You've landed bang in the bull's-eye of the enormous continent of Australia—the remote town of Alice Springs. Three days is plenty of time to get a feel for the remote atmosphere and also head out to explore the famed Uluru National Park. Here are a few ways to experience the very best of Alice Springs in 72 memorable hours.
Day 1: See the Town’s Sights
Spend your first day exploring attractions in Alice Springs with a half-day tour. Start at the old Telegraph Station, which used to relay messages between Darwin and Adelaide, to get a glimpse into the town's early years; then visit the School of the Air to learn how students in remote locations across Central Australia get lessons via satellite. In the afternoon, head to Alice Springs Reptile Centre, and take in sweeping views of the West MacDonnell Ranges from the top of Anzac Hill. Lastly, join an evening tour of Alice Springs Desert Park, which allows you to see nocturnal wildlife at its most active.
Day 2: Admire Uluru
No visit to Alice Springs would be complete without a trip to see the natural wonders of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park—indeed the two famous rock formations at this UNESCO World Heritage Site are the very reason many people visit the area. Book a full day tour to really get to know this awe-inspiring park through guided nature walks, and be sure to visit the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre to see Aboriginal art and learn about indigenous culture. No visit would be complete without watching the sunset over the mighty Uluru rock (also known as Ayers Rock), so plan to stay late; some full-day tours include sunset dinners, others include overnight camping accommodations.
Day 3: Soak up the Scenery
Start your final day in the area with a sunrise ballooning adventure. You can watch your hot air balloon inflate in the pre-dawn light, then see the sunrise from the sky. As you drift over the rugged landscape, you’ll be able to spot local wildlife, including kangaroos, in the early morning light.
There’s plenty of rugged scenery near Alice Springs, and lots of adventurous ways to explore. At Undoolya Station (the oldest working cattle station in the Northern Territory) you can jump on a quad bike and take a guided ride over bush tracks and dry riverbeds to see the local mountain ranges. If you’re up for one last adventure, take a sunset camel ride through the desert, then head back to town to enjoy our final evening in Alice Springs’ many bars and restaurants.
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