Melbourne to Darwin road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
North of Alice Springs
Alice Springs offers the Alice Springs Kangaroo Sanctuary, the fascinating Desert Park, and the Flying Doctors Visitors Centre. Experiences worth considering include a camel tour, a West MacDonnell Ranges day trip or a hot air balloon flight.
Seven essential Alice Springs activities to add to your trip.
- See imposing red rock cliffs and stunning swimming holes – on a West MacDonnell Ranges day trip.
- Glide across the changing morning colours of the outback – on a hot air balloon ride.
- See how education works across the outback – at the School of the Air.
- Take in the epic outback scenery – on a scenic flight.
- See the outback wildlife come to life – on a Desert Park nocturnal tour.
- Try camel rides through the red dirt landscape – and learn the weird history of Aussie camels.
- See stunning, often unvisited outback sites – on a Palm Valley 4wd tour.
Best Alice Springs accommodation choices
These are the best Alice Springs accommodation picks:
- For a solid, relatively affordable motel: Elkira Court Motel.
- For villas, gardens and a lagoon-style pool: Desert Palms.
- For backpackers: Alice’s Secret Travellers Inn.
- For a kid-friendly holiday park: Discovery Parks Alice Springs.
- For business-friendly serviced apartments: Quest Alice Springs.
Continuing north along the Stuart Highway, there’s more red rock action at the Devils Marbles before reaching Tennant Creek.
Tennant Creek accommodation
Specialist Australian accommodation booking site Wotif offers Tennant Creek accommodation for from $140 a night. Check the top deals page for the best rates.
However, to narrow down the shortlist, consider these options first.
- For (easily) the best quality: Safari Lodge.
- For roadtripper convenience: Outback Caravan Park.
- For a pool: Bluestone Motor Inn.
Alas, Tennant Creek isn’t a particularly attractive town. Many road-trippers might prefer to head north to the iconic Daly Waters Pub for an overnight stop.