This is a small town, hemmed by the low hills and receives the water from the river Todd wich is dried up almost always. Apathetic, surrounded by the desert city, counting every drop of the rain. Not so long time ago there was discovered the tribe of Aborigines have never had contact with civilization. The city is a sacred place for Aboriginal people and for tourists, and they both make a pilgrimage there.

Alice Springs was founded in 1870 as a service center of the Overland Telegraph, which connected Australia with the rest of the world.  Cut off from the north, one of the cities in the central Australia for a long time remained a sleepy calm. Only a strategic military objectives had accelerated the construction of the road leading to Darwin. And today, the distanse from the Timor Sea to the Erz-Rock can be reached within a few days on the Stuart Highway. The old road south to Adelaide, has been completely paved only in 1987.

The modern city has plenty of opportunities for the reception of the tourists. The town has many interesting places for entertainment.

Alice Springs is a small town with low buildings, several large streets which has everything you need: casinos, restaurants and shops. If you have a free time, we recommend you to visit the radio station "Aero-school", which broadcasts some lessons for children living in remote areas who are unable to attend classes, or airbase famous aero-medical "Royal Flying Doctor Service", a camels farm and, of course, the museum "Old Telegraph Station" – the living testimony to the epoch of development of Australian deserts. We advise you to taste the wines of central Australia, produced at the winery, 15 km from the city.

But all this you can see if you have time, because the main attractions of the Alice Springs are located far from the city. First of all, it is, of course, East and West MacDonnell Ranges, in particular Gorge Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm. You can swim in the waters of the Big Hole Lake in the mainstream of the Ellery Creek and Ormiston Gorge in the lake, becoming part of a typical Australian landscape – the pond, eucalyptus trees, bushes, and you – in the shadow of the rocks.

At a distance of 85 km in the east of the Alice Spriggs Ross River is one of the earliest cattle farms in Australia. On the farm you can ride horses, camels wandering in the woods, look at the life of an Australian farm, and nearby you can visit the Arltunga – a ghost town, deserted since the gold rush.

At 150 km to the south-west of the Alice Springs is located amazing Finke Gorge National Park, unusual for an Australian desert place – Palm Valley, covered with ancient trees. And the way you can visit the central commune of the local Aboriginal people – Hermannsburg.

At 323 km to the west of the city is one of the most amazing places in central Australia – Kings Canyon. If you want a minimum term to see all the most beautiful and interesting sights, we recommend a two-day bus tour: Alice Springs – Kings Canyon – Ayers Rock. Or if you prefer a more independent way of traveling, you can book a room in some hotel in Alice Springs, Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon, as well as tickets for buses along the route.

Parties and events

From May to August there is the tourist season peak, the city hosts many festivals.

- In early May – Camel Cup, something like the camel races that are organized once the Afghan camel-drivers.

Almost at the same time is a celebration of beer – Hornsby.

- In early July, organized by the Agricultural Fair. Usually it ends with fireworks.

- In August, the rodeo and the city is filled with spirited cowboys in wide-brimmed hats.

- In September, a festival of food and wine. An abundance of national cuisine and wines of local production.

- In early October, is the most significant event – the regatta. The holding of this event is difficult because most of the time the river is almost dried up. Nevertheless, most of the competition is held.