Alice Springs Flora and Fauna

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Located in the heart of Australia, Alice Springs and the surrounding region of Central Australia is a rich diversity of flora and fauna. From the arid desert landscape that surrounds Alice Springs, that can change into a water wonderland during periods of rainfall. The aftermath of such rain, is to a welcome relief for many of our plant life and of course to see flocks of birds, after all Alice Springs is a must visit destination for bird watchers.

Locals in Alice Springs can join the Alice Springs Field Naturalist Club (they also have their own Facebook page) They have a range of activities and monthly meets, as well as a regular newsletter.1

For those wanting to see kangaroos, euros and wallabies, keep your eyes open when you are out and about in places such as Alice Springs Telegraph Station, Olive Pink Botanic Garden and other green areas close to hills and the ranges. The Alice Springs Desert Park also have kangaroos in large enclosures and places like the Kangaroo Sanctuary where you can book in to get up close to some of the rescued orphans.

MacDonnell Range Rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis subsp.) (MacDonnell Ranges)
MacDonnell Range Rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis subsp.), Olive Pink Botanic Garden, Alice Springs NT

Of course as you walk around anywhere, be aware as you may stumble across a wild reptile or two…

Perentie (Varanus giganteus), Alice Springs Desert Park
Wild Perentie (Varanus giganteus), Alice Springs Desert Park, Alice Springs NT

For those into the smaller living creatures, there is plenty to see for the keen observer, from butterflies and moths, native bees and wasps, beetles and other insects, as well as our eight legged spider species and other arachnids.

Golden-browed Resin Bee (Megachile aurifrons), Alice Springs, NT
Golden-browed Resin Bee (Megachile aurifrons), Alice Springs, NT

Then there is the magnificent wildflower displays after rain, although that is not to say you don’t see flowers any other time of year, spring, summer and winter, there is always something to see for the avid flora naturalist.

From the Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum) that can be seen growing on Untyeyetwelye (Anzac Hill) and around town, to the magnificent Ghost Gums (Corymbia aparrerinja), endemic not only to the surrounding region, but can be seen growing in town.

Sturt's Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum)
Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden, Alice Springs NT
Ghost gum / Ilwempe (Corymbia aparrerinja), Olive Pink Botanic Garden
Ghost gum / Ilwempe (Corymbia aparrerinja), Olive Pink Botanic Garden, Alice Springs NT
Waddy-wood (Acacia peuce), Alice Springs Desert Park
Waddy-wood (Acacia peuce), Alice Springs Desert Park, Alice Springs NT

This page/section on the Fauna and Flora of Alice Springs is under development. Check back as we add more content.

More information on the Alice Springs Reptile Centre, Alice Springs Desert Park and the Olive Pink Botanic Garden. Also check out our Alice Springs Fauna and Alice Springs Flora, Alice Springs Waste Stabilisation Ponds and Kunoth Bore.


Footnote & References

  1. Alice Springs Field Naturalists Club Inc, https://alicefieldnaturalists.org.au/

Alice Springs FloraAlice Springs Flora Index Acacia ligulata Annual Yellowtop Bougainvillea Apple Bush Burdekin Plum Carob Tree (Ceratonia siliqa) Cattle Bush Desert Cotton (Aerva javanica) Desert Oak Eremophila Wildberry Feijoa sellowiana Flannel Cudweed Fork-leaf Corkwood Ghost Gum Golden Everlasting Kurrajong Lemon-flowered Gum MacDonnell’s Desert Fuchsia Native Bluebell Native Tomato Needlewood Olive Tree Perennial Yellow Top Rat’s Tail River Red Gum Inland River Red Gum Rosy Dock Round-leaved Mallee Scurvy Grass Silky Eremophila Stemodia viscosa Striped Mintbush Sturt’s Desert Pea Sturt’s Desert Rose Tangled Leschenaultia Tar Vine Weeping Bottlebrush White Cedar Yellow Billybutton Yellow-keeled Swainsona Yellow Oleander

Alice Springs FaunaAlice Springs Native Bees Alice Springs Beetles Alice Springs Birds Alice Springs Gastropods (Gastropoda) Alice Springs Insects Alice Springs Marsupials Alice Springs Reptiles Alice Springs Spiders