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Alice Springs
Things to do in Alice Springs
Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum
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Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum

See all things to do
See all things to do
Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum
4.5
#5 of 72 things to do in Alice Springs
Speciality Museums
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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About
The Museum home of the RFDS. Visit the original RFDS Alice springs working base that commenced in 1939. See, experience and learn through the wonder of technology the heroic tales of the birth and growth of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Learn about the history and the activities of the RFDS’s pilots, engineers, doctors and nurses, and the experiences of the patients that are carried and cared for each day. Learn the importance of the RFDS to outback Australians and the medical care required to service isolated regions. The NEW John Flynn Hologram a truly amazing experience! The pioneering holographic show forms the centrepiece of the facility as Flynn tells the story of his vision and its realisation into the RFDS of today. The RFDS Virtual Reality is awesome!! 2 x Virtual Reality Stories of the RFDS - Relive the true experience of patient Gene Hildebrand and see what its like to fly with an RFDS Pilot. Walk through the museum and meet Alf Traeger and Nurse Kathy.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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4.5
1,349 reviews
Excellent
746
Very good
432
Average
129
Poor
33
Terrible
9
travelwriter2016
Adelaide, Australia89 contributions
A great cafe that invites return visits.
Sep. 2023 • Couples
Brilliant! The Base Cafe is set in an old Alice Springs building and features caneware tables and chairs for meals and more casual lounge-type setting for coffee and cake.
The coffee and food is very good and prices reasonable. There is also an interesting selection of local crafts. The cafe and nearby toilets are immaculate. A good eating place that makes you want to return time and time again.
Written 12 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KatielouAustralia
Hobart, Australia1,734 contributions
Outback Medicine
Oct. 2023 • Friends
Interesting to learn about the history of the RFDS. There is a hologram presentation by the Rev. John Flynn, founder of the RDFS, which brings the story to life. The small museum includes aircraft models and historic equipment used by the service. As an RN I loved the exhibits, especially the old medical kits!!
Written 6 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert D
Brooklyn, New York2,683 contributions
Learn about the RFDS and the essential services they provide
Oct. 2023 • Solo
The Royal Flying Doctor Service facility expanded since my last visit here in 2009. They have a museum which has model aircraft and details the history of the RFDS. You can see one of the planes and watch two virtual reality programmes, one from the pilot's perspective and the other from a nurse who is caring for a patient. There is also a hologram presentation of the Rev. John Flynn, founder of the RDFS. It is well worth a visit.
Written 3 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mrc282
World7,459 contributions
john the flying doctor
Aug. 2023 • Family
this is a small museum with a model flying doctor plane. worth a quick 30 min visit.

admission fee is 21 AUD pp, and this includes a 17 min documentary and virtual reality session
Written 14 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lesley p
Thank you for taking the time to visit with us. We hope you enjoyed your time in Alice Springs
Written 11 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Simon F
London, UK78 contributions
Very interesting
Jul. 2023 • Family
Very interesting place to visit, nice cafe and what a great organisation. Happy to throw a few dollars their way and it was a good stop for us between Alice Springs airport and the long drive to Uluru.
Written 16 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lesley p
Hello Simon, Thank you very much for your review. We are very pleased to read that you enjoyed your time with us. I will past your kind comment to the Cafe manager too. We hope you had a memorable experience at Uluru, another amazing Australian icon.
Written 24 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Grant N
Hastings, New Zealand1,418 contributions
Great place to visit - excellent staff
Jun. 2023
Visited to check the place out as we've heard so much about the Flying Doctor over the years. The film and the virtual reality were great. Amazed to find out how many planes they have - we're from New Zealand and they have more planes than the NZ air force. Consider it a "must-see" if visiting Alice
Written 17 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lesley p
Grant hello, Thank you for your great review. We agree the virtual reality experience is amazing as too is our hologram. Very interesting fact that the RFDS has more aircraft than the NZ air force.
Written 24 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Albert E
Hamilton, Canada5 contributions
Alice Springs
Dec. 2022
Yes i was there for 3 nights, went to Flying Dr. museum one day next day took the walk up ANZAC hill. rest of time looked around Alice Springs, Had a great time.
I am 81 and i always wanted to go to Alice since i was a 10 year old living in England at the time where i was born.so at 81 I finally got to go to OZ and visit Family there.
Written 6 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lesley p
We are very pleased to read that Alice Springs was on your bucket list and had the opportunity to experience this amazing place. We are also thrilled that you were able to visit with us. ANZAC hill is also a great attraction. a great spot to watch the either the beautiful sunset or sunrise.
Written 24 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
marriott946
London, UK668 contributions
Polarised!
Mar. 2023 • Friends
Always wanted to know about the Flying Doctor service.

First you watch a video narrated by a hologram of John Flynn, the founder.

Then the museum included an original flying doctor aeroplane.

What a great service this is.

Thank you Team Flying Doctor.
Written 23 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lesley p
Thank you very much for visiting with us and for writing such a lovely review, much appreciated.
Written 8 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Chris S
Poole, UK1,090 contributions
Interesting and worth visit
Mar. 2023 • Couples
Loved the exhibits and history portrayed here, especially the old radios and the medical kits. A pleasant hour hearing about the service,
Written 9 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lesley p
We are pleased to read that you enjoyed your visit to the RFDS Tourist Facility and Musem here in the Red Centre.
Written 8 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rachel H
Hackham222 contributions
MEDICAL CARE IN THE WIDE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE
Jan. 2023
As part of the AAT Kings "Town Like Alice" Tour, we arrived at the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum in Alice Springs. The actual base is out at the airport (naturally). We were greeted warmly by the staff who guided our small group of 3 people into the theatre where we watched a short video (John Flynn was a hologram and narrated it) about the history of the RFDS. It gave us a great insight into what exactly they do, how they do it and why they do it.

After the video presentation we had some free time to wander around the museum which had some very interesting arfefacts including a medical kit from the 1950's. One of the highlights was an actual plane where you got to go inside and have a look around to give yourself an idea on what was inside - the size of it and what they would have carried.

There was a large souvenir shop - I bough a gorgeous pilot bear. I work in medical administration and this tour gave me a wider insight into what goes on medically wise in this great australian country of ours.
Written 2 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lesley p
What a great review, thank you. Yes, all our aircrafts, (PC-12 and PC-24 Jet) are based at the Alice Springs Airport. But our visitors can board a Pilatus PC-12 here in Tourist Facility and/or experience our VR headsets where you sit next to the pilot and fly to Kings Canyon and back. Thank you for supporting the RFDS.
Written 8 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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