Alice Springs, the vibrant hub of central Australia, grew up
around a permanent waterhole that was a key terminal for the
Overland Telegraph Station in 1870. It became a tough frontier town
serviced by camel trains from the railhead at Oodnadatta, until the
railway reached it in 1929 and it became a major terminus centre.
Today the city, with a population of 25,000 and stylish shopping
and dining facilities, provides a perfect base from which to access
all of the surrounding natural wonders, including Uluru (Ayer's
Rock), and learn more about the local Arrernte Aboriginal tribal
group who have inhabited the area for 20,000 years. The city is
also the point from which intrepid adventurers strike south to
explore the Simpson Desert, or east to visit the ghost towns of the
MacDonnell Ranges. Alice Springs has good connections to
Australia's capital cities; there are daily flights to and from the
capitals and road and rail access from all capital cities is
possible.
