A Town Like Alice.... Springs that is!

Across the Street from the Alice Motor Motel

After a nice 2-1/2 hour flight we landed in the official Australian Outback in the heart of the northern territory, Alice Springs.  Alice Springs is located close to the Tropic of Capricorn and as such, has hot weather and occasionally, floods.  Fortunately, the weather is great today - not too hot with a cloud cover.  We're staying at a modest place, the Alice Motor Inn.  We are a 10-minute walk to the heart of town and hit the coffee shop first thing and the little stores after that.  There are gorgeous aboriginal art shops throughout town and we all enjoyed browsing. 



Alice Springs from ANZAC Hill

This afternoon we went on a tour of Alice.  I really enjoyed hearing about the Royal Flying Doctors Service that was established in the 1930s and continues today.  The government provides planes to fly out patients at a moment's notice to hospitals free of charge.  They even provide well visits and inoculations to rural populations.  The Alice Springs School of the Air, was also of interest, being the first of its kind in the world.  Children who live in remote areas (presently 106 students) are educated beginning at Age 4-1/2 years via the internet (originally radio).   It is the largest classroom in the world covering 521,000 square miles or double the size of Texas.  This is a government provided education at a cost of $100 annually per child.  The school is in the top 10% of the educational system of the northern territory.  We also checked out the first telegraph station and visited a reptile center (some interesting creatures)!  Early to bed tonight for a 5 hour bus trip to the Big Rock.

Some Photos

Alice Springs

Flying Doctor Service

Alice Springs Things to Do