Alice Springs on the Todd River

The Australian Outback provides some of the greatest wonders that you will ever see. Alice Springs sits a on the shore of the Todd River, known as Lhere Mparntwe by the Arrernte people and pronounced ler-ra m-barn-twa. Running through the center of Alice Springs, this ephemeral river is dry for approximately 95% of the year. During heavy rainfall, the catchment area fills with water and the Todd River’s flow reaches Alice Springs 6 – 8 hours later. The river fills from bank to bank in about 15 minutes. As it begins to flow through the town, you can walk as you follow the leading edge of the river.

When the river flows it is cause for celebration. People gather on the causeways and Telegraph Station to play in the murky water even though it can be quite dangerous because of the debris that gets carried by the water. In 1997, a man drowned while riding the waters of the Todd River on an inflatable mattress.

Before the river reaches Alice Springs, it drops 100 meters from Junction Waterhole, winds over an 8 km stretch and reaches the bottom of the drop at Telegraph Station. The area is rocky and hilly creating a series of grade 2 to 3 rapids. The locals haul out their kayaks and take to the water to traverse the rapids. Since the river flow is so fleeting, everyone seizes the time that it flows to make the most of it.

Beginning in 1961 to poke fun at early British settlers, Alice Springs hosts the annual mock regatta, Henley-on-Todd Regatta, every spring. The Henley-on-Todd Regatta is held on the dry Todd River bed. “Boats” are made from metal frames with no bottom and festooned with banners with the “rowers” standing inside of the frame. The rowers pick up the frame and run along the riverbed, It is the only dry river regatta in the world and it holds the distinction of being the only regatta that has been cancelled due to water in the venue. The festivities are a daylong affair and tourists and locals love it. Only in the Australian Outback would you find this kind of humor.

Alice Spring is also home to the Alice Desert Festival, a cultural celebration of the talents that call Central Australia home with a bit of international flavor thrown into the mix.. The spotlight is on the diverse talents of artists and performers with more than 100 events, the organizers are also able to pay homage to the aboriginal culture throughout the festival. The Alice Desert Festival runs for more than a week and allows one to be submerged in the festival culture.

Alice Springs truly is one of the best places to visit in the Australian Outback. There is so much to do there that you could easily stay a while and never get bored.