Day in Alice Springs

Just the one day in Alice Springs so we had to make it count.  Woke up to a chilly 4 degrees so we had to move fast to get warm.  I have some correction to make - the Dr John Flynn memorial mentioned yesterday was a total fabrication by Pam and I inadvertantly became the messenger of that falsehood.  His grave is actually west of  Alice Springs, there was a stone from Karlu Karlu placed on top but after negotiations between the Karlu Karlu clan and the local clan it was returned and replaced by a stone from the local clan.

After breakfast we drove out to the Tropic of Capricorn sight, next up was a quick photo stop at the highest elevation on the main road between Darwin and Adelaide, seemed a little overkill but we've got photos so I have to mention it.

Then on to Simpsons Gap, Pam claimed Simpson found and watered his donkey in this pass before embarking to Gallipoli but we all know what to think of Pams storys!! It is actually a gap eroded through the McDonnell Ranges and is truly an incredible sight, rich colours with all the different shades of red and orange.  We took a million photos but as usual none can fully impart the enormous walls of the gap.  I'm sure you'll love the photo gallery and I have lots more if you need any further instruction.

On the way back we called in to the true grave and memorial of Dr John Flynn (and his wife) and found the real story behind the myth.

We then decided to call in to the Desert Park on Larapinta Drive just outside Alice Springs, it is set on 1300 hectares with a display area of 52 hectares with the McDonnell Ranges as a backdrop and gives an excellent demonstration of the different desert environments and the animals that live in those environments.  Very informative and picturesque in a natural setting and with all the walking tracks through the park in conjunction with the bird show we stayed there for over 4 hours which just about finished the day for us.  Back to fuel up, do the washing and pack for our trip to Uluru tomorrow.

Could have spent a few more days in Alice Springs but no doubt it will still be here if we get back this way sometime in the future.

Tropic of Capricorn, look right to Rockhampton, look left to Coral Bay

Highest point in the road between Darwin and Adelaide

Just a couple of photos of Simpsons Gap, swimming is not permitted due to the sacredness of the site.

Where there's life there's hope

John Flynns grave

Entrance to Desert Park

Detailed sewing project in the visitors centre

Detail in the project

Photos of Desert Park

Soaring with eagles