Best Outback Hotels and Apartments in Alice Springs
Alice Springs is the base for the Outback rather than the wilderness itself, so an outback stay here means a comfortable hotel or apartment from which you explore the MacDonnell Ranges and the desert around the town. Four properties fit: Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters, DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs, Alice On Todd Apartments and Quest Alice Springs. All four have an outdoor pool, which matters in desert heat, and they range from hotels with a casino and tennis courts to self-catering apartments. I would choose by how much space and independence you want for your days out.
Alice Springs sits in the middle of Australia, with the MacDonnell Ranges rising just beyond the town and the Todd River running through it. It is a small, practical desert town and the main base for exploring the Outback, so most visitors plan day trips and tours from here. Days are for the landscape, and evenings are quiet, with a pool and a barbecue doing more work than nightlife.
Four Alice Springs Bases for the Outback
The Outback is large and distances are long, so what you want from the hotel is a comfortable return: a pool, air conditioning, somewhere to eat and, for longer stays, a kitchen. The four properties below do that in different ways. None is a remote lodge, so I would treat them as town bases and plan tours or drives to the ranges and the desert from here.
Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters is at the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges and offers rooms with a balcony or patio. Guests have a heated pool, a spa bath, a 24-hour fitness centre and an on-site casino, and the hotel is next to the Alice Springs Convention Centre and Golf Course, with the Desert Park a short drive away. It rates 8.3 from more than 2,000 reviews, the most in this group. I would choose it for a full-service hotel with a casino and a heated pool, and a setting beside the ranges.
DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs is a family-friendly hotel with renovated rooms and suites, an outdoor pool, two tennis courts and a fitness centre, with a golf course next door. It is within walking distance of town and 15 km from the airport, and its description calls it a comfortable base for exploring the MacDonnell Ranges. It rates 8.4 from nearly 1,300 reviews, the highest in this group. I would pick it for families and for travellers who want sports facilities and a walk into town. With a golf course next door, it also suits travellers who play, as well as families who want tennis courts on site.
For self-catering, Alice On Todd Apartments offers a kitchenette or kitchen in each apartment, laundry facilities, a private balcony or patio and an outdoor swimming pool. It is a minute's walk from the Todd River, a short drive to the town centre and the golf course, and it is described as ideal for families and pet owners, with pet-friendly options. It rates 8.2 from 337 reviews. I would choose it for a longer stay in which cooking and doing laundry make the trip easier, and for travelling with a pet.
Quest Alice Springs offers modern serviced studios and apartments with free WiFi and free parking, an outdoor swimming pool and an alfresco barbecue area. It is very close to the CBD, the Convention Centre and Lasseters Casino, and it rates 8.2 from 321 reviews. The description calls it ideal for families or couples exploring the Outback. I would choose it for a compact, central apartment with parking and a barbecue, particularly if you are driving yourself on day trips and want an easy place to park the car. Its description does not list a restaurant or a bar, so I would plan meals in town and use the barbecue area in the evenings.
A traveler's takeI would choose DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs for a family trip, because it rates 8.4, has an outdoor pool and tennis courts, and is a comfortable base for the MacDonnell Ranges. For a hotel with a heated pool and a setting at the foot of the ranges, I would pick Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters. For a longer stay with a kitchen and a pet, I would book Alice On Todd Apartments.
OutbackDoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs
★4.2Family hotel with a pool and tennis, next to the golf course and close to town
Why guests love itDoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs suits families who want to stay active. There is an outdoor pool, two tennis courts and a 24-hour fitness centre, with a golf course next door and the town within walking distance. Almost 1,300 guests rate it 8.4. Our editorial advice: plan MacDonnell Ranges outings for the cooler morning hours and keep afternoons for the pool and the courts.
OutbackCrowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters by IHG
★4.2Outback comfort with a heated pool, spa, and casino at the MacDonnell Ranges' foot
Why guests love itCrowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters sits at the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges, with rooms that have a balcony or patio. There is a heated pool, a spa bath, a 24-hour fitness centre and an on-site casino, and the Convention Centre and golf course are next door. The Desert Park is a short drive away. More than 2,000 guests rate it 8.3. My advice: ask for a balcony room facing the ranges.
OutbackAlice On Todd Apartments
★4.1Self-catering apartments with a pool, pet-friendly, near Todd River
Why guests love itAlice On Todd Apartments is a self-catering stay in Alice Springs that suits families and pet owners. Each apartment has a kitchenette or kitchen, laundry facilities and a private balcony or patio, and there is an outdoor swimming pool to cool off in. It is a minute's walk from the Todd River and a short drive from the town centre and golf course. I would choose it for self-sufficient space and a pool, with a car to reach the centre.
OutbackQuest Alice Springs
★4.1Modern serviced apartments with a pool, close to Alice Springs CBD
Why guests love itQuest Alice Springs offers modern serviced studios and apartments very close to the CBD, a handy starting point for families heading into the Outback. The outdoor swimming pool is welcome after a dusty day, and the alfresco barbecue area makes for simple dinners under the desert sky. WiFi and parking are free. More than 320 guests rate it 8.2. My advice: choose an apartment over a studio with children, and start day trips early to beat the heat.
Local tips
- 1Plan day trips to the MacDonnell Ranges and the Desert Park from your hotel, as Crowne Plaza lists the Desert Park a short drive away.
- 2Use the pool at the hottest part of the day and keep outdoor activity for the cooler hours.
- 3Choose Alice On Todd Apartments if you travel with a pet or want a kitchen and laundry for a longer stay.
- 4Pick Quest Alice Springs if you are driving yourself, as it lists free parking and sits close to the CBD.
- 5Ask about the golf course next to DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs and Crowne Plaza if you play.
- 6Remember that DoubleTree is 15 km from the airport, so plan your transfer before arrival.