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Alice Springs hostels are located at the very center of mainland Australia, where the bulls-eye would be if you were throwing darts.

The town, known simply as "Alice" to most, formed around the natural springs flowing out of the ground midway through the continent. Alice Springs is now the halfway point on the railroad line bisecting the continent from north to south from Darwin to Adelaide.

Much of Alice Springs' tourism is attracted by the city's unique desert lifestyle and the very apparent influence of aboriginal culture on the town. Alice Springs is surrounded by landmarks and sites of traditional importance and significance to aboriginal tribes.

Your visit to Alice Springs will most likely be full of outdoor activities and exercise, so be prepared for hiking, walking and being out in the desert sun for hours. One popular hiking trail is the 155-mile Larapinta trail, which can be broken up into one-day sections but is remote, so bring your own water and bring about twice the amount that you think you will need.

If you don't think an outback trail is within your capability, the Alice Springs Desert Park offers all the sights and sounds of the Australian desert, without the safari vest or silly hat. Kangaroos, ghost bats, ostriches and big-eared bilbies are all on display in easy to view habitats at this oversize zoo. The aviaries and gardens are a highlight, but be sure to allow all-day to walk around appreciating the wildlife.

A hostel is the perfect base from which to explore Alice Springs and the surrounding desert. Three-day excursions to Ayers Rock are also available from companies in town, but you'll need to plan ahead and bring gear for that.

Alice Springs hostels start at about 11 Euros per night and go up from there. Private rooms are available in most hostels, usually for a few Euros more, and local hotel rooms are even more expensive. Alice Springs is an up and coming tourist destination, and while the city usually has plenty of lodging, the crowds are becoming thicker every year as more and more people come to the city. Booking ahead of time online allows you to know that you'll have a place to stay when you arrive.

Annie's Place hotel, an Alice Springs hostel, offers affordable accommodations as well as a $250 three-day excursion to Ayers Rock. Ayers Rock is located just southwest of Alice Springs, and is one of the most famous landmarks in all of Australia. Called Uluru by natives, the rock has deep spiritual significance and steps have been taken since the 1950's to preserve the rock in its natural state. Although climbing to the top of Ayers' rock is permitted, the local Anangu tribe prefers that you do not, for spiritual reasons, as well as because the tribe feels some responsibility to the people who are injured while climbing. Some 35 people have died during or because of the climb from falls, accidents and the desert heat.

Hostels in Alice Springs