Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa, known locally as Keringke, is a remote Indigenous community in Australia's Red Centre, offering a rare and respectful window into Arrernte culture and the stark beauty of the Central Australian desert. Located about 85 kilometres south-east of Alice Springs, this small settlement is surrounded by ochre-red ranges and spinifex plains. The community is home to the acclaimed Keringke Arts Centre, where you can see women artists creating vibrant paintings and hand-printed fabrics that tell ancient stories. Visiting Santa Teresa is not just a sightseeing stop; it's an opportunity to engage with living culture, learn about the importance of country, and support community-run enterprises.

Highlights & What to See

• Keringke Arts Centre – Watch Arrernte women paint and print textiles using traditional designs. The centre sells high-quality artworks directly, making it a perfect place for authentic souvenirs.
• Santa Teresa Church – A striking Catholic mission church built in the 1950s, featuring beautiful stained-glass windows and a peaceful atmosphere.
• Sandstone Ranges – The surrounding hills offer short walks and photography opportunities, especially at sunrise or sunset when the rocks glow deep red.
• Community Mural – A large, colourful mural depicting local stories and symbols, located in the town centre.
• Bush Tucker Walk – Join a local guide (ask at the arts centre) to learn about traditional foods and medicinal plants of the desert.

Suggested Time to Spend

Most visitors spend two to four hours in Santa Teresa, which allows time to tour the arts centre, walk around the community, and take in the landscape. If you want to do a guided bush tucker walk or participate in a painting workshop, plan for a half-day. The community is best visited as a day trip from Alice Springs, combining it with other sites along the Ross Highway such as the Emily and Jessie Gaps.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Alice Springs – The regional hub, with the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum, Alice Springs Desert Park, and the historic Telegraph Station.
• Emily Gap & Jessie Gap – Spectacular waterholes and rock gaps in the MacDonnell Ranges, important to Arrernte Dreaming stories, located on the way to Santa Teresa.
• Trephina Gorge Nature Park – About 85 km east of Alice Springs, offering dramatic quartzite cliffs, permanent waterholes, and walking trails.
• Ross River Homestead – A historic outback station offering accommodation and a taste of pioneer life, near the turn-off to Santa Teresa.
• N'Dhala Gorge Nature Park – Home to thousands of ancient rock carvings (petroglyphs), accessible via a 4WD track from the Ross Highway.

Please check official sources for current details.