GET TO KNOW REAL ALICE

Being stuck in the middle is no hardship in the case of Alice Springs. Combining culture and natural beauty, it’s becoming the centre of tourism attention

Did you know that Alice Springs is the only place in Australia that is totally surrounded by ocean? the nice lady in the tourist office asks. “Ummm, er.” I have no bump of location at any time but this certainly sounded rather odd to me.

She grinned at me and pointed at the map of Australia, with Alice Springs slap, bang, in the middle. Of course, of course. I felt a tad stupid, but enjoyed the joke.

That was my introduction to Alice Springs, a place I have come to love.

Before that first, tentative trip, I had imagined a small country town – hot and dusty, surrounded by desert, a picture that did not impress.

Now I know Alice for what it is – a treasure. In fact, a treasure trove.

It seems many visitors go there with thoughts much like mine, or simply as a stopping-off place to visit Uluru and, having done that, what then?

I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited a few times now and feel as though I belong.

The people are friendly and helpful; the town itself is a delight.

The public buildings – an elegant new courthouse, the library, the Council Chambers – are designed to blend with the ochre colours of the surrounding mountain ranges.

A few minutes from the town centre is the Araluan Cultural Precinct, a beautiful building softened by parklands and trees. It houses an extremely well-planned theatre, the Namatjira Gallery, full of wonderful Aboriginal paintings, plus an exhibition area where one can visit – among so much else – the yearly Beanie Festival.

And, yes, I did buy one. Well, wouldn’t you?

Last year, Alice hosted the 30th Birthday of the biannual Masters Games, bringing close to 4000 competitors and ranking Alice Springs as second in the world, after Canada.

On the last night of the Games, the Todd Mall was packed with last race competitors, locals, tourists, even TV cameras.

It was so “Alice Springs” – openhearted and open-armed, with fabulous food stalls, art and craft sales and people (including this excited visitor), hanging across the ropes to

“YOU MAY COME AWAY WITH A GREATER SENSE OF THE COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE.”

watch the last races of the day. Everyone was cheering the