ALICE SPRINGS & DAY DRIVES NORTHERN TERRITORY Day 38,39,40
ALICE SPRINGS IN THE
HEART OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
Contrary to popular opinion, the Northern Territory can have cold, overcast and rain showers on multiple days. I experienced this around Alice Springs.
Locally known as The Alice, the town is situated about in the heart of Australia. Almost halfway between Adelaide and Darwin. The usually dry sandy Todd River flows through part of the city and hosts the Henley on Todd Regatta every August.
A good base to explore central Australia. Reverend John Flynn the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service born in Victoria worked in central Australia. He campaigned for an aerial medical service for outback Australia. The RFDS museum is very interesting. Many displays.
During 2024 there was ongoing indigenous youth unrest in the Alice Springs area. A youth curfew was introduced to limit property damage.
Lasseter's Reef
Fabled Lasseter’s Reef is a legendary tale that has captured the imagination of many for decades. Lewis Lasseter's name became synonymous with mystery and adventure when he made the bold claim of discovering an incredibly lucrative gold reef in central Australia back in 1929. The allure of untold riches hidden within the vast and unforgiving Australian outback was enough to spark a gold rush frenzy among prospectors and dreamers alike. Tragically, Lasseter's triumph quickly turned into a heart-wrenching saga as he lost his way back to the elusive reef, ultimately meeting his demise in the harsh desert landscape in 1931. His final resting place in Alice Springs serves as a poignant reminder of the high stakes and unforgiving nature of the Australian wilderness. Despite his untimely end, Lewis Lasseter's legacy lives on through the numerous books, films, and documentaries that have sought to unravel the mystery surrounding his fateful expedition. The Lasseter Highway off the Stuart Highway to Uluru and 245 km in length is named after the prospector. The story of Lasseter's Reef continues to intrigue and captivate adventurers and historians, drawing them into a world where the promise of unimaginable wealth is tempered by the harsh realities of nature and human ambition.
West of Alice Springs
Glen Helen. Glen Helen Lodge is 130 km west of Alice Springs on a sealed road. Motel type rooms and a campground. Small general store and bar. Petrol available. Located next to the Finke River. View to the nearby West MacDonnell Ranges. View of Glen Helen Gorge cliffs. Nearby Redbank Gorge offers spectacular rock colors. Accessed by a somewhat rough track. Mount Sonder, at 1,300 metres, is the highest point in the ranges. Mount Sonder is known locally as the ‘sleeping lady’.
Glen Helen on the Finke River is just short of two hours drive west of Alice Springs along an all sealed road.
My return drive to Alice Springs was in the late afternoon. Cold, overcast and rain showers.
Best to do one day to the west of Alice Springs and the next to the east. Or vice versa.
East of Alice Springs
Ross River is about 85 km east of Alice Springs via a sealed road. Located there is the Ross River Homestead. Bar, café and dining area. Fuel available. Outback atmosphere. An oncoming roadtrain gave me a stone chip on my car windscreen along the Ross Highway east of Alice Springs.
Ross River Resort (Homestead) is a one hour drive east of Alice Springs along an all sealed road.
Traveldriven
ALICE SPRINGS FIVE DAY FORECAST
WEST OF ALICE SPRINGS SEALED ROAD
EAST OF ALICE SPRINGS SEALED ROAD
ROADSIDE MEMORIAL
ROSS RIVER EAST OF
ALICE SPRINGS
OUTBACK ROCK STACKS
OUTBACK ROCK OUTCROP
THE THREE PILLARS SIGNAGE
THREE CATERPILLARS OF
EMILY GAP
EAST OF ALICE SPRINGS ROSS HIGHWAY
DESERT ROCK
FLIES AND MORE FLIES
ALICE SPRINGS
