Alice Springs Round 2

After a very pleasant two weeks traveling around Central Australia we made our way back to Alice Springs on our way to the East MacDonnell Ranges. On the way into town we stopped at Simpsons Gap to enjoy the short walk to the gap and some lunch. We had a few jobs to do in town, but mostly to see a some things that we missed last time we were in Alice and to fill up with food and fuel.

First stop was the Reptile Park. Tig was really looking forward to this but Thea was not so sure, not being a snake fan. With caravan in tow we were lucky enough to find a parking spot just around the corner, pretty good going in suburban Alice streets.

There is nothing fancy about the Reptile Park, situated in an old house, not that you would want to go swimming in the backyard pool, home to Terry their salt water crocodile complete with underwater viewing. It was very interesting watching him from a few feet away at the same level. We all sat patiently for the 15 minutes that he held his breath waiting for him to gracefully lift his nose to the surface for a breath.

Back inside the house there were a hundred or so lizards and snakes. Frank, the Spencer Goanna, roamed the rooms. He was very friendly and patiently sat still while all the kids patted him.

The highlight of the visit was the presentation where we learnt about a Blue Tongue Lizard, a Bearded Dragon, an Olive Python and Frank the Spencer Goanna. Best of all we got to hold them. When the lady asked who would like to hold the python everyone was quiet except Kai who yelled out with hand held high, "me". We were not quite sure if he knew what he volunteered for but he happily went up the front and let the lady drape the python over his shoulders and around his waist even though it was 2 or 3 times longer then he was tall. Both the girls were keen not to be shown up by their little brother and held the python, twice for good measure. Thea didn't hold Suzie Q the python but she did give it a pat. All the kids are now wishfully thinking that on our return to Sydney we will get a lizard of some sort as a pet. They at least understand that it will not be a snake while Thea is living in the same house much to Tig's disappointment.










The following day we managed to visit the School of Air which both Tig and Thea found very interesting. Unfortunately it was a day that the kids didn't wish to participate or listen. Kai particularly didn't cope with the task of listening and watching a short presentation and video. We would love to say Maddi found it unusual the way the children learnt from their teacher over the internet, telephone, mail and sometimes radio, however she was more interested in the craft materials Ella had found. At least all three donated a book each to the library that sends out books in bundles of twenty at a time to each child. They currently have 120 kids enrolled at the school, the child the furthest away is 1200km north of Alice.



After collecting our mail from Alice Springs main post office Maddi was very excited to have a letter addressed to her from her big cousin Anna. Thanks Anna and Jo the stickers were a great hit and thankfully named otherwise Maddi wouldn't have been so keen to share. Kai and Ella's drink bottles are sporting a new sticker on each for further identification.

Once our jobs of food shop, fuel refill, battery recharge, water top up and mail collection were complete we took off for a couple of days to Trephina Gorge in the East MacDonnell Ranges.

Till next time...
Tig and Thea

Alice Springs

Having arrived in Alice in the cold and wet we hoped Friday would be a sunny day as forecast, but alas it was barely an improvement although the rain did clear up, it was still very cold. First stop was Anzac Lookout giving a great view over the town and a big flat area for the kids to run around in the freezing cold. Having got our bearings from above we went for a wander around town and had lunch at an inside cafe to keep out of the cold, followed by an ice-cream (go figure) for the kids while Tig moved the car and bought some new boots.


Then to the Information Centre to get all the details of where to visit and where to stay for the next two weeks and check on road conditions after all this unseasonal rain. Next it's into Woolworths for a two trolley food shop for just about everything we need for the next two weeks before we are back in Alice. Tig and the kids went looking for some boots for Maddi while Thea started filling the first trolley. The rest of the family returned successful just in time to do all the fruit and veg.

Back to the caravan park where the kids, who missed out on going on the jumping pillow yesterday, got to jump until their hearts content while Thea took on the huge task of finding a space in the caravan for all the new food and Tig sat out in the cold to supervise the kids on the jumping pillow until the sun set.

