Alice Springs —
frontier towns and Flying Doctors
Alice Springs is completely unlike the rest of Australia — a frontier town in the middle of the Outback, surrounded by the MacDonnell Ranges. We visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service museum, enjoyed the Outback pub atmosphere and used Alice Springs as our gateway to three unforgettable nights at Uluru.
A frontier town in the middle of the Outback
After New Zealand, we travelled into Alice Springs for our Northern Territory adventure — and this part of the trip turned out to be just as extraordinary as anything that had come before it.
Alice Springs is completely unlike the rest of Australia. A frontier town in the middle of the Outback, surrounded by the MacDonnell Ranges, with a distinct character all of its own.
One of the most fascinating stops of the trip
The Royal Flying Doctor Service museum was genuinely fascinating — the story of how medical care reaches the most remote communities in one of the world's most sparsely populated landscapes is extraordinary.
The Flying Doctors were founded in the 1920s to bring aeromedical care to Outback stations, cattle properties and Aboriginal communities separated by hundreds of kilometres of harsh terrain from the nearest hospital. Today they still operate one of the largest aeromedical fleets in the world.
Proper Outback pub culture
We loved the Outback pub atmosphere in Alice Springs — it was a completely different side of Australia and one of the memories that gave the Red Centre its own character for us.
The pub nights ended up being just as memorable to us as some of the bigger sightseeing stops.
Watch our Alice Springs guide
Our guide to Alice Springs reel
Photos from the Red Centre
Alice Springs highlights
The museum telling the story of Outback aeromedical care — genuinely fascinating.
A memorable taste of the Outback pub atmosphere we enjoyed in Alice Springs.
The ancient mountain ranges either side of Alice Springs — brilliant day trips into gorges, waterholes and Aboriginal sacred sites.
Alice Springs is one of the best places in Australia to see and buy Central Desert Aboriginal art.
The world's largest classroom — the radio and satellite school that educates Outback children across the Territory.
The lookout above town with panoramic views over Alice Springs and the surrounding desert.
Alice Springs practical info
- Getting there: Alice Springs Airport has direct flights from most major Australian cities. Flying is by far the easiest way in — driving from the coast takes days.
- To Uluru: Uluru is roughly 5.5 hours by road from Alice Springs. Many Northern Territory tours combine both.
- Weather: Central Australia has huge temperature swings. Days can be very hot even in winter; nights are surprisingly cold. Layers matter.
- Best time to visit: April to September — the dry, cooler months. December to February is punishingly hot.
- Respect Aboriginal cultural sites throughout the region — many are sacred and photography or access rules should be observed.
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