Alice Springs, Australia
An Antipodean travel company serving World Travellers since 1983. Alice Springs is one of the Northern Territory’s most popular highlights. Odyssey offers small group tours for mature and senior travellers, couples, and solo travelers to Australia and the Northern Territory.
History
The area around Alice Springs has been traditionally inhabited by the Arrernte people, with the region’s Indigenous history stretching back an incredible 30,000 years. settlement of the stretches back even further, with the first recorded evidence dating back an incredible 60,000 years. In relation to this epic timespan, European influence in the region is relatively recent, with the first recorded European contact with the region coming around the year 1861, with explorer John Stuart passing through the region along his journey connecting ‘s northern and southern frontiers during his 6th major expedition. The impetus for this expedition came largely from the South Australian government, who funded the expedition in an effort to establish an overland telegraph line, connecting ‘s disparate colonies more closely with the wider world. At the time, exploration of this region was an incredibly difficult affair, with multiple parties meeting their ends, with the harsh and arid conditions of central and the proving a significant barrier. Stuart himself was part of an earlier failed expedition that ventured nearby, lead by Charles Sturt in his quest to find for ‘s rumoured inland sea. Following the success of Stuart, a telegraph station was established in the region in 1872, with a large nearby waterhole allowing a small settlement to maintain basic subsistence. This settlement, named ‘Stuart’ after the explorer, was the first European settlement in central , though the population remained tiny for some decades to come.
From this point until 1929, the population of the settlement never numbered more than 40 people or so, with the ‘s largest structure being the small jail, used predominantly to incarcerate Indigenous men for poaching cattle. The year 1929 marked the first real connection with wider , with a rail line connecting the settlement with , and providing far easier transport than previous routes, which had relied mostly on camels. Following this, the towns population began to grow and became more recognised, though it remained relatively small as a whole. This change was also reflected in the new name of the , being officially renamed as ‘Alice Springs’ in 1933, after the wife of Sir Charles Todd, the Postmaster General at the time. The next major chapter in Alice Spring’s history came with the outbreak of World War II, when the served as a major staging post and supply depot for Australian forces, during this time period the was host to over 8,000 soldiers, with an additional 200,000 personnel passing through on their way to or from other theatres. This influx of such a massive number of people transformed the small , which up until this point had a population of only about 500, with new infrastructure and facilities established by the army to support the growing detachment. The even served as the interim capital of the following the Japanese bombing and evacuation of Darwin in 1942, after which half of Darwin’s population left the city permanently. In the post-war period, Alice Springs retained some military importance with the establishment of the joint U.S-Australian Pine Gap facility, though the towns main development came from the growth of tourism, much of which came from the ‘s unique position in the heart of some of ‘s most wild and rugged country.
Travelling to Alice Springs
When it comes to exploring Central , a is far and away the best way to explore ‘s red centre, being ideally situated as a regional hub around some of the ‘s most incredible national parks, as well as being a vibrant in its own right, particularly for those interested in exploring , and Art. The itself has a number of galleries and museums visitors can find, with the ‘s central arcade around Todd Mall being where many of the ‘s private galleries and shops are located. Notable among the ‘s galleries is the Araluen Arts Centre, as well as the Albert Namatjira Gallery, collectively Alice Springs’ galleries make it the place with the largest collection of Art in the world. For art enthusiasts travelling a little further afield, you may also consider visiting , here you can find what was once a Lutheran mission, now home to many of Namatjira’s most famous originals. Alice Springs also has a number of museums which showcase the ‘s unique history in the heart of the , among these are the Museum of Central , which showcases the region’s natural heritage, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum, the Women’s Museum housed in the ‘s old gaol, and the Old Timers Traeger Museum, which showcases what life was like for early European settlers in Central . Depending on what time of the year you visit, you may also catch some of Alice Springs’ unique events, such as the Henley on Todd Regatta, where locals engage in a mock ‘boat’ race along the dry, sandy riverbed of the Todd river, unsurprisingly, this ‘boat’ race is the only of its kind in the world, being one of Alice Spring’s funniest and most cherished traditions. While not unique to Alice Springs, camel racing is another local event not often found outside the middle east, and is definitely something to see if you have any time on your . Also be sure to take a walk up to during your time in , which provides a good spot from which to look over above the .
Perhaps the most iconic image that comes to mind when you think about Alice Springs, or even as a whole, is the of , otherwise known as . Located in , about 450km away from Alice Springs, an is perhaps a bit further away than a simple , with the drive taking about 5 hours each way. With this in mind, travelling to is best taken as an experience unto itself, or as part of a , with nearby accommodation allowing visitors to watch the iconic , or as night and rolls over, not to mention the incredibly clear . The sheer scale and drama of this is an impressive sight, imbuing the landscape with a sense of the sacred one can visibly see, as well as learn about through its important place in . Moving on to the north east of , another worth visiting is Watarrka , here you can find a number of amazing natural wonders, including the dramatic King’s with its red stone cliffs, or Kathleen with its serene waterfall in the heart of the . Moving east and you’ll come to Finke , which is known for its beautiful , the Palm Trees growing here are an anomaly for central , with the next closest trees of its kind located almost 1000km away in Queensland. Despite this, the unique environment with its semi-permanent spring fed pools allow to flourish as an oasis in one of the mot unlikely of places. While near Finke , this is also a good opportunity to stop by the of , where visitors can find some of artist Albert Namatjira’s most famous works. The last two natural attractions are twins of one another, each located about 150km east and west of Alice Springs, ideal for those looking for a into the wilderness, namely the East, and Ranges. Full of undulating landscapes, replete with gorges, canyons, and springs, the ranges are a great and easy way to have a relatively close to the comfort of , the ranges are a great place for spotting wildlife, out, watching the , and then in the morning, encapsulating the kind of that makes a special. One of the best way to experience what Alice Springs, and the has to offer is with a small group . Odyssey specializes in this kind of , offering an engaged and intimate to Alice Springs ideal for seniors, solo travellers, and couples heading to Alice Springs and the .
