A wonderful walk-through lesson in the key habitats of the central Australian environment. Explore sand country, woodlands and desert river ecologies, and meet some of the residents. This predominantly open-air park also touches on the traditional relationship of Aboriginal people with the land.

Self-contained exhibits include an aquarium where you can examine life around a water hole, in the form of catfish, yabbies and burrowing frogs. The nocturnal house displays fascinating arid-zone mammal species - some of them endangered or extinct in the Australian wild - such as bilbies, thorny devils, kowari (marsupial mice) and carnivorous ghost bats. There are birds of prey exhibitions twice daily, and ranger talks are held at various exhibits throughout the day. A cafe serves refreshments and the gift shop hires out strollers.

There's a fine collection of native shrubs and trees here. Short walks in the reserve include the climb to the top of Meyer's Hill in the Sadadeen Range (a 35-minutes return trip), from where you can enjoy a sweeping view over the town. Known to the Arrernte people as Tharrarltneme, the hill is a registered sacred site.

Looking south towards the middle distance, you'll see a small ridge running east to west: this is Ntyarlkarle Tyaneme, one of the first sites created by the ancient caterpillar ancestors (the name indicates that this was where the caterpillars crossed the river). Once you come back down the hill, be sure to drop by the visitor information centre and Garden Cafe.

All communities and stations within a 600km (373mi) radius of town are serviced by Alice's Royal Flying Doctor Service base. Entry is by half-hour tours that run continuously all day. Tours include a 10-minute video, a squiz at an operational control room, and a wander through the museum where historical displays include some fascinating ancient medical gear.

The cafe, housed in the RFDS's original communications base, serves great pies, salads and desserts. The souvenir shop is a good place to pick up gifts; proceeds go towards the base's operational costs.