Step back in time and experience diverse Indigenous heritage, wildlife and culture on an Alice Springs family holiday.
Play
At Alice Springs Desert Park you can get up close to many of the birds, reptiles and creatures that inhabit the Red Centre – and what’s best is that many of the enclosures are interactive. You can walk among the kangaroos and sit in an aviary full of birds that are native to the desert. The Desert Park is one of the only places in the world where you can stand right next to a wedge-tailed eagle as part of their Eagle Encounter. For nature lovers and the animal curious of all ages, Alice Springs Desert Park is a fun and educational place to spend a day in Alice Springs.
Alice Springs rocks. Picture: Supplied.
Eat
Sip your morning coffee while being entertained by the antics of western bowerbirds at the Bean Tree Cafe in the Olive Pink Botanic Garden in Alice Springs. The cafe is open for breakfast and lunch, as well as morning and afternoon tea. Vegetarians, vegans and meat-eaters are all well catered for thanks to a contemporary menu. And while there is no specific kids’ menu, there are child-friendly options such as toasties available. While the adults linger longer and soak up the relaxed garden vibe, the kids can run around, and littlies playing in the sandpit will be clearly in view.
Bean tree cafe has great coffee. Picture: Supplied.
Sleep
BIG4 MacDonnell Range Holiday Park is one of the biggest and best in Australia and can accommodate up to 1700 guests in the full range of styles – from camping, powered sites for caravans to two-bedroom cabins. The kids will love the variety of onsite activities, including three pools (including a lap pool for the fitness conscious), a water slide, jumping pillow, go-karts, bike hire and night-time activities including stargazing. Grownups will be pleased to know that there are morning yoga classes, newly upgraded communal kitchen facilities, and a well-stocked convenience store and a cappuccino van. What’s more, the holiday park is conveniently located only five minutes from the centre of town and a short drive to all the family-friendly experiences in Alice Springs.
Do
Spend an evening with the Falzon family at their Earth Sanctuary Observatory, just 10 minutes’ drive from central Alice Springs. Kids and adults alike will be encouraged to try their hand at making damper – cooking it the traditional way in iron pots over the fire. As the outback deliciousness is cooking, the Falzon brothers keep everyone entertained with stories about life in the Red Centre. Once the sun has set, you can use the telescopes to look closely at the surface of the moon and ogle at Saturn and its spectacular rings. Once the damper is cooked, you’ll happily munch away while being regaled by stories of the stars and information about the constellations above.
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