Alice is kind of like Oz, a town far far away in the middle of, well, a dictionary definition of nowhere: namely the desert. A big red one, to boot. Here are a few suggestions on how to best wrap your head around this remote and fascinating part of the world.
Hot-Air Balloon Ride
There is nothing better than an overall perspective from a great height to give you a good idea of the hugeness, beauty and the sheer spectacular nature of the Australian outback and the MacDonnell Ranges. Such as from, say, a hot-air balloon ride on a clear day, on which you can actually see forever. Hot-air balloons beat planes and any other form of air transport not only with their obvious coolness factor and fabulous looks, but predominantly due to the nature of the experience they offer: their silence (except for the flame bursts, but compared to a helicopter that is silence!), gliding motion and the way you can appreciate that 360 degree view of the landscapes around you is truly unique. You’ll also spot wildlife, including budgerigars, galahs, big red kangaroos and emus. The one drawback for some is that you do have to get up early – before dawn, when it’s still cool. That way you get to see the sunrise and, to top it all off, there is a champagne breakfast at the end of your flight. One word of warning: you’ll want to do it again!
Alice Springs Desert Park (Larapinta Drive, 7.30am to 6.00pm)
This park does a great job of introducing the predominant landscapes and wildlife of central Australia in one open-air setting, where you can observe animals quite difficult to see in the wild. There are plenty of informative guided talks, as well as shows like the birds of prey display, featuring kestrels, kites and wedge-tailed eagles.
- Alice Springs Desert Parkisland home / Water Photos / CC BY-NC
The fantastic nocturnal house showcases species active by night, however if this is not enough adventure for you, there is another option. One of the most fun activities you can do here is to also come back for a nocturnal tour, starting around 7.30pm or later, depending on time of year. Along with some wildlife spotting help from your guide and a spotlight, venture into the foothills of the MacDonnell Ranges. This way, you’ll be able to witness and explore the desert and its wildlife at its most fascinatingly active. Some of the animals you’re likely to see include bilbies coming in and out of their burrows, and malas and echidnas foraging for food.
The Kangaroo Sanctuary (11 Colonel Rose Drive)
This is one of those special places that wins the hearts of visitors from across the globe and ranks as a favourite thing to do when you have travelled to Alice Springs. Driven by one man’s passion and love for animals, the Kangaroo Sanctuary takes care of wildlife injured through road accidents. The Sanctuary is a “forever” home only for kangaroos who cannot be returned to the wild (and some can be patted and fed by hand), but its main objective is to rescue and rear babies and joeys and then release them back into the wild. Usually there is a joey around whom you’ll be able to hold in a special hand-made pouch during your tour and maybe even bottle-feed it! Chris “Brolga” Barns, the owner, keeps many photos of kangaroos he rescued over the years and the knowledge he shares with visitors about these fascinating creatures is truly mind-expanding. You’ll also get a good idea of what life is like in the real outback.
Citations – cc commons flickr photo by Stephen Barnett
