The city of Alice Springs is found in the middle of the Australian continent and is the unofficial but unchallenged capital of the Australia’s huge outback.  This unique city is rich in history and natural features, and is the ideal base from which to explore Australia’s Red Centre which includes world famous features such as Uluru ( Ayers Rock ), Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon and the MacDonnell Ranges. 

Alice Springs is nestled in the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia.  Approximately equidistant between Adelaide and Darwin, it lies almost at the geographical centre of Australia, approximately 1500 kilometres from any major Australian city in any direction.  The highest mountain in the Northern Territory of Australia, Mount Zeil, rises to 1,525 metres out of the West MacDonnell Ranges about 200 kilometres west of Alice Springs.  The town has a growing population of about 28,000 and is today a thriving regional centre where a fantastic variety of tours, accommodation and activities for each taste and budget are available. 

The history of Alice Springs commenced in 1871 with the construction of a telegraph repeater station, one of several such stations built between Adelaide and Darwin as an element of the historic Overland telegram.  Originally known as Stuart, this name was never really favored and in 1933 the town’s name was officially changed to Alice Springs.  Development was at first slow, with the first dust road to Adelaide not being replaced until 1987.  Till then, travellers including train travellers on the historic Ghan railway followed the same route north as that followed by early Scottish explorer John MacDouall Stuart, north from Port Augusta in South Australia to Alice Springs via the outback cities of Oodnadatta and Finke.  Today, the Stuart highway which runs from Adelaide to Darwin is a first class road suitable for any auto. 

Development in Alice Springs accelerated greatly in the 1980’s, and the town today is a modern, moderate sized municipality with a treasure house of resources and facilities compared to similar sized Australian cities.  The Ghan railway played a major role in the town’s development, first arriving in 1929.  The railway line was latterly extended north to Darwin, with the ensuing route across the center of the Australian continent from Adelaide to Darwin now representing one of the world’s great train journeys. 

A variety of historic buildings can be discovered in the centre of Alice Springs, including the original surgery in Adelaide House, the John Flynn Museum and Church, the Old Courthouse, the residence and the Stuart town Gaol.  The original telegram Station is found in a reserve a short distance outside Alice Springs to the north.  On the eastern side side of the normally dry Todd river, which runs through the center of city, is the Olive Pink Botanic Garden, a dry zone botanical garden located right in the center of city. 

Alice Springs is located in a generally dry region, with glorious cloudless blue skies from April to Sep.  Rainfall is unreliable and patchy, but can usually be predicted in the hotter summer months from October to March.  During summer, temperatures of forty degrees C ( 104-108 F ) are common, while in winter ( June to Aug ) overnite temperatures often fall below freezing point.  Winter days are generally bright and bright, making this the most popular time of year for visitors. 

Info about the Arrernte people of Alice Springs can be found at the Strehlow Research Centre, where many fascinating artifacts are displayed.  The Araluen humanities Centre maintains a massive collection of paintings by Aboriginal artists from the Alice Springs area, including respected the watercolour painter Albert Namatjira.  Lots of other activities are available in and around Alice Springs, including hot air ballooning, horse and camel riding, cycling, and journeys to nearby natural attractions in the MacDonnell Ranges.  Alice Springs also hosts a variety of events and festivals in the cooler months between May and September. 

Alice Springs is well serviced with accommodation suited to all tastes and budgets, from backpacker hostels to luxury hotels, and has several good eateries.  Alice Springs is easily accessible by air or bus from all Australian capital cities.  To travel in style to Alice Springs, consider the plush Ghan train which departs from Darwin, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.  Cars can be carried on the Ghan so that your own transport is available when you arrive in Alice Springs.

How many wonders have you visit during your lifetime? Visit famouswonders.com and see the top wonders of the world and also have a look at Olgas in Australia.

Tagged with: • • •

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!