Alice Springs
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| Location : Northern Territory, 1490kms S
of Darwin |
Population : 27488 |
Located in the heart of the MacDonnell
Ranges |
Info
We decided to take the easy option and fly here from Sydney, rather than
drive for 5 days! Here we met up with our old travelling buddies Nina & Martyn,
for our last leg of our joint Oz adventure (before they head off to Bali, Hong
Kong.....).
As you fly into the Red Centre, Alice Springs is the only
city of its size for a long, long way in any direction. The dry, red, outback
gets its reputation from the colour of the oxidised dust, in view as far as the
eye can see, covering the hard, sun-baked land. We were lucky to visit in
Spring, so wern't too troubled by flies and had cool evenings to sleep too.
We were even more fortunate to be in the city for the annual
Henley-on-Todd Regatta, a madcap waterless wonder, held on the dry river bed of
the Todd river with contestants running in bottomless boats! Bit like the UK
version without the Pimms! It started with a parade through the town late
morning, competitive events through the afternoon and a grand finale of 3 boats
in full water and flour battle! A great laugh! It has been cancelled in the
past, when there has actually been water in the river! Apparently, if you see
the river flowing twice in your life, you're a local!
See:
http://www.henleyontodd.com
We also visited the telegraph station, which is why the town
of Alice came to being - when the first telegraph system was put in place from
the North to South Australia, thus linking it with the rest of the world for
communications. It is also where the name Alice Springs came into being. Water
flowing over the rock created bubbles, so it was mistakenly believed that there
was a natural spring below!
We spent time in the Royal Flying Doctor Service museum -
understanding what a vital part of Australian life this service is. Good on the
Presbyterians! It really made you reconsider the health care provision we all
take for granted and are so quick to criticise - a truly remarkable
organisation.
So - into our Toyota Hilux, 3L turbo diesel for a week of fun
and penthouse tent living!
The Gallery
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A town called Alice |
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Traversing the Tropic of Capricorn - again! |
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Our house! |
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Nee & Gee's Gaff! |
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The dried bed of the River Todd - the boulder caused a spring effect - hence the name! |
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The Telegraph Station |
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Planning the route! |
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The "Henley on Todd" annual event
Alice Springs
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