Alice Springs

We decided not to do the Mereenie loop as we had spoken to others who had just done it and said the road was very corrugated and had broken a couple of peoples van axels. It took us 5 hours to get back around to Alice Springs but we had peace of mind that the van would hold up for the next 13 weeks. Once in Alice (we spent 4 nights here) we were able to do day trip to some of the spectacular walks along the West MacDonnell ranges, the Ghost Gum Walk at Ormiston Gorge being one of them. It took us two and half hours, walking up many stairs to the lookout then down the rocky shale cliffs to the creek-bed. The soaring orange and red cliffs were a sight to see from down below, jutting out in staggering formations. We had to climb over boulders to get through the creek-bed which snaked around a couple of bends. Glen offered to piggy back the family across knee high water which of course we all willingly obliged! We then went to Glen Helen Gorge but didn’t think too much of that compared to what we had just seen. Other trips were to the Reptile Centre in town, The Alice Springs School of the Air which was sensational and the Desert Park which houses many birds, dingos, kangaroos and flora. Alice Springs was a great place to rest and stock up again.

The picture says it all!

The famous Gorge that sits in Alice Springs. The Todd River flows right through it.

TIP: If you don’t want to go along the Mereenie Loop you can easily visit the sites on day trips from Alice Springs. Stay at the MacDonnell Ranges Big 4 or G’Day Mate across the road as they are apparently the best in town. The Desert Park is expensive but to get your money’s worth go when the Birds of Prey and dingo presentation is on (unlike us). You will have phone/internet reception in Alice but ensure you charge up your batteries before heading out of Alice again.