Alice Springs (Northern Territory, Australia)

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Alice Springs, located in the heart of the 'MacDonnell Ranges' in Australia's Northern Territory, is Australia's most famous Oasis and the capital of the Outback.

It is where the Arrernte Aboriginal tribal group have lived for 20,000 years and where pioneer men and women gave "tough" a new meaning. It's where they race camels, hold hilarious holiday regattas in dry river beds and where Peter Finch finally caught up with Virginia McKenna in the 1956 film classic "A Town Like Alice" . If you think 'The Alice' is hot, flat and dusty then you would be wrong, because there are stunning ranges, spectacular gum trees, refreshing waterholes, beautiful palm trees, awesome colours, more waterholes , amazing wildlife and a lush green golf course to name but a few.

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Popular attractions and activities include:

MacDonnell Ranges : Alice Springs is located in the heart of these striking ranges. 14 miles (22km) west of Alice Springs visit Simpson's Gap and ancient Standley Chasm. At noon, see the changing color of the cliff faces as the sun reaches the bottom of the gorge. Swim in Ellery Creek Big Hole or Ormiston Gorge. Visit Alice Springs peacefully rests in the warm Outback sun.

Ewaninga Rock Carvings Conservation Reserve: Fine carvings (petroglyphs) of abstract symbols and animal tracks that go back 300 generations. A short 4WD trip south of Alice Springs.

Frontier Camel Farm : 5 miles (8km) southeast of Alice Springs. Ride a camel for an hour or three-day trek. Visit the Camel Museum and view the Arid Australian Reptile Display. 9am- 5pm daily.

Pitchi Richi Sanctuary : Established by Leo Corbet in 1955 and developed as a bird sanctuary. The museum is a tribute to the Outback pioneers. Also presents Aboriginal stories and contains a collection of Aboriginal clay sculptures. 9am-2pm.

Old Telegraph Station Stuart Hwy : View historic telegraph equipment at the site of the original Alice Springs settlement and communications post. 8am-7pm daily. Panorama Guth : Painted by artist Henk Guth, this breathtaking 360" painting of Central Australia is 20 feet (6m) high and 203 feet (61m) round. The gallery houses a permanent art collection including Aboriginal artifacts and watercolors by artists such as Albert Namatjira. 10am-5pm Mon-Sat.

Ghan Preservation Society Rail Museum : MacDonnell Siding, a few miles south of Alice Springs. See and ride the Old Ghan train on a 14-mile (23km) private track. 10am-5pm daily.

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Population: 20.090.400
Languages: English 79%, native and other languages
Currency: Australian dollar
Currency code: AUD
Local Times:
Australia - Australian Capital Territory - Canberra

Australia - New South Wales - Sydney

Australia - Tasmania - Hobart

Australia - Western Australia - Perth

Country Dialling Code: +61
Voltage: 240V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
Flat prongs, inverted 'V' positioned with earth connector

Flat prongs, inverted 'V' positioned with earth connector

Australia, officially called the Commonweath of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the continental mainland (the smallest of the World\'s continents).

The continent of Australia, with the island state of Tasmania, is approximately equal in area to the United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). Mountain ranges run from north to south along the east coast, reaching their highest point in Mount Kosciusko (7,308 ft; 2,228 m). The western half of the continent is occupied by a desert plateau that rises into barren, rolling hills near the west coast. The Great Barrier Reef, extending about 1,245 mi (2,000 km), lies along the northeast coast. The island of Tasmania (26,178 sq mi; 67,800 sq km) is off the southeast coast.

It may be one of the world's most ancient lands with its mystical red centre and brooding rock formations, but Australia is also characterised by its youthful energy, its freshness and its \'no worries\' philosophy.

Most of the population lives within a few miles of the beach and with the working day beginning and ending early, it\'s not uncommon to see city slickers out of their suits and into the surf come 4.30pm.

In high summer many families will enjoy a simple backyard barbecue several times a week.

The 22-hour journey means most European people visit for at least a couple of weeks, allowing time for all that the country has to offer, including its chic cities, terracotta desert, lush bush and magical ocean reefs.

But the sheer size of Australia means that one visit is unlikely to be enough.

The most popular attractions are undoubtedly Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Great Barrier Reef and the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, but there are now more subtle incentives for a visit.

The wonderful fusion cuisine, the café society, the burgeoning art, culture and fashion scene, and the very real possibility of being the only person for miles around all conspire to make it a wholly alluring experience.

Australia is politically divided into six states and two territories, each one offering a different experience for the traveller. There is the drama of the remote \'Outback\', the colourful spectacle of the Great Barrier Reef and its coral islands, the excitement of the cosmopolitan cities, the sun and surf at some of the best beaches in the world, and the tropical rainforests of Western Australia. The list is endless in this diverse land of adventure, which boasts 2,000 national parks and 14 World Heritage-listed areas, along with more than 7,000 beaches.

Australia is a land of character too, with its melting pot of cultures. For more than 50,000 years the Aboriginal people lived and thrived in the continent\'s unique environment. It is believed the Aboriginals are the world\'s oldest civilisation, and in recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in keeping the Aboriginal culture alive and flourishing.

The vast continent at the bottom of the world was the last landmass to be discovered by European explorers. Captain James Cook arrived in Botany Bay in 1770 and sparked off generations of emigration to Australia, which for some time served as a penal colony. It was not until 1860 that two explorers - Robert Burke and William Wills - became the first Europeans to cross Australia from south to north. The country remains a magnet for modern explorers and adventurers and has a great deal to offer tourists and holidaymakers.