What can you do from Alice Springs?
Alice is the gateway to the Red Centre, and three big trips leave from it. South to Uluru and Kings Canyon in 2 to 5 days from $679. West into the MacDonnell Ranges for gorges and swimming, 3 days from $535. Or north all the way to Darwin, 3 to 7 days.
Checked on 5 October 2026.
Alice Springs sits almost exactly in the middle of Australia, which makes it the base for the Red Centre rather than the destination. Everything worth the trip is a few hours out in one of three directions, and all of them are worth it.
South — Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon
The classic run, and what most people come to Alice for. Departures are at 5:30am, and three days is the length that covers all three properly.
| Trip | Length | Where you sleep | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Day Uluru Budget | 3 days, 2 nights | Swags | $729 |
| 3 Day Uluru Adventure | 3 days, 2 nights | Swags | $759 |
| 3 Day Uluru Safari | 3 days, 2 nights | Furnished Safari Tents | $979 |
| 4 Day Uluru Adventure | 4 days, 3 nights | Swags | $819 |
| 4 Day Uluru & West MacDonnell Ranges | 4 days, 3 nights | Safari Tents or Swags | $1389 |
| 5 Day Uluru Safari | 5 days, 4 nights | Swags & Safari Tents | $1499 |
West — the MacDonnell Ranges
The direction almost nobody goes, and the one locals rate. A chain of gorges running west of town with waterholes you can swim in and a fraction of the visitors.
| Trip | Length | Route | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Day West MacDonnell Ranges | 3 days, 2 nights | Alice Springs / Alice Springs | $535 |
| 4 Day Uluru & West MacDonnell Ranges | 4 days, 3 nights | Alice Springs or Uluru / Alice Springs | $1389 |
North — the long way to Darwin
Fifteen hundred kilometres up the Stuart Highway through Devils Marbles, Mataranka and Katherine Gorge. Three days is the quick version; a week does it properly.
| Trip | Length | Route | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Day Alice Springs to Darwin Tour | 3 days, 2 nights | Alice Springs / Darwin | $799 |
| 5 Day Alice Springs to Darwin Tour | 5 days, 4 nights | Alice Springs / Darwin | $1149 |
| 6 Day Alice Springs to Darwin | 6 days, 5 nights | Alice Springs or Uluru / Darwin | $1199 |
| 7 Day Alice Springs to Darwin Adventure | 7 days, 6 nights | Alice Springs or Uluru / Darwin | $1599 |
What about a day trip?
- The Red Centre runs on distance. Uluru is about 450km away, so it is not a day trip from Alice and nobody sells it as one — the two-day trip is the short version.
- In the town itself, the Desert Park, the Telegraph Station and Anzac Hill fill a half day comfortably and are worth the stop.
- Three days west is the closest thing to a short trip we sell, and it has the swimming.
Planning around the departures
- Trips leave Alice at 5:30am, so you want the night before in town.
- Several run one way to Yulara or to Darwin, so you can fly out of the far end rather than doubling back.
- Best months are April to October — the Uluru month by month page has the figures and they apply here too.
The trips
People also ask
- How do I get from Alice Springs to Uluru?
- Uluru itinerary — 2, 3, 4 and 5 days
- Is Uluru worth visiting?
- What is Uluru like month by month?
Where this comes from. Each trip's own route, duration and inclusions sheet, as held on its page here. Prices are the current from price and update on their own.