Introduction

Welcome to our wedding blog site!

The idea of this blog is to tell you what you need to know about Alice and our wedding so you can have a fun, enriching and memorable experience!

We aim to cover transport, accommodation, food, attractions, basic facilities, culture, alcohol (quite unique in this town), weather and whatever else you need to know.

Please don't hesitate to comment here or call us to answer any questions.

To start, here is a link to the comprehensive Tourism Central Australia website:
http://www.discovercentralaustralia.com/Home.aspx

Transportation

Flights options include:
Quantas - http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/home/au/en
This is the longstanding and most regular option from major capital cities and generally run one flight per day direct.
Virgin - http://www.virgin.com/gateways/virginairlines
Will be running flights 3 times a week starting end of March from Adelaide and Darwin.

Transport from Alice Springs airport to town:
1. Car Hire - options are Thrifty, Avis, Europ Car, Budget or Hertz
2. Taxi - will cost about $50 each way
3. Airport Shuttle - operated by Alice Wanderer Airport Transfers and $16 each way.

You could also fly into Uluru and hire a car (get back on a plane or bus) to drive to Alice Springs or do the opposite on the way home.

Car options: 
A great way to really get to know how your partner enjoys your company in a confined space for hours and hours and hours. This is rather popular and there are a multitude of options ranging from overnight from Melbs (2400kms), Sydney (3000kms), Adelaide (1500kms), Darwin (1500kms). Please note that distances are approximates and that travelling through the center of Australia can be a serious undertaking.

WARNINGS! There is likely to be a large number of Road Trains (They will work on the proviso that they are big and you are small SO GET OUT OF THE WAY! Be careful as they will be over 50 meters in length so pass them with caution, the back trailers do move around a bit and they are unlikely to see you if you can not see their mirrors) and also Grey nomads towing large caravans slowly on route! If you have a CB you might have some interesting conversations. Obviously the faster you go the more fuel you will use but most family cars will get from Adelaide or Darwin with only a couple of fuel stops. Speed limits are 110km (SA) 130km (NT open Hwy) but there is a section of road that has no speed restrictions coming from Darwin. Be sure to have some extra water, second spare tyre and a jack that works. If you have the need for speed and want to get your fix on the open road there is a good 2litre turbo charged Subaru WRX for sale in our driveway at the moment with 6 months rego, new tires ready to go at $8900 ONO!

A rather more pleasant option would be to take a few days and have a relaxed approach stopping at sights along the way.

A number of family members will be doing the long hall with trailer campers and getting down and dirty along the way.

By Rail:
Using the Ghan from Adelaide or Darwin could be an option and prices start in cattle class for pensioners at approx. $210 each way.
http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/fares_and_timetables/fares/the_ghan_fares_2014_2015/

By Sea:
The tide went out a couple of hundred million years ago so good luck!

Hitch Hiking:
A favourite pastime of many a wandering traveller you have a better chance as an attractive lady showing some leg to a passing trucky. Please take suitable steps to maintain your personal safety by having mace, a sharp knife or a concealed hand gun.

By Bike:
There are some of us who may have this on our todo list and I am sure it would be a great way to get yourself a new bike! Many have done it before you and we have seen one person on a small non-motorised scooter leaving Alice Springs after coming from Darwin!

Accommodation

There are heaps of options in Alice for Accommodation but it will be during high season so get in early. Some of the known locations in no particular order include;

*Please note all prices quoted are for a standard double room and were current February 2015.

• The Chifley $128 - http://www.silverneedlehotels.com/chifley/alice-springs This is the closest large hotel to our place and is good.
• Lasseters $127 - http://www.lasseters.com.au/ Nice and has multiple restaurants on site plus pools, gym and day spa. Decent walk from town and us however. 
• Quest $137- http://www.questapartments.com.au/ Good accom just a little distance from town. 
• Hilton $129 - http://doubletree3.hilton.com Has great restaurant (Hanumans) in hotel. Near Lasseters so decent walk to town.
• Aurora $109 - http://www.auroraresorts.com.au/aurora_alice/  Convenient location in town close to shops and eating places.
• Alice Motor Inn $90 - 3 min walk from us! Budget accom yet 4.5 stars (not sure how that works), 10 min walk from town.
• Air BNB
• Vatu Sanctuary - $222 - $460 Expensive but really nice. 5 min drive from us and 3 min drive from town
• YHA - http://www.yha.com.au Right in the guts of town and low cost but not most peoples cup of tea at this point in our lives!

Camping (not a ridiculous undertaking in the middle of the year and a good option if you have your Trailer Camper)

• Winter Sun - www.wintersun.com.au Just down the North Stuart Hwy (5mins from town)
• Big 4 - www.booking.com/Big4-Macdonnell-Range Pretty neat and just out of town (10mins)
• Stuart Caravan Park - www.stuartcaravanpark.com.au Really not sure as we haven't been into this one!

