You can walk for miles through the red, dusty outback without encountering a soul; and then there’s Alice Springs, once little more than a telegraph station and now a thriving community of 25,000 and the main gateway to the famous Uluru monolith.
To say that Alice Springs is unique would be an understatement. Where else can you see grown men running while carrying life size boat models along a dry river bed in the annual Henly-on-Todd regatta, or find a festival devoted to the virtues of the beanie?
There’s plenty of entertainment for the slightly less eccentric and the proliferation of watering holes and shopping establishments can make it easy to forget just how remote it is. This is also a major centre for the aboriginal community, with Todd Mall hosting several aboriginal events throughout the year near a number of galleries devoted to their art.
Where to stay
There’s a limited choice in Alice, with Crowne Plaza Hotel probably the best equipped and most pleasant. Alice Motor Inn is a no nonsense alternative with good service, though the location can be inconvenient; the same might be said of the Airport Motel.
Where to eat
Todd Mall has the highest concentration of restaurants and bars, serving standard Aussie fare as well as the more exotic barramundi, kangaroo, crocodile and camel. Overlanders Steakhouse is recommended. Ignore the slightly tacky facade at Bojangles Saloon and Dining Room, the food and ambience are very good.
What to see
You can’t go to Alice Springs without seeing Ayer’s Rock. Try to avoid walking on it though as it’s sacred to the aborigines. You’ll get a better appreciation for that by exploring the aboriginal art galleries, where you can also talk to some of them first hand about their way of life.
