Alice Springs Solo Female Mini Travel Guide
On
Two Days In Alice Springs:
If you’re headed out to Australia’s Northern Territory it’s probably because you’re planning to see Uluru and learn more about this significant part of Aboriginal culture. Great idea and I cannot recommend Uluru enough, but before you go, you’ll want to make a short stop in dusty, little Alice Springs. Alice Springs also offers solo female travelers the opportunity to learn more about Aboriginal culture and the chance to experience the Red Center in an unforgettable way.
For more info on where to go and what to do while backpacking Australia, check out the Solo Travel Australia Itinerary next.
When To Go
September
Daytime Temps: 81F (27C)
Nighttime Temps: 50F (10C)
**Disclaimer: This post contains an Amazon Affiliate/other affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase I will receive a commission at no additional cost to you! **
What To Wear
If you’re visiting Alice Springs in September then you should pack light, breathable cotton tops and shorts to wear during the day when the temps are nice and toasty. At night, when the temperature drops, you’ll want to pull out those sweaters and jeans.
If you’re visiting in the height of summer (December – February), temperatures can reach as high as 104F (40C) so you may want to look into some moisture-wicking materials especially if you plan on hiking and frolicking around the Red Center.
For more info on what to wear, read the Solo Travel Australia Packing List.
Accommodations
Hostels: Prices range from 26 AUD to 28 AUD per night.
**Note: These are the prices for hostels with a rating of 8.0 or higher on Hostelworld.com.**
Hotels: Prices for budget hotels run about 70 AUD to 97 AUD per night.
What To Spend
Daily Budget:
60 USD/ 80 AUD/ 80 CAD/ 50 EUR/ 40 GBP
*Assuming you’re on a backpacker’s budget. Making use of public transportation, staying in hostels or other budget accommodations and eating out about once a day. For the daily budgets of other destinations check out Round The World Trip Budget next.*
How To Get Around
By Bus
The Alice Springs public buses run Monday-Saturday. The cost of a single ticket is $3 and will grant you unlimited bus travel for 3 hours. Your other options are an all-day bus ticket for $7 or you can pay $20 for unlimited bus travel for a week. The public buses do not run on Sundays or public holidays.
By Tour Bus
If you’re planning on exploring the Red Center with a tour then you’re in luck because most tour groups will pick you up right outside your hostel or hotel. No need to worry about where to go or how you’ll get there. They got it covered.
What To Do In Alice Springs
Hot Air Ballooning
What could be better than watching the sunrise in a hot air balloon while kangaroos hop through the barren, semi-arid landscape below you? Seriously, can you think of anything better because I can’t. You’ll wake up in the wee hours of the morning, be picked up right outside your door and then get to have an incredible experience seeing the Red Center in all its glory. You’ll walk away with amazing aerial pictures and a desire to come back one day and do it all over again.
Visit Uluru
For many, Alice Springs is the pit stop on the way to Uluru. Many tour groups operate in Alice Springs and can offer solo travelers the convenience of picking them up from their hostels or hotels. If you decide to spend one of your Alice Springs days on a day trip than that will be easy enough to arrange. Hotel/Hostel reception can book everything for you and all you’ll need to do is hand over the cash.
Emu Run offers one-day tours to Uluru and Kata Tjuta. This is the tour I booked with and it was one of my better decision. They kept me fed and watered all day. They were informative but, more importantly, they were respectful of the Aboriginal culture and people. They shared the history of Uluru and its importance to the originals owners so that we could understand why we shouldn’t climb Uluru. After a sweaty, but great, day we finished things up with a sunset barbeque.
Travel & Safety Tips
Dangerous Critters
The Northern Territory is home to many snakes and a few are of the venomous variety. Keep a watchful eye out for the fanged menaces.
Be Careful At Night
Don’t wander the streets alone at night. Attacks against tourists and alcohol-induced incidents aren’t unheard of in Alice Springs.
Don’t Mess Around With The Heat
If you’re visiting Alice Springs during the summer then carry sunscreen and plenty of water. It gets ridiculously hot and humid. The heat will take you out if you’re not careful.
Safe Solo Travel
For more safety tips, read Solo Female Travel Safety Items and Solo Travel Safety Tips next.
Good Luck
And Happy Travels!