| As a Central Australian, I'm often miffed when | | | | telegraph had to go, it needed repeater stations to |
| people tell me they are going to Central Australia to | | | | re-energise the transmissions. North of Alice springs a |
| see "that big rock". There is much more to the Red | | | | few kilometres is the original Overland Telegraph |
| Centre than the big rock, more appropriately called | | | | Station. |
| Ayres Rock, or by it's Aboriginal name, Uluru. | | | | The Alice on the south has a stunning mountain range |
| Over the many years I have lived in Central Australia, | | | | called the MacDonnell Ranges that run in almost a |
| tourists have asked me some strange questions. For | | | | straight line from east to west. Almost by divine |
| example, "Is it true that Ayres Rock is hollow and | | | | providence, there is a gap in the range created by |
| extends underground with a sub-terranean city for | | | | the usually dry Todd River. This gap allows passage |
| the Australian Government to go in times of disaster | | | | into and out of the township on the southern side. |
| or nuclear attack?" Or another, more common one, | | | | What can you expect to see and do at The Alice? |
| "Can you see Ayres Rock from Alice Springs?" | | | | Apart from the stunning natural beauty of the |
| I really don't know the answer to the first question | | | | MacDonnell Ranges, beautiful clear, blue skies and |
| and usually respond to the latter, "Can you see | | | | nearby gaps like Emily and Simpson's Gap,(a |
| 400km?" Many, particularly Japanese tourists who | | | | photographer's dream) there is a Desert Wildlife Park |
| have no real idea about large spaces and US citizens, | | | | set at the bottom of the ranges on the western side |
| who are unaccustomed to the metric system, look | | | | of town that is second to none; see the Australian |
| at me blankly. No, unless you were a couple of dozen | | | | wildlife and reptiles in their natural habitats. |
| kilometres up, you definitely can't see Ayres Rock | | | | We have a reptile farm, a camel farm, numerous |
| from The Alice. | | | | Aboriginal art shops, world class hotels, a saloon bar |
| However, unless you fly directly to Ayres Rock from | | | | called Bojangles that web-casts across the Internet |
| Perth or somewhere else, you usually don't get there | | | | (with a bit of planning, you can wave to your friends |
| without going through Alice Springs, or "The Alice" as | | | | at home as you sip a coldie or have a meal). Araluen |
| we who live there prefer to call it. | | | | Cultural Precinct will satisfy the needs of artists and |
| If you plan to go to Ayres Rock via Alice Springs, | | | | people interested in theatre. Nearby there is the |
| don't waste your money and by-pass The Alice. You'll | | | | Strehlow Centre with Aboriginal artifacts and much |
| do yourself a great disservice and miss some | | | | more. The Royal Flying Doctor Service is also worth a |
| wonderful tourist experiences. Don't get me wrong, | | | | visit as is the School of the Air. |
| Ayres Rock is great to see at least once. But that's | | | | The best time to visit is between April and October |
| really all there is at Uluru along with some very high | | | | when the weather is cooler and more pleasant. |
| class hotels ... The Rock! | | | | So, when you plan your holiday to visit that "big rock |
| Alice Springs was originally a staging post for the | | | | down under", don't forget to spend three or four |
| overland telegraph line that went from Adelaide in | | | | days at The Alice. You won't regret it and, you |
| South Australia to Darwin at the "Top End" of the | | | | never know, you may just run into me. If you do |
| Northern Territory. Because of the vast distance the | | | | say, "Hi! |