Kiwikoala: Working in Alice Springs 2015

11th Februrary,

We are finally set up at G'Day Mate Caravan Park. Our first day here we went to town to get an idea where things where etc. it was very warm once again late 30s and in the evening it went down to 25 degs.

This afternoon we went to visit the National Road Transport Hall of Fame Alice Springs.

It is Australia 's largest truck museum .Wow it sure is worth visiting if your'e into trucks. You will see the Kenworth Truck Museum, Mack B61 , 1911 T Model Ford, old fire trucks, even an Oshkosh , Road Trains of all shapes and sizes.

For the rail enthusiest you will see the Legendary Old Ghan NSU58. One of the first diesel s to take over from the steam trains. The railway building was closed, due to maintenance being done, getting it ready for the tourist season starting in April.

The first Kenworth built in Australia K125CR

12th Februrary,

Today we are driving to Glen Helen Resort 127kms from Alice Springs. On our way there just outside Alice Springs on the left hand side is John Flynns burial site. John Flynn started the flying doctor service with the help of many nurses and a lot of volunteers.

At Glen Helen Resort there is a beautiful gorge with a lovely swimming area with the back drop of the gorge.

John walking on the riverbed at Glen Helen Gorge

Then onto Ormiston Gorge. Once again a lovely relaxing swimming area for a great picnic only a short distance from Alice Springs.

Ghost Gum Tree ( the bark glows white under the moonlight )

Next was Ochre Pits. The ochre from the ochre pits is used as body adornment by the local aboriginals for ceremonies. Photo's below.

Pink to Yellow to Browns ochre

White ochre

Then onto Serpentine Gorge. It is very windy and a dirt road to get here. We did not walk to the gorge .

Next was Ellery Creek . This was a wonderful swimming hole for tourist and local people.

By this stage we decided it was time to go back to the camp. We had been driving and looking for over 6 hours and it was still very hot.

13 th Februrary ,

We returned to look at the last two sights we missed on our way home yesterday .

The first stop was look out point at Anzac Hill. Looking over Alice Springs township .

Then we went to Simpsons Gap. Simpsons gap looked dry but once you got past the ghost gums their was water in the gap. Great place for taking photos.

Standley Chasm is 50km drive West of Alice Springs. Standley Chasm Angkerle Atwatye has been gouged through tough sandstone by the floods that ,over untold millions of years, have surged down a narrow tributary of the Finke river system. The craggy slopes on both side rise 80 metres above the floor. You need to be there around midday to see the quartzite walls glow from the sun reflecting off them. Wonderful rich colours we saw. Photos below.

15th February ,

Today brought us another very hot day early 40s. After doing the usual housework etc. we decided to check out the boys store again Bunnings. We brought 2 folding chairs so we could sit at the table and have our meals instead of the lay back chairs.

Then it was time for a visit to the Alice Springs Reptile Centre. This was a life long dream for Rex Neindortto to open up a reptile centre in mid 1999, premises were found and transformed into a centre and it was opened 2000. May 2002 saw the arrival of the new addition Terry there 3.3 metre saltwater crocodile . With the assistance of the federal government, through their regional tourism program, a large pond and basking area was built including an underwater viewing area . It is geat to see a croc up close and know you are safe from those big jaws and teeth.

Displayed in the centre are over 100 reptiles of 60 different species . In 2010 a Gecko cave was built adding some 13 species of gecko's from a range of habitats through the Northern Territory.

Thus is a hands on centre . You are able to hold a snake , Frilled Neck Lizard. and a Goanna roams freely on the floor for visitors to see and touch whilst talks are on about the reptiles. Very interesting place to visit.