Patchy rain nearby 
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Alice Springs, known to the Arrernte people as Mparntwe, is the main town of central Australia, 1,500 km south of Darwin and 1,530 km north of Adelaide. It has a hot desert climate with 283 mm of rain a year, summer days that average 36.4°C in January, and winter nights that drop to 4.0°C in July. It is the base for Uluru-Kata Tjuta, the West MacDonnell Ranges, and the Larapinta Trail, and it hosts the free Parrtjima light festival each April. This guide covers the monthly climate, the best months to visit, what to do, and where to stay.
Welcome to Alice Springs
The town runs along the usually dry Todd River beneath the red wall of the MacDonnell Ranges, and everything a visitor needs sits within a 15-minute drive of the Todd Mall pedestrian centre. It began in 1871 as a telegraph repeater station and grew into the service hub for a region bigger than Spain. Today about 25,000 people live here, and the town supports a full tourism industry of guided tours, Aboriginal art galleries, and desert lodges that run year-round, even when January pushes past 40°C.
Alice Springs Weather at a Glance
Alice Springs has two seasons, not four. Summer runs from November to March with daytime highs of 33-36°C and most of the year’s rain falling in short afternoon storms; February is the wettest month at 44 mm. Winter runs from May to September with warm, sunny days of 20-28°C and cold nights, when July drops to a 4.0°C average minimum and frost is common. Rainfall averages 283 mm a year and sunshine runs at about 10 hours a day for nine months of the year. The full month-by-month numbers are in the Alice Springs weather by month guide linked below.
Seasonal Snapshot in Alice Springs
- Summer (Dec-Feb): 35-36°C days, 20-21°C nights, afternoon storms, February wettest at 44 mm.
- Autumn (Mar-May): 23-33°C days, cooling to 8°C nights by May, clear skies, ideal hiking.
- Winter (Jun-Aug): 19-22°C days, 4-6°C nights, frost common, driest stretch of the year.
- Spring (Sep-Nov): 27-34°C days, wildflowers after rain, September driest at 8 mm.
Alice Springs Travel Guides
- Alice Springs Weather by Month: exact temperatures, rainfall, and sunshine for every month, with a comparison table.
- Best Time to Visit Alice Springs: which months win for weather, low prices, fewer crowds, and specific events.
- Things to Do in Alice Springs: the Desert Park, the MacDonnell Ranges, the Telegraph Station, and Uluru excursions.
- Events and Festivals in Alice Springs: Parrtjima, the Henley-on-Todd Regatta, the Camel Cup, and the Finke Desert Race.
- Best Neighborhoods in Alice Springs: town centre, Desert Springs, East Side, and the west suburbs compared.
- Where to Stay in Alice Springs: hotels by area and budget tier, from the casino resort to hostels.
- Alice Springs Travel Tips and FAQ: airport transfers, car hire, tipping, water, and safety.
Where Is Alice Springs
Alice Springs sits in the Northern Territory, almost exactly in the geographic centre of Australia, at 23.7°S and 545 metres above sea level. The Stuart Highway links it to Darwin in the north and Adelaide in the south, and it is the supply point for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, 450 km to the southwest. The town’s desert position is why nights cool so sharply after hot days, and why the climate swings from 45.2°C summer records to -7.5°C winter records.
Alice Springs Quick Facts
- Population: about 25,000; the second-largest town in the Northern Territory after Darwin.
- Climate: hot desert (Köppen BWh); 283 mm annual rainfall; about 3,500 sunshine hours a year.
- Warmest month: January, averaging 36.4°C by day and 21.5°C at night.
- Coolest month: July, averaging 19.7°C by day and 4.0°C at night.
- Wettest month: February at 44 mm; driest month: September at 8 mm.
- Airport: Alice Springs Airport (ASP), 15 km south of town, no public bus link.
- Distance to Uluru: 450 km, about a five-hour drive south.
Where to Stay in Alice Springs
Most visitors stay in the walkable town centre or in the golf-course precinct of Desert Springs to the southeast. Dry-season rooms run A$150-350 a night and sell out during the Camel Cup and the Finke Desert Race, so book months ahead. The Where to Stay in Alice Springs guide linked below breaks down hotels by area and budget tier.
Suggested Hotels in Alice Springs
Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters
The town’s only casino resort, with a day spa, sauna, outdoor pool, and several restaurants around a palm-lined courtyard south of the centre. Best for couples and travellers who want a full-service resort. Check rates and availability
DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs
A 4-star hotel beside the 18-hole Alice Springs Golf Course, with two tennis courts, a fitness centre, and a garden-view outdoor pool. Best for families and golfers seeking a resort stay without the casino. Check rates and availability
Desert Palms Alice Springs
A 3.5-star motel near the golf club with in-room kitchenettes, free parking, and a pool, ideal for longer stays. Best for budget-conscious families and self-caterers. Check rates and availability
