G’day, and welcome to Alice Springs!
Backdropped by the mighty MacDonnell Ranges and surrounded by vast outback, the city offers an exhilarating introduction to Australia’s magnificent Red Centre. More than just a gateway to the Northern Territory, it’s a fascinating regional hub with strong links to the local Indigenous community. The Arrernte people have inhabited this part of the land for thousands of years and still call the region by its original name, Mparntwe (pronounced M’barn-twa).
Far beyond its humble beginnings as a telegraph outpost, with the spirit of a frontier town and ambition to rival anywhere on Australia’s coast, this city’s packed with good food, great art and a laidback vivaciousness that draws travellers in.
Arrive at Alice Springs Airport (ASP) before 1pm. You’ll be met and transferred to your accommodation, the newly refurbished DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs, a true outback oasis ideally positioned on the banks of the Todd River.
Drop your bags and get to know your travelling companions on an afternoon tour around town, with stops including:
- Royal Doctor Flying Service Museum, showcasing how this celebrated Aussie institution has been saving lives across the country for decades,
- Anzac Hill, located 608 meters above Alice Springs and offering sweeping views of the city and rugged bushland beyond and
- Telegraph Station, the birthplace of the Alice Springs settlement and a wonderful glimpse into life as it once was in Australia at the turn of the 19th century.
After your tour, return to the hotel for check-in and enjoy time at leisure before dinner.
Signature Experience: Outback Bush BBQ
As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, dramatically filling the sky with a thousand shades of red, orange and pink, prepare yourself for a welcome dinner to remember. Journey to a remote corner of the MacDonnell Ranges where tonight’s Outback Bush BBQ in the Old Quarry serves a tantalising spread of local cattleman history, mouthwatering bush cooking and guaranteed good vibes – ice-cold beer and wine included. Miguel Maestre will join in on the action as chefs grill tantalising cuts of Aussie scotch fillet and prime beef sausages. Matched with salads, decadent rum-and-raisin damper and the singing and strumming of authentic bush balladeers beneath a night sky teeming with stars, there’s no finer way to kickstart your outback odyssey.
Welcome Outback Bush BBQ dinner with Miguel Maestre