Located in the geographical center of Australia, Alice Springs is a remote outpost of civilization. Surrounded by harsh, beautiful wilderness, Alice is a most unusual tourist destination. There’s not much in town to capture your interest or imagination, but step outside town and visit the MacDonnell Range and you’ll be fascinated by nature’s wonders, including gorges, waterholes and an assortment of wildlife.

And of course you can’t visit Alice Springs without venturing to Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock, a long 460 km trek from Alice. Uluru is a most sacred place for Aborigines. The view of this extraordinary red rock is spellbinding, especially during sunrise and sunset. You can walk around the rock or climb to the top for some breathtaking scenery.

You can stay nearby at Yulara, a recent tourist town that sprung up to serve the needs of the 250,000 travelers who visit Uluru every year.