Day trips from Alice Springs: Best tours, activities & experiences

The best day trips from Alice Springs head to the West MacDonnell Ranges, Hermannsburg and Rainbow Valley.

Alice Springs is the heart of the Northern Territory’s Red Centre. It is often seen as a mere jumping off point for Uluru, but that is a mistake. There are plenty of things to do in Alice Springs in its own right, and there are several fantastic day tours available.

All prices for these Alice Springs day trips are correct at the time of writing.

Day trips from Alice Springs: Uluru tour

Uluru is a long way from Alice Springs – it’s a five hour drive. You are much, much better off taking the Alice Springs to Uluru bus, then spending a night of two there.

Still, this doesn’t stop the brutal day trip to Uluru being the most popular tour option in Alice Springs. It takes 18 hours and costs from $306, including a dune-top desert dinner. (BOOK NOW).

Alice Springs day tours: West MacDonnell Ranges

If you want epic outback scenery and big red rock formations, you’re far better off doing a West MacDonnell Ranges day tour from Alice Springs. In ten hours, you can cram in a wealth of Red Centre highlights. These include Simpsons Gap, Ormiston Gorge, the Ochre Pits, Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek Big Hole and Glen Helen Gorge. The tour costs $179. (BOOK NOW).

Day tours from Alice Springs: East MacDonnell Ranges

The East MacDonnell Ranges are less visited, but still have plenty to offer. On a full day tour, the small group 4WD vehicle visits Trephina Gorge, the Emily and Jessie Gaps Nature Park and Corroboree Rock. Put there’s plenty of wildlife and local history along the way. The trip costs $360. (BOOK NOW)

Alice Springs day trips: Palm Valley tours

There’s a more cultural leaning to the Palm Valley 4WD day tours. These head to the historic town of Hermannsburg, where the Aboriginal art gallery is a famous pioneering centre for Indigenous art. The tour also goes for a nature walk around the Cycad Gorge oasis and weaves in a picnic lunch at the Kalaranga Lookout. Expect to pay $210 for the outing. (BOOK NOW).

Day trips from Alice Springs: Rainbow Valley and Chambers Pillar

The other outback outing worth considering from Alice Springs is to the surreal rock formations of Rainbow Gorge, Chambers Pillar and Mushroom Rock. This is a premium small group 4WD tour, with three meals included and visits to Aboriginal rock art sites. It costs from $650. (BOOK NOW).

More Australian day trips

Airlie Beach day trips.

Broome day trips.

Byron Bay day trips.

Launceston day trips.

Uluru day trips.