Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

ALICE SPRINGS 377
School of the Air Sitting in on school lessons may not be your idea of a vacation,
but this school is different—it broadcasts by radio to a 1,300,000-sq.-km
(502,000-sq.-mile) “schoolroom” of 140 children on Outback stations. That’s as
big as Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, and Japan combined—or
twice the size of Texas. The attraction is to watch and listen in when classes are
in session, but outside class hours you may hear taped classes, and browse the
kids’ artwork, photos, videos, and many other displays in the well put together
visitor gallery. Free 30-minute tours run throughout the day.
80 Head St. (2.5km/1 1 ⁄2 miles from town). & 08/8951 6834. Admission A$3.50 (US$2.30) adults, A$2
(US$1.30) seniors and children 5–16, A$12 (US$7.80) family. Mon–Sat and public holidays 8:30am–4:30pm;
Sun 1:30–4:30pm. Closed Christmas, Boxing Day (Dec 26), and New Year’s Day. Bus: 3, or take the Alice Wanderer
(see “Organized Tours” below).
ORGANIZED TOURS
AROUND TOWN & OUT IN THE DESERT The Alice Wanderer bus
(& 1800/722 111 in Australia, or 08/8952 2111) does a running loop of town
attractions every 70 minutes from 9am, with the last departure at 4pm. Hop on
and off as you please, and enjoy the commentary from the driver. The bus
departs daily from the south end of Todd Mall. Tickets are sold on board and
cost A$30 (US$20) for adults, A$25 (US$16) for seniors and students, and
A$15 (US$9.75) for kids 4 to 14. Call for a free pickup from your hotel.
The bus calls at most of the attractions above, plus the National Road Transport
Hall of Fame; the Ghan Preservation Society (formally the Old Ghan
Museum), housing the original Ghan train that plied the Adelaide–Alice Springs
line from 1929 to 1980; and Panorama Guth, an art gallery housing a 360-
degree painting of central Australian landscapes by artist Henk Guth.
The company can also tack on a Desert Park tour for an extra A$25 (US$16.25),
and also offers a tour to the rocky West MacDonnell Ranges.
Many Alice-based companies offer minicoach or 4WD day trips and extended
tours not only of Alice, but also of outlying areas including the East or West
Macs, Hermannsburg, and Finke Gorge National Park. Among the well-regarded
ones are: Discovery Ecotours (& 08/8956 2563; www.ecotours.com.au); Alice
Springs Holidays (& 1800/801 401 in Australia, or 08/8953 1411; www.alice
springsholidays.com.au); and Alice Springs Tour Professionals (& 1800/673
391 in Australia, or 08/8953 0666; www.alicetourprofessionals.com.au), a onestop
shopping place for a number of reliable tour operators and adventure outfitters.
See also “Exploring the Red Centre” at the beginning of this chapter, for
companies running tours throughout the area.
ABORIGINAL TOURS I recommend those offered by the Aboriginal Art &
Culture Centre (see “Seeing the Sights in Alice” above). All their tours have
Aboriginal guides. Their half-day tour features an explanation of the Dreamtime
creation myth; a gentle bush tucker walk; a chance to throw a boomerang
and spear; talks about tools and weapons over billy tea and damper; and a dance
performance at which you can have a go yourself, and have your photo taken
with the dancers. You may have seen these dancers performing in the opening
ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Threaded through all this is an
ongoing discussion of Aboriginal culture, beliefs, family relationships, and a
view of history both ancient and modern through Aboriginal eyes. You have a
chance to buy art during the morning. The experience wraps up with a didgeridoo
lesson at 1pm. The tour departs daily at 8am and costs A$83 (US$54)
adults and A$44 (US$29) children under 12 (including hotel pickup).