Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
It's all set in 450 hectares of shady parkland with free BBQs (alcohol permitted) and
walking trails. The best is the 30-minute loop to
Trig Hill
, returning via the original sta-
tion cemetery.
It's an easy 4km walk or cycle north to the station from Todd Mall; follow the path on
the western side of the riverbed.
Royal Flying Doctor Service Base
MUSEUM
(RFDS;
www.flyingdoctor.net
; Stuart Tce; adult/child $12/6; 9am-5pm Mon-Sat, 1-5pm Sun, cafe
9am-4.30pm Mon-Sat)
This is the home of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, whose dedic-
ated health workers provide 24-hour emergency retrievals across an area of around 1.25
million sq km. Entry to the visitor centre is by a half-hour tour that includes a video
presentation, and a look at the operational control room as well as some ancient medical
gear and a flight simulator. There's an adjoining giftshop and cafe.
School of the Air
SCHOOL
(
www.assoa.nt.edu.au
; 80 Head St; adult/child $7.50/5; 8.30am-4.30pm Mon-Sat, 1.30-4.30pm
Sun)
Started in 1951, this was the first school of its type in Australia, broadcasting les-
sons to children over an area of 1.3 million sq km. While transmissions were originally
all done over high-frequency radio, satellite broadband internet and web-cams now mean
students can study in a virtual classroom. The guided tour of the centre includes a video.
During school term you can view a live broadcast from 8.30am to 2.30pm Monday to
Friday. The school is about 3km north of the town centre.
Alice Springs Reptile Centre
ZOO
(
www.reptilecentre.com.au
; 9 Stuart Tce; adult/child $14/7; 9.30am-5pm, handling demonstra-
tions 11am, 1pm & 3.30pm)
It may be small, but this reptile centre packs a poisonous punch
with its impressive collection of venomous snakes, thorny devils and bearded dragons.
Inside the cave room are 11 species of NT geckos, and outside there's Terry, a 3.3m salt-
water croc plus Bub, a magnificent perentie, Australia's largest lizard. The enthusiastic
guides will happily plonk a python around your neck during the handling demonstrations
or let you pet a bluetongue lizard.
Alice Springs Transport Heritage Centre
MUSEUM
At the MacDonnell siding, about 10km south of Alice and 1km west of the Stuart Hwy,
are a couple of museums dedicated to big trucks and old trains. If you want to visit both
