With not much above 25'000 inhabitants, Alice Springs is quite small, but still the second largest town in the Northern Territory. The population is quite mixed, with many foreigners and a relative high percentage of Aborigines. Alice Springs is a good basis for tours alongside the MacDonnel Ranges, an ancient and surprisingly narrow mountain range south of the town. An assortment of large campgrounds on the south side of the MacDonnel Ranges (i.e. about 5km from the town centre) also offer cabins for the budget conscious traveller. Above a distance sign post in front of the old hospital of Alice Springs, next to Todd Mall.