REASONS
FOR ALICE
| LINDA LEE RATHBUN IMAGES STEVEN DAVID MILLER / NATURAL WANDERS
THE ‘CAPITAL’ OF THE RED CENTRE
IS WORTH SO MUCH MORE THAN A
QUICK PIT-STOP.
Many people stop in Alice
Springs for two or three
nights after coming off the
Mereenie Loop, the Finke
Road or, of course, the
Stuart. It is an essential place
to stock up on supplies, do
some laundry and make that
inevitable trip to Bunnings.
However, if you think that
is all Alice has to offer, you
are missing out. Here are
four reasons to stay longer…
1. THE FLYING DOCTOR
Everyone staying in Alice
should visit the Royal Flying
Doctor Service. The Alice
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gorv.com.au
Base offers a fascinating
film of the RFDS’ history,
including 3D narration by the
founder, John Flynn (played
by an actor, of course). The
museum is most informative,
providing insight into the
pilots, doctors, nurses and
early radio operators; this
area warrants at least an
hour of investigation.
In the gift shop, you can
climb inside the fuselage of
one of the planes, a Pilatus
PC12. This visit will make you
proud to be an Aussie, and
your entry fee contributes to
this critical nationwide service.
2. ALICE SPRINGS
REPTILE CENTRE
Across from the RFDS is the
Alice Springs Reptile Centre.
We have never been to Alice
without visiting here at least
once: we love it. A range of
snakes, both venomous and
non, lives inside the small
building. This is your chance
to have a close look at a
death adder, a taipan and an
eastern brown snake among
others. Outside are displays
of central bearded dragons,
spectacular perenties,
goannas, large skinks and
one of the most heavenly