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.

The West MacDonnell Ranges

The mountains around Alice Springs are called the MacDonnells Ranges. Set in the Heavitree Gap, Alice Springs has the West MacDonnell Ranges to its west and the East MacDonnell Ranges lie to the east. The easy vehicle access to these mountains makes them a popular attraction to visitors exploring the area around Alice Springs. Covering a distance of 250 km in length, a jewel in the Australian Outback, the West MacDonnell National Park offers many sights to see and explore. The area offers The Larapinta Trail, the Ellery Creek Bighole, and Mount Sonder..

Stretching more than 220 km from Alice Springs, through the West MacDonnell National Park to Redbank Gorge, the famed Larapinta Trail has to be one of the Outback’s most incredible walks. To walk the entire Larapinta Trail takes about 2 weeks and National Geographic has deemed it to be one of the planet’s top 20 trekking experiences. Although it offers a challenge to hikers of all levels, the Larapinta Trail has been broken into 12 walks as it weaves through some of the world’s oldest igneous and metamorphic rock and rare flora from some 600 species. There is a section of the trail to appeal to everyone.

Ellery Creek Big Hole Nature Park is a great picnic site and is just 2 km from the roadway. The beauty of the deep, clear waters of Ellery Creek Big Hole lures the visitor into taking a 150m swim across the waterhole to the other side. Across the pool, the picturesque fine white sand of the beach contrasts with the red cliff walls. There are some very nice walks that will allow you to enjoy the full beauty of the waterhole.

Rwetyepme, better known as Mount Sonder, is at one end of the Larapinta Trail. There is a clearly marked 12 km walking trail on the western side. This trail takes you to the summit that, although not the actual summit has been selected to keep visitors safe. The view from the summit is breathtaking. There is water available from a water tank near the parking area.

Among the other sights to see are Simpson’s Gap where the black-footed rock wallabies can be seen at dawn and dusk, Standley Chasm offers an incredible botanical experience, Serpentine Gorge with walking trails lined by River Red gumtrees, Ormiston Pound a ring of mountains encompassing Mount Giles, and Redbank Gorge that offers breathtaking water exploration. By no means are the sights in the West MacDonnell National Park limited to these areas. There is so much more to see when you visit the West MacDonnell National Park that you need a week or so to explore in the main areas.

One more incredible Outback experience to create amazing memories.

Watarrka National Park

Approximately 300 km to the south west of Alice Springs, Watarrka National Park spreads itself over 720 square kilometers. Watarrka National Park is home to the mighty chasm known as Kings Canyon, the second most visited attraction in the Australian Outback. Although the Watarrka National Park protects the rugged western edge of the George Gill Range where Kings Canyon is located, most tourists are unaware of the real name and refer to the park as Kings Canyon. The red sandstone walls of Kings Canyon majestically rise more than 300 meters to tower over Kings Creek below. Looking up from below, or down from above, will leave you awestruck.

That nature carved this incredible canyon leaves visitors looking at it with wonderment. At the bottom of the canyon walls, protected from the elements by the chasm, lush foliage of cycads, palms, and ferns thrive.

The walks offered to the public are: the 2.6 km Kings Creek Walk, the 6 hour Kings Canyon Rim Walk, the 2.6 km Kathleen Springs Walk and the 22 km Giles Track. He public is requested not to leave the walking tracks to avoid inadvertently walking on sacred ground.

The Kings Creek Walk is a gentle 2,6 km walk that the family can enjoy together. The walk Takes you along the canyon floor to a lookout. The lookout provides stunning views of the canyon walls.

The Kings Canyon Rim Walk is not for those of below average fitness. The walk is physically taxing in parts and the walk is nicknamed Heart Attack Hill for good reason. The initial part of the walk is up a relatively steep incline. The walk takes you from the canyon floor to the canyon rim where you can drink in the spectacular vista and then back down again. You are required to walk in a clockwise direction so there is no traffic that you may meet and there is no avoiding the steep climb.

The Kathleen Springs Walk is a leisurely 2.6 stroll though picturesque scenery to an idyllic spring-fed water hole.

The Giles Track is for the seasoned walker. This walk connects the Kings Canyon Rim Walk to Kathleen Springs Walk by way of the range rims and is an overnight walk. The breathtaking vistas spread before you as you make your way along the trail. This walk must be planned to accommodate the weather and environment.

The Watarrka National Park in the Australian Outback offers you some of the most awe inspiring landscape in the world.

Alice Springs

Known as Stuart until 1930 and located in the Northern Territory of Australia, Alice Springs is second only to Darwin in population. This former service city is now reliant on the tourists that flood in to take in the sights and activities in the area. Accommodations abound ranging from luxury to caravan parks making it appealing to all sorts of travelers. Home to the Alice Springs Desert Park, this park is the epitome what the Australian Outback is. The animals, the plants, the landscape, and the dry harsh desert clime are all hallmarks of the Outback.

When visiting this wonderful park, plan on spending most of the day there because you will lose track of time as you wander the different habitats, sit through the shows and presentations (especially the Birds of Prey), and learn about the desert. This truly is a “must go to” destination.

With Australia having some of the deadliest snakes in the world, it is not surprising to find the Alice Springs Reptile Center in the city center. It should be on every tourist’s itinerary as a “must see” attraction. It houses more than 100 reptiles representing over 30 species, from the harmless olive python that is used in the hands on demonstrations to some of the deadliest snakes in the world and a wide assortment of lizards to fascinate the visitor. In addition, although not native to the area, Terry the saltwater crocodile was found in the Darwin harbor and given a home at the Alice Springs Reptile Center. Overall, the visit is well worth the price of admission.

Every visit has to include a trip out to Gemtree. This is a unique experience that will bring out the adventurer in young and old alike. At Gemtree, you get to search for Australian gemstones and they supply all the equipment, guides and appraisals. You keep the gems that you find. There is even a gem cutting service on site from April to September. Make sure that you take water with you.

The sheer number of activities to take part in, sights to see, and tours to go on will keep you busy for days. There is so much to do in the area that it boggles the mind. When you go to Alice Springs, make sure to stay for several days so that you are able to fully explore the city and area surrounding it.

The Australian Outback offers you a world of discovery. Come and explore it.