of sun. Score 9.9, the top-rated month.
Highs rise slightly to 23.3°C with just 1 rain day and 10.6 hours of sun. Score 9.8, still an excellent month to travel.
Warming to 27°C highs, 2.4 rain days and 11 hours of sun. Score 8.1, a best-rated month before summer heat returns.
Highs climb to 31.7°C with 1.7 rain days. Score 6.1, a good but noticeably warmer month than the cooler season.
Heat returns with 33.2°C highs and rain picks up to 5.6 days, 40mm. Score 3.1, hot and increasingly humid.
Highs of 35.1°C and 5.9 rain days with 50mm rain make this a hot, sticky month. Score 2.6, one of the toughest times to visit.
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.
Kangaroo is a lean red meat served in many Alice Springs restaurants, often grilled as a steak or in a stir-fry. It is a common way for visitors to try native Australian game.
Camels have lived wild in the Central Australian desert for generations, and camel meat appears on some local menus as burgers or sausages. It has a slightly sweet, beef-like taste.
These large, pale larvae are a traditional Aboriginal bush food found in the roots of local acacia trees. They are sometimes offered to tourists as a taste of traditional desert diet, either raw or lightly cooked.
A small native fruit with a strong, tangy flavour, bush tomato is dried and used in chutneys, sauces and damper bread across the region. It reflects the native ingredients used in Central Australian bush tucker cooking.
Damper is a simple soda bread traditionally cooked over an open campfire by outback travellers and stockmen. In Alice Springs it is often served with golden syrup or jam at cafes with an outback theme.
Best: Apr, May, Aug, Sep
Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
Best: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Yes. August is one of the best months to visit, with a score of 9.8 out of 10. Daytime highs reach 23.3°C and lows drop to 9.5°C, so days are warm and nights are cool. Rain is rare, with only 1 rain day and 5 mm for the month, and you get 10.6 hours of sunshine a day.
The best months are May, June, July and August. July scores highest at 9.9, with warm days around 20.2°C and cold nights near 6.8°C. These months have little rain, between 3 mm and 18 mm, and plenty of sun, so they suit walking and outdoor sightseeing.
Yes. January is the hottest month, with highs averaging 35.2°C and lows of 23.3°C. It also brings more rain than most of the year, with 7 rain days and 74 mm total. The combination of heat and humidity gives January a low score of 2.4 and a verdict of avoid for comfort.
Plan for 2 to 3 days in town, plus extra time for nearby nature. The main sights, like the Desert Park, Telegraph Station, Araluen Cultural Precinct and Olive Pink Botanic Garden, each take a few hours to half a day. Add a day for Simpsons Gap in West MacDonnell National Park if you want to see the surrounding landscape.
No, rain is light for most of the year. April, June, July and August each get under 10 mm and fewer than 2.1 rain days. The wetter months are January and December, with 74 mm and 50 mm, and November also sees 5.6 rain days, so late in the year brings more short, heavy showers.
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