The regional Alice Springs Airport is located nine miles from the city centre. This is one of the primary gateways to Australia's Red Centre, offering several domestic connections across the continent including to Darwin, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne. Occasional charter flights arrive from international locations.

Qantas Airways, the national airline of Australia, is the main service provider at Alice Springs Airport. Its regional affiliate, QantasLink, operates short-haul flights throughout the Northern Territory. In addition, Tiger Airways Australia is planning to begin service from here to Melbourne in the near future.

This single-terminal facility is equipped with standard facilities including left luggage services, public telephones, baby-changing stations, ATMs and currency exchange counters. The terminal also operates a café, pub, restaurant and a number of boutiques. Internet access is provided at kiosks in front of the restaurant.

An airport shuttle coordinates with incoming flights and takes passengers to the city centre. Taxis are also on-call outside of the Arrivals hall, offering transport to any number of local destinations.

Alice Springs is located along the Central Australian Railway. For years this was the last stop on a long line from Adelaide to Alice. Recently, the railroad was extended all the way to Darwin, and some trains now continue on to the new terminus, making Alice Springs the central point. In any event, Alice Springs remains an important stop in this region. Trains arrive and depart several times per week, though not on a daily basis.

The Ghan is the train that runs these rails, and it has achieved a sort of transcendent, iconic status in the Australian psyche. This old train has a lot of character, and while it isn't Australia’s most modern mode of transport, it remains popular with travellers and locals, alike. Riding the Ghan through Central Australia's outback is a kind of rite of passage for visitors, and the scenery along the way makes the trip doubly worthwhile.

Buses travelling to and from Darwin and Adelaide arrive daily in Alice Springs. These are long-haul coaches that travel the 950 mile distance to Adelaide or Darwin, which is slightly closer at roughly 930 miles away. Coaches servicing these routes cater to a variety of needs and budgets. Most buses are comfortable and offer overnight connections.

If you choose to hire a car and drive yourself to either Adelaide or Darwin, the Stuart Highway is the principle artery traversing the Northern Territory. Those who opt to drive themselves are advised to practice caution on the Stuart Highway, as free-ranging camels and cattle occasionally wander into the road. It isn't uncommon for a kangaroo to bound into traffic, either. As petrol stations are few and far between, drivers should refuel at every opportunity—even if there's still plenty of fuel in the tank.

Once in town, transportation options are fairly straightforward. Hailing a taxi is simple enough in the metropolitan area. Many visitors also choose to hire a car for the duration of their stay. The latter option frees tourists up to plan daytrips into the surrounding area without the burden of relying on public transport.