Alice Springs!
 

I'm flying to Alice Springs tomorrow morning to visit my eldest daughter.
I'll update this thread with some pics after I get there.

I'm really looking forward to it because I've never been there before.

alice springs - Google Maps

Wow - I here their chicken dish is really good

What's Alice Springs like?

look for this guy!!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1323713765.jpg

Never been there before? What? It's the next town heading north from your house LOL.

My GF lived in Melbourne for a while and did a drive to Alice Springs. She loved it. It should be a good time of year to go too. Looking forward to pics.

Been there numerous times over the years with the USAF. One mission we were asked if we could allow a handful of aboriginal kids on the jet (C141) for a look see. Sure, we love that stuff. One of our crew was a very tall black guy (Leneal) who I always thought looked like OJ. Well the kids were escorted out and standing at the top of the crew ladder is Leneal. Those kids saw nothing else of that jet but him. They encircled him as he walked them thru and they stared at him the entire time, it was hillarious. Neat little town Alice Springs, the flies were always bad when it was hot.

Hi Peter,

Sorry, I've been off line for a couple of days or I would have posted a reply earlier. Welcome to Alice.

I just drove down to Ayers Rock and back today (+900km round trip). I was only there for 1.5 hrs, but you could have come along for the ride.

Crappy time of the year to visit (too hot for bush walking very far) but on the plus side, we've had a lot of rain so it's very green and the wild flowers are sill around. How long are you up for? If it's a while (more than a week), it's worth doing all the Gorges and gaps in both the Eastern and Western Mac's (usual tourist stuff). The sceanery is very similar to that of the oldest parts of the Flinders Ranges around Wilpeana/Arkaroola. Have plenty of water with you ( a litre bottle is not enough). Camel-bak type water packs are the best, 2-3 litres.

If you have more time, places like Kings Canyon, Altunga, Ruby Gap, Boggy Hole, Palm Valley, Chambers Pillar, Henbury Meteorite Crater (very corrigated dirt road - and a wind swept place) and Ayers Rock are all a little further away, but are still worth a look see. Interestingly, I saw the largest piece of the Henbury Meteorite in the Smithsonean when in Washington DC a couple of years ago.

Anyway, have a great visit.

Cheers,

Thanks Jeff... I'm here until Sunday.

Meanwhile some pics from yesterday.

Alice Springs is a beautiful town, taken yesterday. The weather is just perfect right now. Overcast and it's just started to rain.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1323835425.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1323835505.jpg

Simpson's gap 17kms from Alice (GPS Data in properties)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1323835697.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1323835813.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1323836007.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1323836065.jpg

Thanks - Heading thru there on a M/C with a buddy that lives in Hervey Bay after our ride to Phillip Is. (Moto GP) in Oct. 2012.......Any tips appreciated.....

Nice pics.

My Daughter had her wedding ceremony in Simpsons Gap - a very pretty place
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1323989368.jpg

Wow that is seriously out there. I mean really out there.

Peter thanks, there sure is some amazing scenery in Outback Australia. I've been enjoying Keeping up with the Joneses New outback drama: Keeping Up With The Joneses - TV Week - TV News I'll have to do some "real Australia" next time and not just hang around Bondi ;)

man, I have got to get to your country!

Thanks for the picts

I'm loving this place. I'll post more pics soon.

Meanwhile I've been roughing it ;)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1324012364.jpg

On the road back from Jesse gap.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1324012507.jpg

Wow Peter, you sure answered my question! Looks great!

Thanks everybody for the pics of a place where I have never been and likely will never see. I dont have the patience for the flying time from Canada to Oz. But I am sure it is a great place:) Is there much gold mining going on in that area. Just looking at the rocks it looks like a likely place?

There are many different minerals/elements mined in the area. Gold is but one of them. There is also oil and gas in the area. Here's a current mining map;

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1324071307.jpg

One of my lifelong dreams in to visit Australia someday. These pictures remind me why...

Make sure you take a hat. ;)