Hi all,
Louise, make sure you allow at least a week in Alice, you would be surprised how many people come here and only stay for a day or two, do a town tour and leave, never venturing out and seeing the great country Central Australia has to offer.
Do a day tour and visit the, Royal Flying Docter, The Alice Springs Telegraph Station, The School Of The Air, The Desert Park and The Transport Hall Of Fame, all of these places are all fantastic and interesting in their own right and not to be missed, it will give you an understanding/feel for some of Alice's history before heading out bush.
Hook your camper up and take off west to Redbank Gorge (180km) camp at the Woodlands Campground for a night or two, it's a truly breathtaking place, (I always take my visitors there and no-one goes away unaffected by Redbanks ancient beauty) when your over Redbank hook up and head east back to Alice, make sure you visit Ormiston Gorge (about 50km east of Redbank) there's a campground there, it's very popular with visitors you could easily spend a couple of nights there to! there's a water hole if you like a swim. After leaving Ormiston heading east back to Alice (120km) you can visit all of the Gorges and sites of interest that take your fancy. Stop and camp at Ellery Creek Bighole (80km) east of Ormiston, have a swim in the waterhole, take in the ranges, the birdlife and the peace and quiet that only the bush can offer. If you can drag yourself away from Ellery head back to Alice, and spend a night at Lassitors Casino have a shower and a feed and reflect on the great experience you have had and start planning your next trip!
That’s only the touristy West Macs, easily a week could be eight days. There’s always the East Macs (personal favourites) the South West (Watarrka) and the Davenport Ranges (The Old Policemans Waterhole)…………………that could easily be another month, perhaps longer?
Regards to all Jim.