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Alice Springs is sprawled between the East and West McDonnell ranges and quite a spectacular setting with an approximate population of 28,000, 10% of which are the local Aboriginal people many of whom speak in their local dialect and not English and fascinating to hear. Coming from Rotorua where there is a high proportion of Maori, I have hardly ever heard the Maori language spoken on the streets there.
We have based ourselves at one of the local camping grounds and have used our bikes to get around as the city is quite flat with plenty of bike lanes. Just as well as it is very very hot here so hills would not be that inviting for sure. The campsite is invaded each night by hundreds of noisy Galahs and we have ensured that our site is well away from the trees that they sleep in. Same goes for any washing on the line which must be taken down unless we want to wash them again to get the bird poo off!
Our campground also is at the foot of the Eastern range called the Gap and are fortunate to have local rock wallabies visiting us every evening at
dusk to eat the food that can be bought in the shop. They are so cute and even hold your hand with their paws while they eat the food from the palm of your hand.
We biked out to the Alice Springs Desert Park where we saw many species of birds in the aviaries, a great nocturnal house (with snakes and scorpions etc) and watched an amazing free flight bird show with Galahs, eagles, hawks and even an owl that they had trained to come out during the day!
The Anzac Day service was, unfortunately, yesterday and we could not get to Alice in time. However we went up Anzac Hill to the look out of the city and it was sad to see all the fresh wreaths of flowers still displayed from all the local schools, armed services and other clubs etc.
Mentioning no name in particular, someone was moving the van and accidentally broke one of the side windows when it collided with a sign! Now, we must base ourselves around Alice Springs whilst we wait a week for a replacement to be trucked in! Actually we have had a great time, relaxing and talking
Alice Spring
Not the spring they thought it was. Dry as a bone!to the neighbours and biking around the place. Yesterday we even decided to head off and explore the West MacDonnell Ranges and camped in the National park there. When we took off for a four hour hike early this morning we simply jammed the table up against the window and stuck a broom behind it and wedged it against our seats so that it was impossible for someone to break in.
Tomorrow, the window will be fixed and we will be on the road north again.
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Dawn and Howard
non-member comment
Glad you are enjoying the Alice, we loved it too when we were there.