There are some more as well and happy to answer questions if need be.

Facilities

Alice Springs could rival Albury as Australia's Greatest inland City!

We never planned to be here for so long but is just sooooo good that here we are. Some of the major conveniences are;

• Coles supermarket
• Woolworths supermarket
• A series of IGA's
• Major Hospital
• Lone Dingo - Outdoor Shop
• Target
• Kmart
• Multiple Pharmacies
• ARB and TJM 4WD suppliers
• Bunnings
• Multiple Newsagents
• 2 Larger shopping Centres (Yeperenye and Alice Plaza)
• Desert Dwellers - Camping store as seen on Imparja all over Australia
• BP, Shell, Caltex and more for fuel

Food - Out on the Town!

Food is always really important! We all love to get the local lowdown on where to go so here are some of our favourites:

• Montes - Right on the Edge of CBD great atmosphere and heaps of beers on tap. Good food and pretty fast.
• Pg 27 - This is a bit of a little local secret hideaway for those who appreciate their coffee. Cash only and down a lane way almost at the southern end of the mall.
• La Casa Linga - Great for a Pizza if you want a fast meal with no prep. Be warned that wait times get up to and over 50mins for a pizza so plan ahead or ask what the wait is. Our favourite is a family sized La Casa Linga, Mexican is pretty good too!
• Juicy Rump - attached to the Casino and does Tight rump Tuesdays (two for one meals) good eating and what ever you want to drink with an outside deck. - 
• Epilogue - Great food with a twist of mexican in the Mall and a pleasant atmosphere to boot
• Sushi at Tanakas - which is good and just near Woolworths in the Yeperenye shopping centre
• Ice Cream - Uncle Eddies is homemade and a good outing
• Eastside Cafe - for a good coffee after you pilates session they also do recovery type beaky
• Hanuman's - At Doubletree Hilton great asian, thai indian feed get Eggplant bajadi and the soft shell crab
• Tali - good eating and part of the Lasserter's casino complex
• Bean Tree Cafe - At Olive Pink Botanic Gardens and a good place for breaky and a coffee then go and have a look at the bower birds bower and the native gardens
• Sukra - no children and intimate dinning within casino
• Bread - The supermarket bakeries are your best bet. There is a Bakers delight in the Yeperenye shopping centre but I dont rate it. There is a bit of artisan baking starting to happen so let us know if interested!

Alcohol

Alcohol is sold differently here to any other place in australia so beware!

The options are:

• Thirsty Camel beside the Todd Tavern
• Woolworths - BWS in Yeperene Shopping Centre
• Coles - Liquorland
• Eastside and Northside IGA's

Open hours are:

Monday to Friday 2pm - 9pm

Saturday 10am - 9pm

Sunday closed except the Thirsty Camel is open from 12noon till 9pm

*Police are often stationed outside alcohol selling premises and will ask for evidence of ID and where you are staying. I will check but in the case of visitors I imagine you mention your place of accommodation.

Bushdancing at the St Philips College 25 year celebration!

Attractions

There is a lot to do and see in Alice. 

Our first recommendation would be the Desert Park. It beautifully represents three main environments (sand country, woodlands and desert rivers) in Central Australia and a huge variety of flora and fauna including birds, a fabulous nocturnal house and a new Dingo enclosure. 

Our favourite however is the bird show which I happened to go to today with Scarlet and Mac. It is so good. Even though I have been many times now I am always left in awe. I have to admit I am a bit of a twitcher but it is a wonderful way to connect with the magic of nature. The bird show happens twice daily at 10am and 3.30pm. If you are wondering what to do Friday afternoon before the wedding go see Cam do the show - its awesome!! Entry fee to the park is $25.

Telegraph Station is beautiful and the heritage precinct interesting. Tours are available. The walk there from town is beautiful and takes a good 1 hour round trip. Our friends Clarke and Juzzy run the Trail Station cafe there where you can buy coffee, snacks and meals. 

Those feeling more adventurous can hire a mountain bike from the cafe and check out our incredible new trails! 

Other attractions in town include the Reptile Centre where you can see a crocodile, pig nosed turtles and plenty of snakes, the Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame, Araluen Art Gallery, and Museum. 

Out of town we have the East and West Macdonnell Ranges which are spectacular - intersected by gorges of which some house permanent water holes. The favourite spots are Palm Valley and the chain of pools walk at John Hayes Waterhole. other beautiful places are Ellery Creek Bighole, Ormiston Gorge, Glen Helen, Red Bank Gorge, and Trephina Gorge.

A lot of people come to Alice not to see Alice at all but as a stepping stone to the famous Uluru (Ayres Rock), Kata Juta (The Olgas) and Watarrka (Kings Canyon). It is interesting to note that these places are over 450kms away from Alice!

 John Hayes Waterhole January 2015

Green Tree frogs at John Hayes Waterhole.