Alice Springs Travel Forum

hi,
i with 2 mates are attending a wedding in alice on the 1st october. my mates and i have decided to spend a day to see the rock if possible the following day 2nd october. We're all flying back to sydney and melbourne on the 3rd october, late morning and midday. Is this doable or does anyone recommend seeing other sites instead. I think this is our only chance to see uluru ever. we have booked an intermediate car for 3 days when we are there (although we can cancel if it's not needed and we are all staying in voyages alice springs resort. is there an art gallery that can be recommended for up and coming indigenous artists?
appreciate any advice on these 3 clueless city boys.

I am arriving in Alice Springs on Saturday May 30th at 3:20pm and leaving on June 3rd at 5:20pm. I will be traveling with my 3 children (16, 14, 5) and think a campervan would be the most economical way to go. But since I arrive so late I am finding a lot of the rental offices will be closed and if I don't pick it up on the 30th then I would only be renting it for 4 days not a minimum of 5 days.

I would also like to drive to King's Canyon. It seems that I would need a 4x4 if I took the unsealed road but is there a sealed road that I would be allowed to drive on without a 4x4?

My departure date is rapidly approaching any help would be greatly appreciated!!

I'm headed to Australia from LA to watch tennis (Melbourne) in January but want to see Uluru. So far I have a flight to Alice arriving early January 2010. I enjoy camping and the outdoors but it sounds like the hiking tours would be unpleasantly hot. Even an un-airconditioned 4WD sounds scorching.

The most appealing of the tours is a 3 day small van tour with hiking and outdoor camping.

Is it just too hot?

Thanks

Hi, I have just purchased a 4wd, (Jackaroo 1999), and will be travelling from the Central Coast, (Nrth of Sydney), directly to alice springs, (with loads of gear as I will be moving!! I'm not sure about the best route. Can I take short cuts on the dirt, or do you recommend I travel on the main roads. The Aust. travel map recommends i go to broken hill, port austusta, coober pedy, etc. Is this the best route or should I travel to Charlaville and across that way? Any ideas welcome.

Cheers, Wendy

Hi. My hubby and I (early 30s)have this following itenary

22nd Dec - make our way to Uluru for 2 nights
24th Dec - Kings's Canyon
25 - 27/28th Dec -travel from Kings' Canyon - Katherine (flexible stops)
28/29th - 1st Jan - Kakadu National Park
1st - 3rd Jan - Darwin

We've hired a Nissan X Trail for this part of our journey
The cost per couple will be $1300 (per pax $650) which icludes the following - 1. car rental, 2.Petrol, 3. hubby driving the whole journey.

If these dates fall into your plans and budget, pls do email me at yrparanjothy@hotmail.com
We are easy going, love nature, and very flexible. We plan to camp at safe camping grounds. And sorry but you have to be a non smoker.

What are some of the sights and activites not to miss while visiting Alice Springs?

How about recommended restaurants, or shops?

My better half and I are planning to rent a campervan in Melbourne and drive it to Darwin over about 3 weeks in October. There's a company called Wicked campervans who seem to offer great value internet deals. Has anyone had any experience with them? More generally, I'm a campervan renting virgin and would like to know if there are any common ripoffs, things to watch out for in this business? Also, what are the food shopping opportunities along the way like for availability and prices? Only the more expensive campers have fridges while the cheapies have eskies - is it feasible to buy groceries every few days or better to splash out on a van with a fridge and buy lots of food in Melbourne?
And finally, what is the price differential for petrol between Melbourne and NT roadhouses?
So many questions, but thank you much in advance!

Ive heard that the flies are bad in April. Are they really that bad and how's the weather then?
Cheers

hello
i was just wondering if i could get a cheep deal as i would like organise a hjot air ballon flight aroung the area of Alice Springs.
If we d participate which we are really considuring would ypu be able to give us any special deals with 3 children and 2 adluts,
thanks Rachel Beames

What is the drive time between Alice Springs and Kings Canyon, using the paved roads. I'll have a rental car, not a 4x4, just a regular car, and need to stay on paved roads. Given this, what is the drive time from Alice Springs airport and Kings Canyon? Thank you.

What is the drive time between Alice Springs and Uluru? Thank you.

I wish to ask about the top of the Canyon walk at Kings Canyon. I understand this needs to be done in the morning. How long does this walk take? How difficult is it? I've read that you need to be fit, but how fit? Not a problem for me, but I am taking my mother, and she's about 68. I think she should be fine, but then again, I don't know what I am getting her into and I don't want her to get in trouble. I would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.

Also, how long is the drive from: ( using sealed roads )
Alice Springs to Kings Canyon?
Kings Canyon to Uluru?
Uluru to Alice Springs?

Last, any recommendations or suggestions for what not to miss while visiting Uluru area? What are the "must do" things here?

Thank you, Steve

I am interested in doing a self drive between Alice Springs to Kings Canyon, then on to Uluru, and back to Alice Springs. Are these good roads to travel on, are they sealed/paved?

I read on the Voyages website:
"Please note: the Mareenie Loop Road is an unsealed road for 197km of 337km, a 4WD is required. Alternatively travel via the Stuart Highway"

I tried finding this "Mareenie Loop Road," and have not yet located it. So I am wondering, I plan to rent a intermediate size car, no 4x4, can I get by with this rental. I don't need a 4x4 do I?

