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ALICE SPRINGS- STAY FOR LESS "A$"

“THE ALICE” (NT) as it is known to the locals, was originally named Stuart, Alice Springs being the Telegraph Repeater Station & Post Office some 2km. North of the town, named after Superintendent Charles Todd’s wife. When the PO was moved to Stuart in the early 1930’s, however, confusion arose as mail was still being addressed to Alice so to resolve it, with pure Oz logic, the town was renamed Alice Springs in 1933. It is now a tourist magnet for anyone travelling in the “Red Centre” & is the undisputed Capital of the Outback. For the record, however, Alice never visited the place & the springs are actually waterholes!

ACCOMMODATION

NO 1 – PIONEER YHA on corner of Parsons St. & Leichhardt Tce. ( just off main Todd Mall centre)
Tele (08) 8952 8855, alicepioneer@yhant.org.au - $19 pn in 8 bed dorm with ex. shower/wc rooms. Ideal kitchen/prep areas, deposit/ locker system for crockery, diner/ lounge area with TV/pool. Swim pool & relax patio o/s also laundry & ex reception/ travel advice desk – oh! & air con.. Great character hostel (former movie theartre) with good social atmosphere & helpful staff.

Reserve - Toddy’s Backpackers Resort (Nomads) at 41 Gap Rd ( a little way out of the centre but close to the Todd) freecall 1 800 806 240 Email toddys@saharatours.com.au - $18 pn. incl break in dorm units & sep showers/wc. S/c kitchen, TV/ games room, bar & “all you can eat” evening meals. O/s swim pool & shade relax areas. This is a fun hostel with lots of activities going on.

FOOD – for s/c is in plentiful supply at the main Coles - Woolworths or IGA Supermarkets, the competition also makes the prices cheap. Alice is in the middle of OZ on the main highway so is a busy town & attracts many tourists with shops & food outlets to match.

TRAVELLING AROUND – is easy & also challenging around Alice, in the daylight time only, with many special walkways posted around the centre to use. When dark, however, there is a serious problem with drunken/outcast Aborigines, abandoned by their own tribes who sleep at night on the banks of the dry Todd River & stumble around in the centre during the day. Some attractions are out of town & can be reached by the limited but ex. local bus service ASBUS.

“FREE” SIGHTS TO SEE

1. Anzac Hill – Offers fine 360% views over Alice & the surrounding mountains & ridges
2. Todd River – Usually dry the annual big event the “Henly Regatta” is run in bottomless boats
3. Telegraph Station Area – Near the original spring/waterhole, its now a recreation/ picnic site
4. Heavitree Gap – Discovery of this break in the McDonalds(1871) allowed telegraph to progress
5. Visitors Centre – Lots of information., maps & what’s going on in & around town
6. Olive Pink Gardens – Unique opportunity to observe Central Australia’s plants & birds
7. Date Farm – Oz’s oldest plantation, some palms over 100yrs. savour the different fruit varieties
8. Town Library – Relax & catch up with World & local news & see some real aborigines joining
9. “Ghan” Rail Station – End of the track now for this great Adelaide train, soon to reach Darwin
10. AS Golf Course – Truly green, greens with much precious water used, another odd Oz priority

CHARGE SIGHTS NOT TO MISS

1.Telegraph Station Site – One of the 12 Repeater Stations used to boost the Morse Code signals.
2.Royal Flying Doctors Service – See the RFDS in operation & the small museum & souvenir shop
3. School of the Air – Hear live broadcasts to children on remote outback stations learning their 2x2

* Alice & Charles - Jim - Trish - Mad Harry - Luke