Location – Alice Springs

Alice Springs (Eastern Arrernte: Mparntwe) is the third-largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. The town is a thriving, spirited outback centre and is as famous for the personality of its locals and contemporary and traditional art as the natural wonders, including the stunning Larapinta Trail and the MacDonnell Ranges, which surround it.

The climate in June in Alice Springs is dry; it never rains. Temperatures are up to 19°C. On average, the recorded minimum temperature is 13°C.  

Conference venue – Desert Park

Desert Park is located at the base of the spectacular West MacDonnell Ranges and just 10 minutes drive from Alice Springs, the Desert Park is closely connected to the local Arrernte people and embraces parts of the Akngwelye and Yeperenye Altyerre (Wild Dog and Caterpillar) dreaming stories. Opening in 1997, the park covers 1,300 hectares of land 7 kilometres west of the Alice Springs town centre. With a core area of 54 hectares the park presents and interprets the Australian desert environment and, its inhabitants while contributing to the conservation of Australia’s desert flora and fauna. Alice Springs Desert Park is a dynamic and authentic showcase of the natural, cultural and biological features that make Australia’s deserts so special and is truly one of a kind.

Website: https://alicespringsdesertpark.com.au

Address: Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs Northern Territory 0871

With thanks to our host sponsor 

What did past attendees think?

The Sustainable Trails Conference provided an excellent opportunity to share best practice across a variety of topics from trail building to governance. Each session was valuable in its own right. Great to see the collaboration between our two countries as we all strive to make the most of this growing community.

Diane Drummond | General Manager | Hauraki Rail Trail Charitable Trust

The sustainable trails conference is a must do for all those involved in the planning, development and marketing of tracks and trails.

Anthony Burton | Principal | Anthony Burton & Associates

A well run and organised conference, excellent speakers who certainly provided a range of information in the topics presented. Took away some key learnings.

Jane Tito | Marlborough

I have been to a lot of conferences before, this was one of the best I have ever attended.

Mick Tucker | Mayor, Break O'Day Council

A fantastic conference. Great speaker line-up with leaders in the field. Learned a lot and made new connections.

Francesca Governali | Conservation & Tourism Fellow | Dartmouth College

The Sustainable Trails Conference provides a unique opportunity to appreciate the importance of trails to local economies and tourism, the amount of work going on in this space, and to share and learn from others working in the field.

Suky Thompson | Trust Manager | Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust