Vdara Hotel - Alice Springs - Australia's Outback Capital

Kings Canyon and the MacDonnell Ranges, kata Tjuta, and is the perfect base from which to explore Australia's Red Centre which includes world famous features such as Uluru (Ayers Rock), this unique town is rich in history and natural features. The town of Alice Springs is located in the middle of the Australian continent and is the unofficial but undisputed capital of the Australia's vast outback.

Accommodation and activities for every taste and budget are available, 000 and is today a thriving regional centre where an amazing variety of tours, the town has a growing population of around 28. 525 metres out of the West MacDonnell Ranges about 200 kilometres west of Alice Springs, rises to 1, mount Zeil, the highest mountain in the Northern Territory of Australia. Approximately 1500 kilometres from any major Australian city in any direction, it lies almost at the geographical centre of Australia, roughly equidistant between Adelaide and Darwin. Alice Springs is nestled in the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia.

The Stuart Highway which runs from Adelaide to Darwin is a first class highway suitable for any vehicle, today. North from Port Augusta in South Australia to Alice Springs via the outback towns of Oodnadatta and Finke, travellers including train travellers on the historic Ghan railway followed the same route north as that followed by early Scottish explorer John MacDouall Stuart, until then. With the original dirt road to Adelaide not being replaced until 1987, development was initially slow. This name was never really popular and in 1933 the town's name was officially changed to Alice Springs, originally known as Stuart. One of several such stations built between Adelaide and Darwin as part of the historic Overland Telegraph, the history of Alice Springs began in 1871 with the construction of a telegraph repeater station.

With the resulting route across the centre of the Australian continent from Adelaide to Darwin now representing one of the world's great train journeys, the railway line was recently extended north to Darwin. First arriving in 1929, the Ghan Railway played a significant role in the town's development. Moderate sized municipality with a wealth of resources and facilities compared to similar sized Australian towns, and the town today is a modern, development in Alice Springs accelerated greatly in the 1980's.

An arid zone botanical garden located right in the heart of town, is the Olive Pink Botanic Garden, which runs through the centre of town, on the eastern side side of the normally dry Todd River. The original Telegraph Station is located in a reserve a short distance outside Alice Springs to the north. The Residence and the Stuart Town Gaol, the Old Courthouse, the John Flynn Museum and Church, including the original hospital in Adelaide House, a variety of historic buildings can be found in the centre of town.

Making this the most popular time of year for visitors, winter days are typically bright and sunny. While in winter (June to August) overnight temperatures often fall below freezing point, temperatures of 40 degrees C (104-108 F) are common, during summer. But can normally be expected during the warmer summer months from October to March, rainfall is unreliable and intermittent. With glorious cloudless blue skies from April to September, alice Springs is located in a predominantly dry region.

Alice Springs also hosts a variety of events and festivals in the cooler months between May and September. And excursions to nearby natural attractions in the MacDonnell Ranges, cycling, horse and camel riding, including hot air ballooning, many other activities are available in and around town. Including renowned the watercolour painter Albert Namatjira, the Araluen Arts Centre maintains a large collection of paintings by local Aboriginal artists. Where many fascinating artifacts are displayed, information about the Arrernte people of Central Australia can be found at the Strehlow Research Centre.

Cars can be carried on the Ghan so that your own transport is available when you arrive in Alice Springs. Melbourne and Sydney, adelaide, consider the luxurious Ghan train which departs from Darwin, to travel in style to Alice Springs. The town is easily accessible by air or bus from all Australian capital cities. And has several good restaurants, from backpacker hostels to luxury hotels, alice Springs is well serviced with accommodation suited to all tastes and budgets.