Alice Springs, known as Mparntwe to its Traditional Owners, is the principal service centre of Central Australia and one of the country’s most distinctive inland destinations. The town sits between the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, where the usually dry Todd River passes through a landscape of red rock, spinifex, river red gums and wide desert skies.
The area is part of the traditional lands of the Central Arrernte people, whose continuing cultural connections, stories and knowledge are fundamental to the identity of Alice Springs. Aboriginal art, language and culture remain central to the town, reflected in its galleries, cultural organisations, public places and the communities of the wider region.
European settlement developed around the Overland Telegraph Station established in the early 1870s. The telegraph line connected Adelaide with Darwin and the wider world, while the later arrival of the railway strengthened the town’s role as a transport, government and commercial hub. Historic buildings, museums and preserved transport collections now interpret these important chapters of inland Australian history.
Modern Alice Springs supports communities across an enormous area of the Northern Territory. It is a centre for health, education, aviation, pastoral services, Aboriginal organisations, arts and tourism, and a base for exploring the MacDonnell Ranges, Larapinta Trail, desert waterholes, historic reserves and remote settlements of the Red Centre.
Visitors can experience desert wildlife, aviation and medical history, Aboriginal art, astronomy, walking trails and panoramic lookouts within and around the town. ShowcasingOz TV will add original photography and professionally produced video as its Alice Springs visit documents the people, places and experiences that give this remarkable Central Australian community its character.
Alice Springs offers an exceptional concentration of cultural, historical, wildlife and desert experiences that introduce visitors to the stories and environments of Central Australia.
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These lookouts, gorges, historic sites and local landmarks show how Alice Springs is connected with the ranges, waterways, transport routes and communities of the wider Central Australian landscape.
This viewpoint provides sweeping vistas of Alice Springs framed by the MacDonnell Ranges, offering a strong sense of the town’s setting within the surrounding desert landscape.
Anzac Hill is a central lookout and memorial site in Alice Springs, offering panoramic town views and serving as an important place of remembrance and reflection.
Arltunga Bush Pub & Eco Retreat provides a remote outback stopping point near the historic reserve, reflecting the character, hospitality and rugged setting of the wider Arltunga district.
Arltunga Historical Reserve preserves the remains of Central Australia’s first major European settlement, established following the discovery of gold in the late nineteenth century. Its historic buildings, mining sites and walking trails reveal the difficult conditions faced by the district’s early residents.
Arltunga Open Air Museum brings together historic ruins, mining relics and interpretive sites across the former settlement, allowing visitors to explore the district’s gold-mining heritage in its original landscape.
Cassia Hill offers panoramic views over Alice Springs and the surrounding ranges, providing a quieter alternative for scenic appreciation and sunset viewing.
Central Mount Stuart Historical Reserve marks the geographic centre of Australia and is a site of historical significance linked to early exploration, including the Overland Telegraph Line. The reserve highlights the challenges faced by early explorers in traversing Central Australia.
The Clay Pans are open, flat landscapes that transform dramatically after rainfall, offering a striking example of Central Australia’s unique desert environment.
Conlon’s Lagoon is a peaceful wetland area that attracts birdlife and provides a contrast to the surrounding arid landscape, valued for its tranquillity and ecological importance.
Ellery Creek Big Hole is one of the most recognisable natural attractions in the West MacDonnell Ranges, featuring a deep waterhole carved through towering quartzite cliffs. It is a popular place for swimming, picnicking and bushwalking.
Emily Gap is a culturally important site featuring rock art and a natural gap through the ranges, offering visitors insight into the region’s Aboriginal heritage and landscape.
Ghan Pans are expansive claypan landscapes near Alice Springs, known for their stark beauty, changing colours and significance to the natural and cultural history of the region.
The Government Works and Old Police Station are surviving elements of the former Arltunga settlement, illustrating how public administration and law enforcement operated in one of Central Australia’s earliest towns.
Great Western Mine is one of the historic mining sites associated with the Arltunga gold rush. Surviving workings and surrounding ruins help tell the story of early mineral exploration in Central Australia.
