64. Gap View Hotel, Alice Springs, NT

Place: Alice Springs, NT Month: September
Weather: 20-22
Days Stayed: 4
We decided to stay in town as it was dirt cheap and we had to get up for the tour to the BIG rock at 5.30. This place opened up the back of the hotel and you could camp there. We decided to get un-powered as it was very cool weather.

Gorges:
We did the loop road to the west MacDonald Ranges and looked at the 'gaps' and a couple of gorges. There were walks to get to them. Thankfully, they weren't too far. Turned out the walking was good as the next day the tour to Ularu had lots of walking. the Stunning views!!!

Hermansburg:
This was an old German Mission. They did a documentary about how a new minister to the area came and heard all the old ladies singing German hymns. They had been passed down from generation to generation. He decided to start up an aborigine ladies choir and eventually took the Choir back to Germany. The town itself was a 'brothel' with rubbish everywhere. You were NOT allowed to drive down any side streets OR take photos (I wonder why???) except in the little mission.

The BIG Rock/Olgas Tour:
Ayres Rock/Ularu
We decided to go on a bus tour there as it was beyond expensive to stay anywhere nearby and look your self. Plus, we had a guide to tell us different things about the rock. We looked at rock paintings, a water hole where the aboriginal people used to catch food and get water. We watched crazy people climbing the rock! Definitely NOT something IO'd be interested in- too 'frightening'!!!
We stayed until sunset to watch the colours of the rock change, then headed home.

The Olgas/Kata Tju?a
What an amazing phenomenon! These HUGE boulder like structures jutting out of the earth. Went for a fairy hefty and uneven walk up to the gorge. I was determined to do the walking, even if my foot doubled in size and nearly 'died'! as I had my 'drugs' with me- Met up with retired teachers from Bradbury. Father enjoyed reminisced with this young girl from Holland that lived in his home village. Sadly, I got sick on the bus-Apparently it was a sauce on the meat! I spent a good part of the trip home on the toilet. That was fun- NOT!!! 100 klms in a tiny compartment. 2nd adventure in there was no water and I almost ran out of toilet paper!!! Not happy Jan! We were right in the last seat at the back and it was extremely stuffy there. I ended up asking the Bus driver if there were any spare seats. We were able to relocate to the seats behind the bus driver (These were reserved for the other guide, however, he had already left us) So much better!!!

Mt Conner Lookout:
On the way to the BIG rock we stopped at Mt Conner. Another amazing rock like construction in the middle of nowhere. We could climb up this sandy hill (very difficult- kept sinking into the soft dense sand!- Where are the stairs???) to see the salt lake on the other side. It was huge!

Alice Springs Security:
We went for a walk through the 'Pitt Street Mall' of Alice Springs- Tood Arcade. It was littered with Aboriginal people hanging around on the grassy spots yelling across the way to each other. Then we saw the 'pole' It had a stack of security cameras up and down the length of the pole. In the other car parks next Coles/ Kmart/ Woolies etc had mobile trailers with a pole also sporting security cameras.

Anzac Hill Lookout:
This was a great lookout to see the city of Alice Springs and into the McDonald Ranges.

The Great Wall' of Alice Springs:
The tops of the ranges look like a brick wall. It goes for miles and miles along the tops of the ranges. Its amazing!!!