The Top Things to do in Alice Springs

Location: Starts Alice Springs, NT

As far as nature-oriented walking tracks in Australia go, few can compare to the combination of the bush and rugged landscape of the Alice Springs region's Larapinta Trail – an extensive, 223km-long haven for trekkers and tampers worldwide.

Divided up into 12 main sections, the trail offers a diverse array of conditions ranging from the conventional to the scenic, and the relatively easy to the greatly challenging, meaning that every interested adventurer should be able to find a piece of the Larapinta that is best suited to both their desires and ability levels.

But how does one choose which section is ideal for them, and what is the best way to navigate portions of the trail to see all of its best highlights in an itinerary that will suit your schedule? That's where guides Trek Larapinta come in, specialising in taking interested parties on guided walking tours on the trail.

With a core focus on providing trekking expeditions for small groups as well as the ability to transfer independent hikers to and from the Larapinta Trail, they're a go-to service for exploring the best of the track.

As the majority of track conditions are rocky, tough going, first-timers can rest easy by booking a tour that encompasses only however many days they see themselves physically able to tolerate – itineraries are available that range from as short as 3 day introductory samplers focusing on a few highlights, all the way up to an epic 16-day gruelling end-to-end trek that runs the entire spectrum of terrain types and tracks conditions.

If you're looking for a getaway from the bustle of urban life and a way to truly embrace “untouched Australia”, then the Larapinta Trail is certainly the way to do so.

As the track contains a large amount of variation in both height, trail quality and physical condition, if you're looking to embrace its challenge and take in some of Australia's rawest scenery, it's certainly a wise investment to plan out a guided adventure beforehand.

This allows more of a focus on simply enjoying the cavalcade of landscapes without having to focus too much concern on safety – your guides know the track like the back of their hand, and thus allow you take in all the incredible sunrises and sunsets, rugged rocky scenery, and wonderful lookout points over the mountainous terrain with far less stress.

If you're looking for a getaway from the bustle of urban life and a way to truly embrace “untouched Australia”, then this is certainly the way to do so.

Camping out under the stars within a comfortable swag and enjoying amazing cooked meals on an open fire or a camp oven is the bright side of “roughing it” at its finest, with designated campsites along the way offering the chance to soak off the days' dust and stiffness in a bath and use of proper toilet facilities.

The Larapinta is a track that is renowned for fairly tough going, but the visual rewards are worth it as crystal-clear blue skies contrast brilliantly with the fiery red of the earth of the Aussie outback. All of this is, of course, made even more special buy the in-depth geological and cultural knowledge that the Trek Larapinta guides possess.

In all, while the track is doable by independent hikers, the ability to have all the hassles and irritants – not to mention dangers – mostly taken out of the equation and simply enjoy the wonderful, untamed landscape as well as the friendly company of fellow travellers makes a guided tour of the Larapinta highly recommended.

Location: Parsons St & Todd Mall, Alice Springs

Australia has an amazingly diverse amount of wildlife, yet there are few which resonate with both locals and visitors from overseas alike quite like the kangaroo.

Selected as one of the animals on our Coat of Arms as a metaphor for their inability to walk backwards, the 'Roo is as much a symbol of the Aussie landscape as the didgeridoo, boomerang, or even Uluru itself.

This dedicated sanctuary – originally designed solely for the rescue of kangaroo babies – is one of the best places in the country to get up close with these cute little marsupials. The Kangaroo Sanctuary has enjoyed great fame as a result of owner Brolga (a.k.a Chris Barnes) being the subject of BBC2 film “Kangaroo Dundee”.

Extremely dedicated to his work and with a true passion for caring for his “flock”, Brolga takes a compassionate and interested approach to all of his visitors, no matter their country of origin.

With a visit to the Kangaroo Sanctuary, you'll come away with in-depth knowledge of the animals' diets, habitats, behaviour and more that you simply can't obtain from books, such as advice on what to do if you see an injured or dead kangaroo on the side of the road (baby joeys can often be found stuck in their mother's pouches and are in need of rescue!).

Set out over an untouched, 90-acre wildlife reserve, it's a peaceful, savannah-like environment where the mob of kangaroos have the freedom to roam within. Visits here are limited to small groups to ensure a maximum of personal attention and interaction, and the host is a friendly, pleasant and enthusiastic person to engage in conversation.

