The Oodnadatte Track - Alice Springs

After leaving the camels at Uluru we drove on to the turn off to Alice Springs at Eldundra again, but stayed the night there, as it's a few hours drive plus stopped for lunch with some wild camels.

Wild Camel Herd

Outback Petrol Prices $2.16.9 for Diesal

Non Power Site in Eldrunda

Large cactus plant on the site.

Coughed most of the night  here, as getting very low temperatures, so when we arrived at the Alice wasn't feeling great but we were up to Day 16. The trip has gone very fast. Having arrived about 2pm I caught up with the washing, John did a bit of shopping and we slept in the next day then set of for The Desert Park.

Always a quilt to be found

It is miles around this park so we hired two carts to drive around, so glad I would have been out of breadth most of the time.

This is luxury

Typical of the Termite mounds on this whole trip

Kangaroos, but the park was surrounded by these mountains.

This park has lots of large bird cages that you walk into to. Many of the plants are food plants the aboriginals use, so found that interesting. We could have sat in on quite a few talks but just wandered around enjoying everything. Took all morning to see it. The Nocturnal house was very large and impressive. Just a couple of the many bird photos.

This is actually concrete.

Childrens Playground

In the Afternoon we then went off to The Old Telegraph Station which is situated in another very large  Public Park. This day there was a kindergarten class, bike riders, and walkers.
We had lunch  at the cafe and looked at the Old homestead, Telegraph area, kitchens etc which is all mainted at 1900 level. The telegraph joined Adelaide to Darwin and rest of the world. Sadly stolen children were also at one staged lived here so many sad stories. WW1 soldiers also used this area. So it has had a checkered history.

Entrance Area and Lunch

Old Post Box

One of many buildings

The buildings were for the Stationmaster, Telegraph personel, plus kitchens, stables, blacksmith etc.

Blacksmith/Tools Shed

Bedroom

Old stove

Kitchen

Next, Day 17, we did School of the Air, which involved a small video presentation of the history and the area it takes in. Then we had a talk of the current situation of how many children and where they are located plus a video of several classes and where it is done now. Really enjoyed all of this. If it had been during the week we could have watched a class live. It is the biggest school in the World by area and the Australian Government provides all books, computers and Satellites.

Work done by children.

Area where you can watch live or video classes

Close up of Teachers area

Then it was off to the Royal Flying Doctors.

Entrance

This plane is set up as what is used by Drs and Nurses and patients.

Found the Quilt representing John Flynn who started the idea.

Lots of 3D animation here, we had another video in 3D of the history and as you walk around you can press buttons for 3D characters to talk to you Nurses, Drs. Pilots etc. each with several subjects you can listen to them talk about. 

Currently there are 72 modern planes equipped with everything you would need. This building is an old homestead converted to a cafe. with lovely lounges, tables and seating, of an old era. Plus an outdoor area.

Outdoor Seating area

Afternoon Tea

As I had accidentally trodden on my glasses, we went down to the shopping area to get them fixed, I also found a shop that sold nothing but aboriginal prints, which I had never seen before.

Quilt Shop

Quilt

The history museum and Art Centre were across the road so popped into that also on our way back. There were a number of buildings, Art workshops, Museum, Art Centre, and Theatre building.

Entrance to it

Stained Glass at Entrance

Lizards and snakes

Marsupials

There were also rock specimens,fossils and the history of the area, animals that had been lost. Lots of Black and White photos from one person who recorded many early settlers, and animals in the early 1900s, which were interesting and  including life of the aboriginal people of the time.

Emu

The Art Centre had 3 exhibitions, the main permanent one, and 2 visiting, one very modern , and a photographic, both which I found a little strange.

Original Albert Namijera

I will leave this now as it is long enough and next week will do more on the Alice Springs area. I must admit, we certainly filled our days up.

Till Next Time