Sights in NT

Sights in Northern Territory

NT/SA border

this border puts the shame on other border signs due to its decorativness and great size

Alice Springs

situated in the heart of the Red Centre and surrounded by the MacDonnell Ranges, this town has a river which runs dry most of the year. The river is Todd River, named after the man who designed the telegraph line. The town was first called Stuart after the explorer but later renamed to Alice after Todd's wife to the spring around which the town grew. Despite being an isolated town, it is a developed and civilised town. Visit School of the Air, Uluru, Watarrka. In Melankas Lodge, hold a lizard and have a snake crawling on your neck

Henley-on-Todd Parade Boat Race

this event, held annually in September, takes place on the Henley-on-Todd riverbed. The day starts with the parade to the city. Due to the river being dry, the boats are powered by human legs with larger ones by jeeps or 4WDs. Races are held for boats. At the end of the day, there is a war between the three large boats with water being shot and flour bombs being thrown, even at the audience
Web www.henleyontodd.com.au Email hot@henleyontodd.com.au

Anzac Hill, Alice Springs

it takes just ten minutes to walk up there. It gives you a view of the city and also MacDonnell Ranges. There is plenty of information about Alice Springs' history

School of the Air

admission is around $3. Due to the sparsely populated area in NT and surrounds, this school was set up to access students many kilometres away and apart. In the main area, you might see a teacher broadcasting on air to the students and asking questions and listening to the class' answers. The furthest student is 1,000km away, the size of the classroom is 1.3m sq km. There is a total of 130 students particpating with Aborgines making up about 30 of the total. A video is played but is not subtitled. A staff member gave me a book about the School of the Air but it was not the same as the video

Watarrka

this is an Aboriginal name for Kings Canyon which has a river cut through the sandstone landscape. It takes about three hours to walk here for 5.5km. This area consists of layers. You will be able to view the canyon and on a cliff face, there is a clean cut from an overhanging cliff which fell off about 65 years ago, leaving a clean cut

Uluru

Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock, this is the world's second largest monolith which is sacred to the Aborigines. When sun rises onto the rock, the colour becomes a rich red.You have two options which is to walk around the base, taking two hours, or climb up to the top. There is a few walking tracks here such as the Mala Walk. Entry fee is $16.50 valid for three days. Climbing the rock is not recommended due to it being dangerous and also the fact that it is discouraged by traditional owners

The Olgas

another name is Kata Tjuta meaning many heads and they are shaped in domes. Walk up and see them up close, look at the holes

Mt Connor

this is a large flat topped rock

Aboriginal Culture Tour

the tour guide is an Aborigine and he was very helpful. As there was only three in my group, he could talk to me to make sure I understood everything. When the Aboriginals were dancing, he persuaded me to join in with them. The tour takes you to the Telegraph Station and where Alice Springs lived before, with the water spring here, hence the town name. He talks about the plants and the land and the history. Also mentioned are current day lives and problems which the NT government is trying to solve. Boomerang teaching and starting a fire is also part of it as are tasting the plants. Billy tea and homemade bread is served. He took us back to Alice Springs after the tour and took me to show me the Aborigine TV station, Imparja, even though it wasn't part of the tour. He also answered my questions and is very friendly and helpful
Web aboriginalart.com.au Email aborart@ozemail.com.au

Harts Ranges

a dry area (alcohol free zone) community of Aborigines live here. This village mixes well. It was a mining town for mica in the past.

Termite nest

they are plentiful, coming in many heights, but a giant one stands out on the road from Alice Springs to Cairns. They are made by ants but are quite hard. The tall one we came across is 5 metres high.