Turn your Parrtjima – A Festival in Light trip into the holiday of a lifetime in the heart of Australia. Whether you’re driving or flying to Alice Springs and collecting a hire car, there are heaps of places to visit and create memories that will last a lifetime.
1. Alice Springs Desert Park
Learn about the flora and fauna that thrive in Central Australia at the Alice Springs Desert Park. You and the family can easily spend a few hours there. Step inside a large predator-proof enclosure for a nocturnal tour of adventure and discovery. A guide will spotlight endangered animals of the region, including foraging bilbies, echidnas and malas.
Check out these engaging activities to partake in whilst visiting the magical Red Centre.
MERNE TOUR
Join us for a unique experience of the Desert Park identifying bush foods and medicines and their use and benefits. Learn about the culturally diverse environment and heritage of Central Australia from a local guide and identify, smell and experience the different kinds of ‘merne’ (food) followed by morning tea at Coolamon Café.
Cost | $80 per adult & $47.50 per child
Dates | Saturday 13th and Saturday 20th April 2024
Time | 8.30am – 10.30am
Bookings Essential 8951 8788
NOCTURNAL TOUR
Step inside a purpose-built, predator-proof enclosure for an evening of adventure and discovery. Join an expert guide to spotlight rare and threatened animals including bilby, bettongs and mala and learn about our vital conservation breeding programs.
Cost | $42 per adult & $21 per child (concessions and family passes available)
Dates | Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Time | 8pm – 9pm
Bookings Essential 8951 8788
ECHIDNA ENCOUNTERS
Come and enjoy the company of our curious echidna here at the Alice Springs Desert Park with our exclusive Echidna Encounter. Bookings on arrival. Numbers are limited.
Cost | $10 per person
Dates | Monday 8th, Wednesday 10th and Friday 12th of April 2024
Time | 11:30am
LIFE-DRAWING BIRDS
Join us for a one off beginner friendly life-drawing class outdoors at the Desert Park, using birds as life models.We will set up in an aviary, and learn the basics of drawing, while attempting to capture hand drawn images of our new feathered friends.
Following the class you will have the opportunity to head into the world famous bird show for an interactive talk led by a native bird expert.
This class is designed for adults and mature kids.
Cost | $125 per adult & $80 per child (taxi from home +$25)
Dates | Wednesday 17th April 2024
Time | 12pm – 4pm
WATERCOLOUR PAINTING
Join us for a one-off beginner friendly watercolour painting class outdoors at the Desert Park, focusing on our vibrant surroundings of native flora & vast landscapes.
We will set up in outdoors and learn the basics of watercolour painting, while enjoying refreshments provided by Reality Bites.
Following the class, you will have the opportunity to enjoy wandering around the park, before heading toward the bright lights of Parrtjima!
This class is designed for adults and mature kids.
Cost | $125 per adult & $80 per child (taxi from home +$25)
Dates | Saturday 20th April 2024
Time | 12pm – 4pm
Bookings Essential https://www.discovercentralaustralia.com/art-tours-of-australia
2. Alice Springs Telegraph Station
Pack a picnic and head out to the Alice Springs Telegraph Station. Set along the dry river bank of the Todd River, there’s a large grass area, BBQ facilities, public toilets and great walking trails to explore. The best preserved station along the Overland Telegraph Line, there’s also guided tours of the heritage precinct.
3. Art Galleries
Alice Springs is one of Australia’s best Aboriginal art centres with many galleries in and around the town centre. Learn about the paintings and have a go yourself on a tour, buy artwork at one of the many galleries in town or drive out to visit rock-art sites and get a glimpse of the Dreamtime. Download the Alice Springs Art Trail itinerary for more info.
Araluen Art Centre
Spend a leisurely afternoon at the Araluen Arts Centre, off Larapinta Drive, for museums, galleries, and a theatre. This is where you can gain a real understanding of the history, art and culture of Central Australia and learn about Indigenous dreaming and their connection to the land.
No Fixed Gallery
Join local Arrernte artists of No Fixed Gallery for an intimate painting workshop at the beautiful Olive Pink Botanic Gardens.
About the workshops:
Step into art and conversation at our Conversations through Art workshop, an intimate painting workshop created by local Arrernte artists Munda & Myra Gorey of No Fixed Gallery.
Our unique workshops aim to create a safe space for meaningful two-way conversations. Without a set agenda, our workshops unfold through organic conversations and sharing of stories whilst we paint. Each workshop is a unique experience, with the exploration going wherever the conversation takes us.
We will share our experiences of growing up in remote Central Australia, aspects of Arrernte culture including relationships and language, and explain how we translate these stories into our art.
As you paint your own story alongside us, you’ll find yourself immersed in an exchange of stories and perspectives that enrich both heart and canvas.
This experience is more than just art; it’s a multi-sensory experience to savour. Enjoy a cuppa and some freshly baked damper while you paint or grab a delicious barista coffee or a bite to eat before (or after) the workshop at the Bean Tree Cafe right next door.
Don’t let this opportunity slip by. Join us on the 12th, 13th and 14th of April to celebrate Arrernte culture, ignite your creativity, and leave with not just a piece of art, but a cherished memory woven with your own personal narrative.
Find out more here:https://events.humanitix.com/conversations_through_art
4. Food Options
Alice Springs will surprise and delight you with lots of places to eat at your doorstep. Tuck into a breakfast fit for a day of endurance at Page 27, just off the Todd Mall in the CBD. Food is fresh, healthy and delicious, with vegan options. There’s nothing quite like a slice of pizza and a cold beer after a long day sightseeing at the Alice Springs Brewing Co. If you’re keen to load up on the carbs head to Casa Nostra Pizza & Spaghetti House, which serves an array of classic Italian favourites and a world-famous vanilla slice.
5. Earth Sanctuary
With millions of visible stars, Central Australia offers some of the best night skies in the world. Round off an epic day of adventure at Earth Sanctuary as guides take you on an entertaining and informative night-sky journey, teaching you how to navigate using the stars and weaving ancient Aboriginal stories of creation with modern science.
6. Outback Ballooning
Rise early and greet the desert dawn floating peacefully over the outback in a hot air balloon for a magnificent bird’s eye view of Alice Springs and the Red Centre. Book with Outback Ballooning a day or two in advance – all tours are subject to weather suitability.
For more information, head to the Tourism Central Australia itineraries page: Drive Holidays – Get Out There | Discover Central Australia. To book tours head to the Discover Central Australia website or call the Alice Springs Tourist Information Centre on 08 8952 5800.
