The
Alice, as it's known locally, lies in the center of Australia
and in the middle of nowhere. In other words, it's a great introduction
to the Outback. Built around a telegraph station opened in the
1870s, the town once relied on Afghan camel teams to deliver
supplies -- once a year. Today it's a town of 23,000 with all
the trappings of modern life, including indoor malls, fast-food
restaurants and scores of tourist shops. Many visitors, most
of whom fly into Alice Springs, use it as a base from which
to explore the country's vast interior. The steady influx of
tourists hasn't tamed all of the town's quirkiness, however.
Every September local residents still race homemade bottomless
boats in a dry riverbed at the annual Henley-on-Todd Regatta.
We recommend
spending at least a day in town to see the School of the Air
(the country's first school taught over the radio), the Royal
Flying Doctor Service (headquarters of the Outback's fly-in
medical service) and the Old Telegraph Station (now a historic
preserve that includes Alice's spring, where you can take a
dip). The area's natural history, geology and Aboriginal culture
are recounted at the Central Australia Museum. Several galleries
showcase quality Aboriginal art, much of it produced by local
artists.
Two camel
farms offer hour-long to week-long treks into the MacDonnell
Ranges, the desert hills surrounding Alice Springs. Hikers can
explore ancient water holes, rare palm trees and unusual wildlife
by walking the Larapinta Trail along the MacDonnell Ranges.
An excellent bike trail also winds from Alice to Simpsons Gap.
We highly recommend a trip to one of the nearby working cattle
stations (most have overnight accommodations). Escorted tours
on buses, all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles offer other options
for exploring the Outback. It's possible to visit Ayers Rock
/ Uluru as a day trip from Alice Springs -- a four- to five-hour
drive southeast. We recommend, instead, that travelers spend
at least an overnight there to allow time to view the rock and
the nearly Olgas / Kata Tjuta. Be aware that it can get dangerously
hot (up to 50 C / 120 F) in the Outback November-March. It's
best to plan most strenuous outdoor activities during the cooler
months. 815 mi / 1,310 km north of Adelaide.
