Getting There and Away

Written by Callum Taylor, Camille Laurent, Marika Maslanka
21/08/2025
Picturesque landscape of empty way near grassy valley with green trees and hills on background under blue sky in daylight
Rachel Claire, Pexels

Alice Springs primarily features three main transport hubs: Alice Springs Airport for air travel, the Alice Springs Railway Station for long-distance train journeys, and the Alice Springs Bus Terminal for coach services.

By Air:

Direct flights connect Alice Springs Airport (ASP), located approximately 13-15 kilometers from the town centre, with major Australian cities. Travel times from Adelaide are around 2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes, with one-way fares starting from approximately AUD $200-251. Flights from Melbourne take about 2 hours 55 minutes directly, with one-way costs from AUD $222-347. Direct flights from Sydney take roughly 3 hours 15 minutes, with one-way fares starting from AUD $329-357 and return flights from AUD $600. From Brisbane, one-way flights are available from AUD $395-459, and from Perth, direct flights are around 2 hours 30 minutes with one-way costs ranging from AUD $295-773.

By Train:

The iconic 'The Ghan' train service operates to and from Alice Springs Railway Station, situated about 2 kilometers from the city centre. This luxury train connects Alice Springs with Adelaide to the south and Darwin to the north. The journey from Adelaide to Alice Springs typically takes 2 days and 1 night, with Gold Twin Advance Purchase fares starting from approximately AUD $1,435-1,595 per person. The journey from Alice Springs to Darwin also spans 2 days and 1 night, with Gold Twin Advance Purchase fares from approximately AUD $2,090-2,490 (for 2025/2026 shoulder/high season). Services run once or twice weekly depending on the season.

By Bus:

Greyhound Australia provides long-distance coach services to Alice Springs Bus Terminal, located on Railway Terrace near the library. A bus trip from Adelaide to Alice Springs takes about 19 hours 30 minutes, with fares ranging from AUD $200-500. Services from Darwin to Alice Springs take approximately 21 hours 5 minutes, with fares from AUD $200-490. Both routes operate about six times per week. Shorter bus journeys are also available from nearby towns like Erldunda (approximately 2 hours 10 minutes, from AUD $49) and Tennant Creek (approximately 5 hours 30 minutes, from AUD $125).

By Car Rental:

Car hire services are readily available at Alice Springs Airport and within the town centre. Daily rental costs for an economy or small car typically start from approximately AUD $34-122. Numerous companies, including Thrifty, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo, and Europcar, offer a range of vehicles.

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