This dedicated Kangaoor sanctuary – originally designed solely for the rescue of kangaroo babies – is one of the best places in the country to get up close with these cute little marsupials.

Aside from the ability to feed and pet kangaroos, the undisputed highlight for most visitors is the chance to hold a joey in your own hands – these incredibly cute little creatures are remarkably placid, and it's not a simple commercial-zoo-style “pose for photo and give the animal straight back” experience.

Guests are able to hold the little ones for 5-10 minutes while learning a little more about them, and if you happen to have kids along for the trip this will no doubt remain in their minds as one of the true highlights of their trip to Alice Springs.

Experiencing the Kangaroo Sanctuary is doable via popular sunset tours that take you on a guided journey around the expansive wildlife reserve and last for around 2 and a half hours, aimed at a time of day when the kangaroos become more active. Walking amongst nature while the sun casts its glow on the environment is a truly captivating atmosphere and simply screams “Australia” in every sense of the word.

The tours include return accommodation transfers, with the trip out to the sanctuary showing the first half of the “Kangaroo Dundee” documentary to give you a bit of background on what to expect should you have not seen it beforehand.

If authentic, down-to-earth and a strong focus on kangaroos sound appealing to you, the Kangaroo Sanctuary ticks all of these boxes.

Location: 9 Stuart Terrace, Alice Springs, NT

It takes a special kind of creature to survive the harsh heat of the Aussie deserts of the Northern Territory, but the cold-blooded nature of reptiles makes them the ideal natural residents of this part of the country.

You won't find a more comprehensive showcase of these scaly animals than the Alice Springs Reptile Centre, which lies right in the heart of town and thus makes for an easily accessible and enjoyable attraction.

While it's small in size it makes up for this in diversity, featuring over 50 species of reptiles encompassing all aspects of the reptile kingdom – saltwater crocodiles, various snakes, lizards and other reptiles can all be found here, as well as a true showcase of some of the more “unusual” reptiles of the Australian outback; massive goannas, spiked Thorny Devils and even the iconic Frill-necked Lizard.

The Alice Springs Reptile Centre places an emphasis on hands-on interaction, offering daily sessions where guests are welcome to get “up close and personal” with the animals (have YOU ever patted a goanna before?), so be sure to time your visit to coincide with these experiences (main show takes place at 11:00 am).

You'll be able to hold some of the animals at the end of the talks, which makes for some great photo opportunities that will serve as a nice keepsake of your time in Alice Springs.

The Alice Springs Reptile Centre lies right in the heart of town and thus makes for an easily accessible and enjoyable attraction with educational talks and great photo opportunities.

They are excellent presentations that go into detail about what makes each species tick, as well as providing advice to guests on how to stay safe when exploring Australia coupled with different tips and measures – such as dealing with snake and snake bites - for dealing with locations that contain dangerous animals.

Highly enthusiastic staff help to make this attraction better than the sum of its parts, showcasing an obvious passion for the reptiles and their conservation, which shines through in their willing and friendly interaction with customers. It's an effort that's both funny and informative and which helps make even the worlds #1 and #2 most poisonous snakes more of an understandable creature rather than just scary killing machines.

It's also an approach that's taken with kids in mind, attempting to provide the little ones with a chance to see, touch, interact and learn about these scaly marvels.

If you're travelling to Alice Springs with children, then visiting the Alice Springs Reptile Centre should be a must-do on your list; it's an animal park that takes the standard “zoo” experience and adds a distinctly Northern Territory feel to the process.

It's also likely the only place in the world where you're ever going to be able to hold a bearded dragon in the flesh – something that's worth the price of admission in itself! All it takes is a slight interest in animals, and you're sure to find something memorable and entertaining here.

Location: 2 Norris Bell Ave, Arumbera, NT

The historical development of settlements such as Alice Springs which relied on receiving goods, supplies, food and much more could not have happened without some serious planning, effort and execution in transporting all of these to such an otherwise remote location.

Shifting from the animal-powered transport of camels above to the man-made, Alice Springs National Road Transport Hall of Fame is a real-life chronicle of the various vehicles that made its construction and eventual thriving possible – this is one of the most extensive collections of historic cars, trucks and trains in the country.

It's a diverse and eclectic mix of machines on both wheel and rails that's all incredibly well documented and curated, making for an experience that's as educational as it is interesting.