Can anyone help with driving information, road conditions, drive times, etc.? Any information is appreciated.

Thank you.

We are visting Alice Springs in June. We do not have a car and would like to know if anyone know's if there is a tour or public transport from Alice Springs to Gemtree Caravan Park as we want to go on the fossicking tour they have there. So far I have not been able to find anyone online who does a tour from Alice Springs or any public transport to the caravan park. Thanks ginger22

Hi There,
Do you get a mobile phone signal with Vodafone in Alice Springs?

hey guys,

im planning a 4WD holiday from Melbourne to Alice Springs, and we will be going with 3 4WDs.

im just wondering if anyones done this trip b4 and would like to give me some tips on routes, things to bring, or must visit places.

people in my 4WD also likes to take the plane back from Alice Springs, and ship the 4WD back to melbourne through a freight company, any recommendations for that?

it would be really helpful if any experienced people can give me any tips for this.

thanx everyone!

feel free to add me to MSN if u got some good tips and is happy to share with us!
my MSN is: qiana50@hotmail.com

thank you again!

Hi Everyone,
I am going to Alice Springs in October and I read lots of people saying that there are heaps of flies there, and that one should brings heaps of repellent and fly net etc... Is that also true for the month of October?
Thanks for sharing :)
Cheers, Steven

Doing the Larapinta Trail shortly. Any advice, things to watch out for, things of particular interest, Wiley Coyote Acme traps, etc? I've already resigned myself to it being b%**#@ cold, but you get that. Thanks.

Dear friends,

I'll go on a big tour through Australia in November for one month and I'd like to visit Uluru as well.

I'll fly in to Alice Springs arriving from Perth. There I shoud take a tour.
After that I'm flying off from Ayers Rock onto Cairns.

Can you tell me how much time (days) you recommend me for this?

I didn't mean this to be the core purpose of my travel but I must see the place while I'm in Australia.

Is it possible to take organized tour in Alice which will brings you in Ayers Rock at the end?

Can you recommend me some?

How much time such tours usually take and when they starts from Alice and when day finishes in Ayers Rock? I would need these info and times in order to arrange flights into Alice Springs and out of Ayers Rock.

Thanks a lot and enjoy yourselve!!! :-)

Cheers,
Dusan

can anyone tell me what shops there are in alice springs? cheers

We plan to spend 5 days in december around Alice Springs (Uluru, Mc Donnels) in a cmaper van. We don't know how to choose it, is it usefull to have toilets and shower, air conditonning for the night? Should we camp in camping sites or along the road?
Thanks for the advice
Christian

Has anyone done the Larapinta Trail? If so, did you do all of it or part, and what where your impressions, comments? Also, anyone heard any comemnts about it from others? Thanks.

We would like to travel from Cairns to Alice Springs on the 18. or 19. of December. Suggestions as how to do it? We have time until 24.12 when we leave Alice Springs by plane for Melbourne.
Thank you.

Hello everybody,

I'm going to Alice Springs and Ayers Rock/ Uluru in october and I've got a few questions. First my plans:
I'm planning on getting there (from Adelaide) with the backpackersbus, it takes 2 days with a overnight stay in Coober Pedy. And I want to stay there for a few days, thinking of a hostel or a camping (if they've got the tents already there.. I'm not carrying on). The way back to Adelaide I'll probebly take the Greyhound.
Now the questions:
Should I book any of these things in advance?
Anybody any experience on the backpackersbus??
Any recommendations for Alice Springs and Ayers Rock/Uluru?

Greetz Renske

Hi Guys

were looking to hire a campervan in March 2007 bet 4t & 14th and want to travel from Alice Springs to Cairns. We would like to do Uluru as well.
Can you let me know
1) Is this route possible in the time given
2) Will the roads be passable
3) The best places and length of time to stop.

I,ve read some of the other posts and got some ideas already but ANY ideas will be welcome.

I will be touring Alice Springs and Uluru at the end of October. There is an Ayers Rock Observatory tour in the evening and an Alice Springs Observatory "Tour". Wich is best?

Hi all,

I have two questions.

1. Is there a direct route to Alice Springs from Sydney? If so which is the best route to take? How long will it take? What is the drive like? What are the ups and downs? etc etc...

2. Is there a direct route to Cairns from Alice Springs? etc etc...

Many thanks in advance

4 of us are arriving in Alice in mid November, 2005 for 2 nights only.

Any suggestions for a hotel for us?

We dont want a backpackers and we dont want or need 5* either.
A 2 bedroomed apartment would be fine too.

Dont mind being a little distance from the centre of town, but not too far.

Plan to go hot air ballooning and see the usual local sights.

Thanks in advance, Graham.

PS Budget per couple per night is around A$130, B&(possibly)B!

We have a day to explore Alice Springs after visiting Ayers Rock. Any suggestions on what to see and do? We are staying "down town" with no car. Thanks.

Hi

Im visiting Alice in June/July time.

Any one got any advice on what the weather is like there that time of year?

I was advised to maybe leave this trip to the Aussie winter as summer can be too hot.

Thanks