Hiking isn’t necessarily the first activity that comes to mind when thinking about Alice Springs. The middle of Australia conjures images of hot desert, of a beating sun – not ideal walking conditions. Yet surprisingly there are numerous options for hiking around Alice Springs that are more than initially meets the eye.
Listed as one of the 5 greatest hikes in Australia, the Larapinta Trail is a good place to start. A 223km trek in its entirety, the Larapinta Trail stretches from Alice Springs all the way to Mount Sonder. Don’t discount the hike yet though, the trail is broken into 12 sections which means that doing a day hike or shorter multi-day hike is an easy option, or why not take a tour of the whole Larapinta Trail. Don’t discount the beauty of the varied landscapes seen whilst undertaking this trek. Walking through craters from long past comet impacts, past hundreds of species of rare plants and animals not found anywhere else in the world, and sleeping under the expansive southern sky, it’s an experience not to be missed.
Ormiston Pound is toted as the ‘best half-day walk’ in West MacDonnell National Park, and it certainly does its best to live up to the reputation. With red rock walls that soar high overhead, spinifex-covered hills and tempting waterholes, it’s a far cry from that inhospitable desert image. The area is home to some pretty cute native mammals to, so be sure to keep an eye out!
The Ochre Pits walk takes hikers on a three hour return walk through stunning striped cliffs prized for their variety of colours. Vertical layers of purple, red, yellow and white were used as paints in the past by Aboriginal people for ceremonial body decoration and art. A similar experience is the incredibly photogenic Rainbow Valley, accessed after 2 hours hiking.
If hiking isn’t your thing, there are still plenty of things to do in Alice Springs that showcase the culture and natural diversity of the region. Stroll through the Olive Pink Botanical Gardens and the Alice Springs Desert Park to experience the diversity of the area without leaving the city.