Located roughly a 10 minute drive to the south of the centre of Alice Springs, there's simply so much on display at the National Road Transport Hall of Fame that it's a viable and interesting way to fill in a morning or afternoon, and it's something that both adults and kids (particularly young boys) can enjoy.

Many of the vehicles on display here are kept in as “authentic” a condition as possible in order to reflect the actual field repairs that bush mechanics of their time period hard to perform to keep things running under such harsh – and sometimes under-equipped – conditions.

The Alice Springs National Road Transport Hall of Fame is a real-life chronicle of the various vehicles that made its construction and eventual thriving possible with an extensive collection of cars, trucks and trains in the country.

You don't have to be a “truckie” to enjoy a visit here – there are enough general historical artefacts to make the museum worthwhile to anyone, and the amount of information on the history is truly impressive and can keep you occupied for hours.

There's a ton of trucks on display, however, and if it's something you're interested in you'll be in your element here – everything from smaller vehicles to the massive type that is used to pull road trains can be found at the museum, with an entire section dedicated to the Kenworth brand that features models from the past all the way up to 2014.

Other trucks and cars – there's even an original 1911 Model T Ford – round out the experience, and the signed curation coupled with the knowledge and friendly/helpful attitude of the attendant staff ensure you'll never be left with unanswered questions on any of the exhibits.

The museum also goes out of its way to recognise the contributions and efforts of the people – not just the vehicles – involved in establishing transportation routes through the barren centre of Australia, which is a nice touch that helps to add more of a “human” element to the exhibition.

The National Road Transport Hall of Fame also has a separate Ghan museum exhibit dedicated to the Old Ghan trains that were used in this part of central Australia. Here, you'll find not only the trains themselves but plenty of old artefacts and memorabilia to look at including old newspaper headlines, photos, tickets and much more.

As one of the most comprehensive transport museums in Australia – a real surprise considering its location in a desert town – it's a must visit for those with any passing interest in Aussie history in general; just make sure you allow yourself enough time to get the most out of your visit.

Location: 40 Todd St, Alice Springs, NT

In terms of Aussie musical icons, there are few that can compare with the worldwide recognition that the didgeridoo has on the international stage. It's been featured in countless Hollywood movies, exported Aussie music and promotional marketing campaigns for Australia.

With its characteristic low, drawling note, it's an Aboriginal instrument that has become synonymous with our country, and at Alice Springs' Sounds of Starlight exhibit-slash-theatre, it's the central figure in providing multiple forms of entertainment for those visiting the town.

The Sounds of Starlight serves as a hybrid gallery/museum/stage show that provides insight into the Aboriginal culture with an entertaining visual and aural showcase of what the didgeridoo can do.

Established by didgeridoo-playing icon Andrew Langford, the Sounds of Starlight offers guests who attend in the evenings the chance to take part in a variety of didgeridoo shows that include not only music, but interpretations of long-standing Aboriginal myths, information about its people and insight into the surrounding land of the Outback.

Placing an emphasis on audience engagement, imagery and sound, it's a comprehensive stage experience that manages to convey a deeply spiritual connection to the Australian landscape while adding a modern touch and feel to the proceedings – with added lasers and lighting being a prime example of this.

Placing an emphasis on audience engagement, imagery and sound, it's a comprehensive stage experience that manages to convey a deeply spiritual connection to the Australian landscape.

The show features some stunning pictures of the outback throughout, depicting some impressive visuals behind the changes of the four seasons, and a variety of different songs as Andrew switches amongst a range of different didgeridoos throughout the show. Add to this percussion and other soundscapes and you've got a rich stage presentation full of character and a personal touch.

After the main show presentation is over, guests are encouraged to get “hands-on” with the traditional instruments – feel free to try your hand at the likes of drums, clapsticks, shakers and, of course, the didgeridoos themselves. If you're looking to make a full evening of things, optional dinner packages are also available that allow you to join your fellow travellers for a meal that combines regional local produce into some truly authentic Australian cuisine.

Outside of scheduled evening shows, the Sounds of Starlight theatre also offers workshops for those looking to pick up the art of the didgeridoo for themselves, while also offering a gift shop where visitors can purchase not only didgeridoos but other Aboriginal-themed items such as boomerangs, didgeridoo music compilations and “how to play” guides.

If you're looking to attend a show at the Sounds of Starlight Theatre, the annual running season operates between April and November, so be sure to plan accordingly.