This historic grave site marks one of Central Australia’s early European settlers, offering insight into the hardships and history of life in the region’s early pastoral era.
This location marks the highest elevation along the Stuart Highway between Adelaide and Darwin. It represents a subtle but significant geographic feature within the landscapes of Central Australia.
Ilwempe Ilwempe, also known as Whitegums, is a culturally significant site featuring a picturesque gap and waterhole valued for its natural beauty and Aboriginal heritage.
Jessie Gap is a scenic gorge with cultural significance, known for its rock formations, walking paths and connection to local Aboriginal stories and traditions.
John Flynn’s Grave Historical Reserve commemorates the Presbyterian minister who founded the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The memorial recognises his contribution to health care and communication across remote Australia.
The Larapinta Trail is a renowned long-distance walking track stretching across the MacDonnell Ranges, celebrated for its diverse landscapes, cultural significance and remote beauty.
Meyers Hill offers elevated views near the Olive Pink Botanic Garden, which showcases native Central Australian plants and highlights the region’s distinctive desert flora.
Mount Sonder Lookout showcases views of one of the highest peaks in the MacDonnell Ranges, renowned for its dramatic ridgelines and sunrise and sunset scenery.
Neil Hargrave Lookout offers elevated views across Alice Springs and the surrounding MacDonnell Ranges, providing a popular vantage point for photography and scenic appreciation.
The Ochre Pits are a culturally significant site where natural ochres have been traditionally sourced for thousands of years, reflecting the deep Aboriginal heritage of the West MacDonnell Ranges.
The remains of the Old Arltunga Bakery and nearby historic mines walk offer a glimpse into daily life on the isolated goldfield and the mining activity that led to Arltunga’s establishment.
The Old Telegraph Station Cemetery marks the resting place of early settlers and workers, offering insight into the hardships of life during Central Australia’s early colonial period.
Ormiston Pound Lookout provides sweeping views into a natural amphitheatre of rugged ranges, while Ormiston Gorge is known for its waterhole, walking trails and native wildlife.
Point Howard Lookout offers panoramic views across the West MacDonnell Ranges, providing a sweeping perspective of Central Australia’s rugged landscapes and changing desert colours.
Red Centre Farm is a remote working property near the Stuart Highway, reflecting the agricultural and pastoral activity that supports regional communities in Central Australia.
Redbank Gorge is a narrow and striking gorge featuring steep rock walls and a permanent waterhole, offering a rewarding destination for experienced swimmers and walkers.
Ryan Well is a historic water source associated with the Overland Telegraph Line. It once provided a vital supply point for travellers, stock and telegraph workers moving through Central Australia.
Serpentine Gorge is a narrow gorge known for its striking rock formations and tranquil waterhole. The surrounding area is valued for its scenic walks, cultural significance and quiet atmosphere.
Simpsons Gap is a prominent gorge featuring towering rock walls, a waterhole and important cultural significance. It is also known for occasional black-footed rock-wallaby sightings.
Standley Chasm is a narrow rock formation known for its dramatic lighting effects as sunlight filters into the chasm and illuminates its ancient rock walls.
The Gap is a prominent natural corridor between the East and West MacDonnell Ranges. It has long been an important travel route and is now a key scenic gateway to Alice Springs.
This preserved locomotive recalls the historic Ghan railway, which played a vital role in opening Central Australia and shaping the region’s transport and settlement history.
Todd Mall is the main pedestrian precinct in Alice Springs, featuring local shops, galleries, cafés and public art reflecting the town’s cultural and creative identity.
The roadside marker identifies the Tropic of Capricorn and provides travellers with a notable geographic stopping point while crossing Central Australia on the Stuart Highway.
An identifiable roadside landmark marking arrival in Alice Springs, frequently photographed by visitors beginning or completing their journey through Central Australia.
White Range Cemetery contains graves connected with the Arltunga goldfields and provides a record of the isolation and hardship experienced by the area’s early mining community.
Planning a stay in Alice Springs? Explore hotels, motels, caravan parks, bed-and-breakfasts and chain-operated serviced apartments while discovering the culture, history and desert landscapes of Central Australia.
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