Fortunately the sun shone on us on Saturday as we headed out to some of the many tourist attractions in Alice. First up was the Pioneering Woman's Hall of Fame at the Old Gaol. Then across the road to the Royal Flying Doctor Service for a tour which included an interesting 10 minute video and chat with the tour guide about the great work the RFDS does around Australia. After a late lunch on the tailgate of the car in the car park it was on to the Old Telegraph Station north of town. On arrival at the Reserve around the Telegraph Station we realized we should have come here for lunch rather then the car park. The reserve just outside the Telegraph Station entrance is a lovely open grassed area with lots of ghost gums providing plenty of shade. There were a few larger groups picnicking, but with so much room you hardly noticed them. The Telegraph Station itself was fantastic. It had a great selection of buildings, information on what life at the turn of the century (1900) was like and many information boards to read and digest. The kids had fun running around the large open fenced in area and did at one point make a break through the fence in order to climb some nearby rocks. After wondering around a bit more they were rewarded by Tig with a climb up a steep rock to the top of a hill on the other side of the Todd River (which was actually flowing). From the top of the hill they could enjoy a bird’s eye view over the Telegraph Station buildings and call out to Thea below before making the steep descent on feet and bums back down again. On returning back to the caravan park they got themselves some more time on the jumping pillows before dinner and a good nights sleep was had by all.





The next morning we tried to take advantage of the free pancake breakfast on offer at the caravan park but with a queue a mile long we decided to give it a miss and go back to the jumping pillows for coco pops instead. The pancake event wasn’t really our cup of tea anyway as we (the adults that is) prefer the quieter campsites. The caravan park was great for a wash of the hair, van mains power battery recharge and kids playtime but we prefer the National Park camping grounds with basically no facilities and a lot less people and plenty of space. With almost all our jobs completed it was time to pack up and move on to a more relaxing and scenic location. On our way out of town Tig just had to make one last stop. A quick photo opportunity at Bloomfield Street in Alice Springs.


Next installment coming very soon…
Tig and Thea

Lawn Hill to Alice Springs

We got up and left beautiful Lawn Hill at a respectable time of 9.15am and made our way out of the park before turning south. Unfortunately our blog map doesn’t show accurately were we went as poor Google Maps can’t cope with directing us via this very minor road. Along this road there are four creek/river crossings and the Riversleigh Fossil Site, which is Heritage Listed. Our first stop was the fossil site. It had a very interesting information room and toilet block, both made of a fake rock construction (very well done) with a hole in the roof for natural light. We took the short walk around the fossil site and looked at and read all the information boards. We did however notice that this place wasn’t nearly as well signposted as Lawn Hill and nowhere could we find listed how long the walk was. We didn’t know if we were setting out on a 2-hour walk or just a 20-minute stroll (fortunately the latter). The fossils where interesting and the most captivating fossil was of a flightless bird they called Big Bird that weighted in between 250 and 300kg but was only 2 metres maximum tall, you get the picture.

After leaving the fossil site we came to the biggest creek crossing of the four, the Gregory River. We had on good information that it was only about a knee deep but flowing quite quickly. It had a lovely curved causeway so not a great concern until we where just reaching halfway across and I suddenly realized that Tig had us quiet close to the up stream edge of the causeway. As I pointed this out to him he replied ‘Can you see the edge?’ and drop, off we fell with car and van wheels. Thankfully Tig had his thinking cap on and did a fast foot down and dragged us out of trouble. With my heart pounding I nervously look at him as we low ranged it around the corner onto dry land, Maddi piped up from the back seat ‘That was a bit scary’. Understandably I was a little nervous for the next creek crossing and made sure before entering that we could clearly see the causeway.

After finally leaving the dirt track behind us we progressed to the one lane sealed road and then pulled into a rest area beside the Barkly Highway for a very late lunch. Here we had mobile reception so a few phone calls were made to source parts for our weight distribution system that we broke on the way into Lawn Hill. During lunch we had to make a decision on whether to turn west and head to Mt Isa as planned to restock or east and gain a day or two more in Central Australia. Since the part for the weight distribution system wasn’t available in Mt Isa or Alice Springs and would take two days to be posted in and we had just enough dinners for two more nights out we headed west for Camooweal.

