Northern Territory’s Red Centre is as ‘Straya as it gets, but unfortunately that’s a level heaps of us haven’t gotten to experience.
Think about it. You know when you’re overseas and non-Australians ask you what it’s like to have kangaroos in your desert of a backyard? And you’re all like, ummm I reside in a cul-de-sac next to a married couple who haven’t spoken to each other in five years because their infantile child is a little shit, but I saw a spider the other day? Yeah, you kind of realise you haven’t even seen what your own country has to offer before jet setting across the oceans to experience other one. It makes you feel a touch shit.
“I’ve got an Estonian housemate and she’s been here [the NT] twice, and I’ve never been here before,” Big Brother alum, radio host and general funny guy Michael Beveridge told us when we took him over to see how he’d fare in the bush, so he knows this pain all too well. But the city slicker came back frothing, and I’ll bet my job on the fact that you would too. Based off his fabbo experience, here’s your absolute musts for the NT now that you’ve absolutely decided to go there.
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Just a stone’s throw from Alice Springs‘ Town Centre (or a 10 min drive, to be more precise) is where you’ll find the Alice Springs Desert Park – an experience that’ll make you think of the desert as a barren wasteland no more. What do ya do there?
Well, friends, you can get too close for comfort with outback animals, wander through dry beds and dense woodlands, and be inspired by local indigenous guides who will help you find bush medicines for whatever illness you’ve recently thrust upon yourself. You’ll leave smarter and more ~ in touch with nature ~ than when you arrived, that’s for sure. It’s open daily 7.30am to 6.00pm (except Christmas) and you’ll be able to nab a ticket from $32.
Simpson’s Gap
Not to be confused with a box gap, Simpsons Gap is a damn beaut crimson-cliffed gorge carved outta the West MacDonnell Ranges by Roe Creek. As the name suggests, water flows through the gap and into the range, creating the top-notch swimming locale. A sacred site to Central Arrernte Aboriginal people, the spot is associated with Perentie (goanna), Eagle and Rock Wallaby Dreamings. Get on your bike and ride there if you can, the view’s worth it.
Ormiston Gorge
Around an hour a half from Alice Springs’ Town Centre you’ll find the stunning swimming spot that is Ormiston Gorge. It’s also a great destination for bushwalking, wildlife spotting, camping and more. It’s pretty neat for the ‘gram too, not gunna lie. White sand, rusty cliffs, a lagoon and a side dish of over 100 Insty likes.
Glen Helen Gorge
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Ah! Another one! Best part about all’a these are that they’re quiet outside of peak season, which is more than you can say for the hustle and bustle of other swimming spots… like Bondi. “There’s no one here. I can be disgusting and nobody knows. It’s fantastic,” Michael tells us.
Another gorge(ous) dip can be taken here, literally. You know what the great thing is about all the holes and gorges and other associated swimming spots that sound like they’re straight from an erotic fiction novel? They’re all within an hour’s drive of one another and can be done in one trip. It’s the easy kinda access those damned Figure 8 Pools just can’t give ya, you know?
What’s not to love about a sunset camel ride tour? The camels are “gentle”, according to the company’s website (which is always a plus, I really struggle with a rough camel) and there are chillaxing one-hour rides at midday, 2.30pm or sunset. It’s also only 20 mins from Alice Springs CBD. How everything is so central in this place, I do not know.
See you in the NT, aye? Ayyyeee.
Start planning here.
