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Alice Springs is a town of about 25,000 people spread across a handful of low-rise suburbs, all within a 15-minute drive of the Todd Mall centre. There is no beach or high-rise, and the neighbourhood feel comes down to how close you want to be to the mall, the golf course, or the quiet residential streets. This guide covers the four areas travellers actually use, with average nightly hotel rates for the dry season detailed in the best time to visit Alice Springs guide.
Neighborhoods in Alice Springs: Town Centre and Todd Mall
Town Centre (Todd Mall)
Todd Mall is the pedestrian spine of the town centre, running north-south between Wills Terrace and Parsons Street. It holds the Aboriginal art galleries and cafes profiled in the things to do in Alice Springs guide, the post office, and the visitor information centre, and nearly every tour operator picks up from a hotel within a few blocks. It suits first-time visitors who want to walk to dinner and shops without a car. Dry-season hotel rooms in the centre run roughly A$180-320 per night, and it is the busiest, brightest area during Parrtjima in April.
Neighborhoods in Alice Springs: Desert Springs
Desert Springs
Desert Springs sits about 3 km southeast of the mall, built around an 18-hole golf course, a man-made lake, and the Lasseters casino precinct on Barrett Drive. The DoubleTree by Hilton and Desert Palms motel listed in the where to stay in Alice Springs guide are here, and it is the closest Alice Springs gets to a resort feel, with palms, lawns, and a pool. It suits families, golfers, and anyone who wants a quiet base with a short drive or taxi into town. Rooms here average A$200-350 in the dry season.
Neighborhoods in Alice Springs: East Side
East Side
East Side is the leafy residential suburb east of the Todd River, off Stott Terrace and Undoolya Road. It holds the Mercure Alice Springs Resort, several older motels, and quiet streets lined with river red gums, and it is a 15-minute walk or a short bus ride to the mall. It suits self-drivers who want free parking and lower rates, with rooms around A$130-220 a night. The Alice Springs Reptile Centre on Gap Road is on the edge of this area.
Neighborhoods in Alice Springs: West Side and Larapinta
West Side and Larapinta
The suburbs west of the town centre, including Larapinta and Gillen, run toward the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges and give the fastest access to the Desert Park, Simpsons Gap, and the Larapinta Trail trailheads. Their position against the ranges means slightly cooler nights than the centre, as the Alice Springs weather by month data shows. They are mostly residential with a few self-contained holiday rentals and B&Bs rather than hotels, which keeps prices lower at A$120-200 a night. This side suits hikers, cyclists, and longer-stay visitors who plan to cook and drive daily.
Once you have chosen an area, see the Alice Springs travel tips page for getting around without your own car, and check the events in Alice Springs calendar to see which area hosts each festival.