In Camooweal we decided to free camp at a beautiful spot on the Billabong with masses of bird life. We even got to enjoy a cuppa before dinner watching our three monkeys climb the rather large gum we parked beside and all the bird life at the water’s edge. Tig told the kids we had to assume there might we crocs in the billabong in front of us and therefore they were not to go anywhere near the water. This made them stay close to the van and their tree and me definitely not going outside to use natures bathroom that night. Lucky we have a toilet in the van.

After a very quiet and enjoyable night we packed up once again and headed west on an epic drive to Tennant Creek. This stretch of road is very boring and Tig told me it was great preparation for the Nullabour. Thankfully it is over now and we said our good byes to Queensland and hellos to Northern Territory on this stretch.


On our arrival into Tennant Creek we drove into the first caravan park (of two) locked up the car and headed by foot into town. We didn’t realize it at the time but town was a little bit further away than we thought and it ended up being a rather long and hot walk. We did manage to find a supermarket for some bare essentials before piggybacking Kai back to the caravan park. The kids were amazed at how many Aborigines there were around the place and I was amazed at how much broken glass there was on the ground. Ella was only in thongs and I prayed she didn’t step on any of it. Maddi was amazed at how many Aborigines were walking around without any shoes on and didn’t seem to step in the glass.

Early on in the evening I thought it was going to be a very long and restless night when the owner of the caravan park started to yell at someone on what felt like the other side of the park about whether they were staying here or not and were meant to be here. Then an argument broke out with the final words being told to some bloke to ‘get out of here before I call the cops’. Thankfully after that it was a very quiet night and no dramas where had.

Next morning after a quick shop for some more essentials (not carrying them home on foot this time) and fuel we headed just a short 100kms south to our overnight resting place of the Devils Marbles. We pulled into the campground earlier than we have left some places previously and set up, which was lucky as the campground filled up by mid afternoon with large vans squeezing into small spaces by dusk. After a bite to eat and a quick clean of the bikes (just a tad dusty) we went for a bike ride around to the information board and the other rest stop. We had a great time with the four kids (Tig, Maddi, Ella and Kai) climbing all over the marbles and into any crack they could find. It is amazing how these rocks where created by weathering and how they are still ever changing. At one of the information areas there was a very relaxed looking dingo hanging out and watching all the tourists while posing for photographs. After returning to camp and a little journal writing for Maddi we took off and scaled the tallest marble stack we could see for sunset. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t in our favour and the cloud cover was too great for any beautiful sunsets today. We did have a great time sitting on the highest rock overlooking the campground counting all of the caravans, motorhome and odd tents below us. I found it quite nerve racking with the three kids who’s bottoms seemed to move closer to the edge if we weren’t looking for a second. Finally convincing them it was too windy and time to head down we headed back to camp for dinner and bed. It was a bit (ok, very) blowy over night so Tig and I made a late dash to put the awning down so as not to experience ‘awning on roof’ again. We decided to take only the canvas down and leave the framework up in case we decided to pull it out again in the morning.







The sun is rising quite late in the morning so I seem to be waking up (7am) before it at the moment. Unfortunately there was still cloud cover so no memorable sunrise on the Marbles photos to remember it by. The clouds even decided to spit on us a little as we finished packing up. The day turned out to be sunny but a little cold and we even managed to find a play park at Ti Tree for the kids at lunchtime. After a hasty departure from the play park due to a stray dog we headed a few more hours south into a very cold and rainy Alice Spring. On arriving in Alice (3pm and 8 degrees) we happen to drive past the shop we needed to pick up our ordered weight distribution part from, so had a quick stop before continuing onto the Big 4 MacDonnell Ranges Holiday Park for 3 nights. So here we are with extra blankets on our beds and ugg boots back on our feet as it is so cold. As Tig commented earlier this evening it feels like we are in Jindabyne, in winter, not Alice Springs.

Till next time …
Thea