I was looking forward to ticking something else off my bucketlist. I have wanted to go to Alice Springs since I read A Town like Alice as a girl. Of course, I have just re-read it for the umpteenth time knowing I was finally going to visit. John was there in the 1980s but did not get to Uluru so we are both looking forward to this next part of our journey. But it is a long drive from Katherine to Alice Springs.

Our first stop was the historic Daly Waters pub. This is a very quirky pub with bras, hats and thongs hanging from the bar. There is mishmash of all things old on display. At the entrance to the pub there is horse trough and hitching rail, and across the road are remnants of helicopters and aeroplanes.

We had a cold drink and wandered around before continuing on our way.

We stopped to camp for the night at Banka Banka Station which was lovely. No sooner had we set up camp than the manager rang a cow bell letting us campers know it was 5pm and so happy hour. There weren’t very many campers – the NT has been very light on travellers – but those there were joined us and the managers on the verandah of the homestead for a few drinks. It was lovely chatting to the others and getting (and passing on) tips on good bush camps etc

We left the next morning and stopped at Devil’s Marbles. This is a protected area due to the cultural and spiritual significance for traditional Aboriginal people. Apparently this place is magnificent at sunrise and sunset. There is a camping ground nearby but we decided to push on.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

We did, however, stop at the Devil’s Marbles Hotel for fuel and lunch. It was a lovely hotel in the middle of the desert and we had a terrific barra burger.

We stopped for the night at Wauchope and had happy hour with a nice couple from Hobart – Anne and Tony – whom we had chatted to earlier in the day at Devil’s Marbles.

After another pleasant evening and comfortable night, we left for the Alice.

I love driving through the desert . It just always reminds me of when I first came to Australia as a 21 year old. I had no idea a country could be so vast. And I still find it hard to get my head around.

Then finally we were in Alice Springs! We made our way to the G’day Mate Caravan Park which had good reviews on Wikicamps, set up camp then headed out to the golf club to book John a game, then browsed the Visitors’ Centre in town.

• 

•