10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Red Centre That You Shouldn't Miss

The Kangaroo Sanctuary is located on a 188-acre wildlife reserve just outside of Alice Springs. Owned by Chris 'Brolga' Barnes, it is fulfilling his life-long dream of a sanctuary that is home to orphaned kangaroos. Most of the rescued kangaroos have been rehabilitated to the wild, however some have learnt to love humans too much and remain permanently at the sanctuary. Take the sunset guided tour (Tuesday to Friday) throughout our reserve and meet the Kangaroo characters from Kangaroo Dundee (BBC/Nat Geo Series). Our motto is Animals Come First!

Yubu Napa Art Gallery, Studio and Gift Shop is now open at the iconic Panorama Guth Building in Hartley Street, Alice Springs. We offer a wide range of contemporary indigenous art as well as beautifully handcrafted souvenirs and gift ideas. Our onsite artist studio is a comfortable space for the artist's to paint in, offering visitors an opportunity to meet an artist and hear the stories of the artwork firsthand! We hope to see you soon at Yubu Napa, the newest Gem in Central Australia

Finke Gorge National Park is well known for the impressive Palm Valley where the Red Cabbage palms grow. Camping and picnic facilities are available, enjoy Four Wheel Driving and Walking. Its approximately 138 kilometres from Alice Springs and a 4WD is required to access the Park. Tours operate to the Park.

Ormiston Gorge is a great place for a cool dip in the natural pool surrounded by towering red cliffs of the gorge. Located within the West MacDonnell Ranges National Park the surrounding area offers an Ormiston Pound Walk, which is a 3-4 hour circuit where you can spot native flora and fauna.

Palya! Welcome to Anangu land. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is Aboriginal land. It is jointly managed by its traditional owners Anangu and Parks Australia. The park is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site for its natural and cultural values. The spectacular rock formations and surrounding sand plains provide rare habitats for an incredible variety of plants and animals. Anangu invite you to visit Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to learn more about their land, beliefs and culture.

The Araluen Cultural Precinct is home to some of the most significant artistic, cultural and historical experiences in Alice Springs and provides a unique visitor experience, encompassing Central Australia’s key cultural institutions and collections. In its four galleries and 500 seat theatre, the Araluen Arts Centre presents an annual program of exhibitions, theatre, and film. The Araluen Galleries showcase the beginning and continuing development of the contemporary Aboriginal art movement, particularly of the Central and Western Desert. The Araluen Art Collection includes significant original watercolours by Albert Namatjira in his artistic response to the Central Australian landscape. A “keeping place of stories”, the Araluen Cultural Precinct offers a rich experience set amongst important Arrernte sites significant to the local Arltyerre (Dreaming) including yaye (Big sister hill), yaye akweke (Little sister hill) and a sacred 300-year-old corkwood tree.

Alice Springs Desert Park is an inspiring portrayal of Australia’s central desert environment that effortlessly blends the plants, birds, animals and people of our arid regions within one, extraordinary tourism and conservation facility. Our ‘natural’ attraction is as distinctive as the Australian desert itself - a truly unique experience that continues to captivate and educate travellers from every corner of the globe. There’s much more to deserts than meets the eye and our visitors are astonished by the life and beauty they discover on their journey with us.

The Alice Springs Reptile Centre is a privately owned park which displays an extensive range of reptiles from the Northern Territory of Australia including Terry the Saltwater crocodile and large Perentie Goannas. The talk and handling sessions are a must and are at 11am, 1pm Saturdays only. Due to COVID restrictions the Centre is only open on Saturdays until the 19th of December, and bookings are required.

Located within the Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve, the Telegraph Station is the birthplace of the Alice Springs township. Is is an excellent value and must see destination to add to your itinerary while visiting the Northern Territory, and situated 4km north of the Town Centre, is easily accessible for a visit. The Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve marks the original site of the first European settlement in Alice Springs. Established in 1871 to relay messages between Darwin and Adelaide and also linking with an underwater cable network to London. Consequently creating the first real communication between Australia and England. Time your visit with one of our 4 daily guided tours (included in the price of your entry). The guided tours will immerse you in the history of the Telegraph Station and the township. Most noteworthy, you will learn about how this monumental innovation that connected Australia to the rest of the World!

The Women's Museum of Australia (formerly known as the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame) is dedicated to celebrating the contribution of women in the pioneering history of the Northern Territory. More broadly, the Womens Museum of Australia is exhibiting stories which showcase the special contribution to Australia's heritage that women in many endeavors have made, not only for the benefit of their communities, but as lasting legacies that can inspire future generations, too. The Womens Museum of Australia is situated in the heritage-listed Old Gaol; so you can also explore prison life and learn about the history of incarceration as well as get a hands-on feeling for what life inside the cells what like for prisoners of the day.