Top Alice Springs Eco Tours

Most visitors experience Alice Springs Desert Park during the day, but this evening tour offers a rare chance to explore the desert after dark, when the environment comes to life in a completely different way. Join your guide on a nighttime walking tour and discover how plants and animals adapt to cooler desert temperatures. As nocturnal creatures begin to emerge, keep watch for species such as echidnas and mala, and gain insight into Australia’s central desert ecosystems in a setting few visitors get to experience.

Discover the legendary heart of Outback culture on this half-day highlights tour of Alice Springs. Visit the historic Overland Telegraph Station and learn how residents have adapted to ultra-remote living at the Royal Flying Doctor Service base and the School of the Air. Encounter fearsome desert creatures at the Alice Springs Reptile Park, and take in sweeping views of the West MacDonnell Ranges from the top of Anzac Hill.

Let someone else do the driving and sit back and enjoy the scenery of Australia’s rugged Red Centre with this one-way transfer from Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock). Travel by air-conditioned coach through the mystical desert of the Northern Territory while your driver-guide points out passing attractions and shares Aboriginal history. Stretch your legs at stops throughout the journey.

Visiting Uluru from Alice Springs without local insight or transport can be difficult, but this guided tour makes the experience both easy and meaningful. Explore Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park on guided walks that highlight the site’s changing colors and cultural significance, with time at Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Cultural Centre to learn about Anangu traditions and Aboriginal history. The day concludes with a sunset experience at Uluru, complete with a glass of sparkling wine and a barbecue dinner.

Explore the highlights of the West MacDonnell Ranges on a guided tour from Alice Springs—without the hassle of driving or planning. In just one day, check off multiple sites, including Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Ormiston Gorge, Ochre Pits, Ellery Creek Big Hole, and Glen Helen. Enjoy short walks into dramatic gorges, discover hidden waterholes, capture classic Outback photos, and swim at select spots (conditions permitting).

Head to Finke Gorge National Park from Alice Springs to explore an Aboriginal community and a beautiful oasis in the outback. Visit the historic town of Hermannsburg with its historic buildings and Aboriginal art gallery before going off-road in a 4WD to tackle the notorious Finke River trail. Highlights include a picnic lunch, Palm Valley, known for its red cabbage palms, and views of the MacDonnell Ranges from Kalarranga Lookout.

Sometimes driving through a small part of the Australian Outback isn’t enough. See the desert from above on a morning hot-air balloon ride. This tour from Alice Springs gets you up in the air near dawn for a scenic ride. Spot wildlife, including the elusive Red Kangaroo, from above, take in views of the landscape, and enjoy sparkling wine afterward.