Alice Springs

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Day 18

We did a number of sightseeing activities in and around Alice Springs, including having a local Aboriginal guide take us out on a nocturnal tour spotting Mala, Bettongs, and Bandicoots. Though, I think the highlight for the kids was hand feeding the rock wallabies that come down every night into the neighbouring campsite. For $1 a bag of feed, the kids had a ball feeding them and spotting the ones that were carrying joeys.

Day 19

Well, today had it’s share of strange sights. We set off from Alice to reach Wycliffe Well, so a long driving day for us. We stopped at Ti Tree which looked to consist of little more than a pub and a police station. Fortunately, I had premade sandwiches so we just found a nice shady spot, Maarten set up table and chairs. It was most civilised (unlike our surroundings…)

Our next stop was at the small Barrow Creek Hotel, a pub which has taken graffiti to a whole new level. Every inch of the walls doors an even part of the ceiling was covered in the signatures and well wishes of travellers, nomads and backpackers who’ve stopped here over the years. Many other things adorn the walls from horse harnesses, stockmans hats, shop signs and countless faded photographs of (presumably) previous pub patrons. The proprieter was happy for me to take photos of the pub but not of himself which was a shame as he was as uniquely weathered as his establishment.

Our next (and final) stop for the day was the Wycliffe Well Caravan Park, now this park takes ‘crazy’ to a whole new level. It would appear this is an area known for it’s UFO sightings. The people here have taken that concept and run with it. Everything in and around the park has an ‘alien’ flavour from the welcome signs to the directions to the toilets. Great big murals cover most of the buildings (all depicting little green men and their spacecraft) quite a great deal of effort has gone into this though. The kids thought it was great, especially the life size statue of the Incredible Hulk in the middle of the lawn.

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