How to Spend 2 Days in Alice Springs

A 2-day trip to Alice Springs allows you time to fully explore the small town and its surrounding bush, as well as head out into the West MacDonnell Ranges. From soaring over red desert in a hot-air balloon to spotting kangaroo and wallaby on a nature tour, here’s how to spend two days in Alice Springs.

Day 1: Explore Alice Springs

**Morning:**Explore the outback on a bike tour that takes you across some of the best trails in Australia—tours typically make stops at local cafes and galleries showcasing indigenous art. Alternatively, adventure-seekers can zip along dirt roads and explore the Northern Territory’s oldest working cattle station on a fast-paced quad bike tour. 

**Afternoon:**Take the afternoon to explore Alice Springs on a highlights tour, including Overland Telegraph Station and the Royal Flying Doctor Service base and School of the Air. These tours often also stop at Alice Springs Reptile Park and venture to Anzac Hill for sweeping views of the West MacDonnell Ranges.

**Night:**Round out the day by meeting some local wildlife. On an evening tour of Alice Springs Desert Park, see creatures such as echidna and mala (rufous-hare wallaby) as they become active after dark. Tours typically last 1.5 hours, leaving plenty of time to get dinner in town afterward.

Day 2: Take to the Skies and into the Bush

**Morning:**On day two, take a full-day trip to Uluru and Kata Tjuta, or embark on one of several excursions near Alice Springs. One morning option is a predawn hot-air balloon ride. As you soar over rugged landscapes, admire the rising sun and look out for native wildlife including red kangaroo. 

**Afternoon:**Board a 4WD vehicle and embark on a tour of the West MacDonnell Ranges to take in its red-and-orange landscapes. Guided tours typically visit Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, and the aboriginal rock art of Emily Gap, and include afternoon tea. 

**Night:**Round out your trip to Alice Springs with a relaxing camel ride at sunset. As you travel along red sand tracks and through forest trails, you have another opportunity to spot native wildlife such as kangaroos and wallabies.