Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In the grand Australian tradition of building very big things by the side of the road to
pull up drivers, Aileron, 135km north of Alice, has Naked Charlie Quartpot, the 12m An-
matjere (Anmatyerre) man, who cuts a fine figure at the back of the roadhouse along
with his larger-than-life family. The
Outback Art Gallery
( 08-8956 9111; Stuart Hwy;
8am-5pm Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm Sun)
sells inexpensive paintings by the local Anmatjere com-
munity, as well as works from the Warlpiri community of Yuendumu.
Aileron Hotel Roadhouse
( 08-8956 9703;
www.aileronroadhouse.com.au
;
Stuart Hwy;
unpowered/powered sites $10/12, dm $36, s/d $110/120; 5am-9pm; )
has camp sites
(power available until 10pm), a 10-bed dorm and decent motel units. There's an ATM,
bar, shop, a licensed restaurant (meals $10 to $25) and not forgetting Bozo the wedge-tail
eagle. The owner's large collection of Namatjira watercolours (at least 10 by Albert
Namatjira) is displayed around the roadhouse's dining area.
About 70km north of Alice, the Plenty Hwy heads off to the east towards the
Harts
Range
. The main reason to detour is to fossick in the gem fields about 78km east of the
Stuart Hwy, which are well known for garnets and zircons. You're guaranteed to get
Gemtree; unpowered/powered sites $22/30, cabins $85)
.
For a taste of desert life, time your visit with the annual
Harts Range Races
(last
weekend in July), one of the Territory's best outback rodeos.
TOP OF CHAPTER
The Tanami Road
Synonymous with isolated outback driving, the 1000km Tanami Rd connects Alice
Springs with Halls Creek in WA and is essentially a short cut between central Australia
and the Kimberley. In dry conditions it's possible to make it through the unsealed dust
and corrugations in a well-prepared 2WD. Stay alert, as rollovers are common, and stock
up with fuel, tyres, food and water.
The NT section is wide and usually well graded, and starts 20km north of Alice
powered/powered sites $25/35, cabins without bathroom $70; )
on the edge of Nap-
perby Station which bills itself as an oasis in the desert with a sparkling pool and lush,
sprawling lawns.
The next fuel stop is at Yuendumu, the largest remote community in the region and
home to the Warlpiri people who were made famous in
Bush Mechanics
