Alice Springs
AIce SpringsAlice Springs Guidebook
The Aborigines' early history and civilization found expression in petroglyphs, bodpainting and floor design, some of which date back more than 30,000 years. 1971 a teacher, Geoffrey Bardon, saw the transient arts just northwest of Alice Spring in Papunya. Works of artwork are exhibited in all of Alice Springs, such as the Papunya Tula galery, which belongs to and is run by the Western Desert's native Aborigines.
Scale Anzac Hill and enjoy the view over Alice Springs and the remote MacDonnell Ranges. On both sides of Alice Springs are the caterpillar-like East and West MacDonnell Ranges. They are full of unbelievable vistas, hikes, four-wheel drive trails, fresh water swims and campsites.
Take a trip to the West MacDonnell Ranges (home of the Larapinta Trail) to explore Simpsons Gap and Schwarzfuss walls. Experience the rising reddish rocks and swims in Ormiston Gorge and Pound, or explore Finke Gorge National Park. The 223 km long Larapinta Trail starts just outside the center of Alice Springs and consists of 12 parts, which are partially or completely accessible.
World Expeditions and Trek Larapinta are a number of businesses offering several days of accompanied walks along the itinerary. Along the path, which is peppered with fresh water swims in various places, you will find different levels of difficulty and terrains, in which there are several breathtaking canyons and picturesque summits. Half way between Alice Springs and Uluru is Kings Canyon, an age old group of rising cliffs with thickly forested palms.
Some 600 plant and animal life lives here alongside the Luritja Aborigines, who have been living in the Watarrka National Park area for more than 20,000 years. At dawn or dusk, climb to the top of Kings Canyon. Kings Canyon is three to four long and lasts three to four h. The Kings Canyon Race Walk is six kilometres long.
They can also take a walking tour with an ancient aborigine and find out about the importance of the area for their family. A short and easy walking tour at the bottom of King's Creek takes you through luscious fern and eucalyptus trees to a plateau overlooking the rugged cliffs of the canyons.
To relax your feet, you can enjoy the scenery from the back of a camera, fly a chopper or take a quads around Kings Creek Station. Located between the capitals of Darwin and Adelaide, Alice Springs has an asphalt motorway that connects the three towns.
From Alice Springs it is about 16 hrs to the two cities, and the street has periodic petrol stops, small cities and rest stops. The Ghan, a convenient and beautiful rail ride between Adelaide and Darwin via Alice Springs and Katherine, is another way to explore the area.