Alice Springs Desert Park

The park contains native animals and plants representative of Central Australian desert environments, and contributes to their conservation through research programs as well as through public education. It offers people the opportunity to experience the variety of the deserts of central Australia, exploring the inter-relationships between the plants, animals and people.

The area is culturally important to the local Arrernte people. Much of the work of the park is under the auspices of their apmereke-artweye (decision-makers) and kwertengerle (caretakers) - people once known as the park's traditional owners.

Araluen Cultural Precinct

The Araluen Cultural Precinct features four art galleries. The Albert Namatjira Gallery features a large collection of works by Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira, his family and contemporaries, and current works by Aboriginal watercolour artists. International and independent movies are shown in the theater, which seats about five hundred. The theatre also hosts live performances of drama, dance and music.

The Museum of Central Australia, located on site in another building with the Strehlow Research Centre for Aboriginal Culture, displays many locally found minerals, describes geologic formations of the area.

Nearby is the Central Australian Aviation Museum, with planes and radio equipment, which is also home to the local ham radio group.

Central Craft is a crafts centre with a contemporary crafts shop and gallery, complete with ceramics, stained glass, painting and fabric-working workshops on site. Travelling art displays are a frequent attraction and celebrations, such as the annual Beanie Festival, are also held there.

The front window to the arts portion of the centre is a massive, locally-made, stained glass work of art.

The National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame

The National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame is a museum located in the former Alice Springs Gaol in Alice Springs. It aims to recognise the place of women in history, and particularly the role of women in Australia's development. It interprets "pioneer" to mean "any woman who is a pioneer in her chosen field from settlement to present day".

Old Ghan Heritage Railway Museum

Relive the history of the Old Ghan Train and Central Australia's pioneering past as you wander through the Old Ghan Heritage Railway Museum.

Explore the old train and carriages to learn about the legend that is the Old Ghan Train - one of the most famous railways in the world.

The original narrow gauge railway is closed, but 10km of the track has been preserved for the Old Ghan. The MacDonnell Siding, located 8 kilometres south of Alice Springs, where there is a 1930s-style railway station. The display area includes a souvenir shop, tearooms and restored locomotives and carriages.

Ride the mini Ghan / train which runs on a 500m track around the site with 2 carriages to travel on - great fun for the kids!

After the Old Ghan ceased running it was replaced by the 'Legendary Ghan, which has travelled from Adelaide to Alice Springs since 1980. The final link to Darwin was completed in 2001.