A Town Like Alice - Afternoon Tour (A3)

Highlights: 

• School of the Air
• Royal Flying Doctor Service
• Telegraph Station
• The Alice Springs Reptile Centre
• Anzac Hill

Itinerary

Tour the sights of 'The Alice' with AAT Kings including The School of the Air. Learn how children who cannot access schools are educated by radio and maybe have the opportunity to listen to and observe actual lessons in progress on air. Stop at the historic Telegraph Station, which marks the original site of the first European settlement in Alice Springs. Visit the Royal Flying Doctors Service, where you will see how medical aid reaches those who live in the remote 'outback'. We also make a stop at the Alice Springs Reptile Centre, where you can see up close and maybe touch some of the lizards and snakes that frequent Central Australia's semi-arid desert, such as the Perentie Lizard and the Thorny Devil. The tour concludes with a panoramic view of the township of Alice Springs and the MacDonnell Ranges from the top of Anzac Hill.

Alice Springs

Established by the early explorers, Alice Springs began as a repeater station along the Overland Telegraph Line. Overflowing with history and heritage, Australia’s most famous outback town is now the central headquarters to a range of services and a thriving tourism industry. The traditional custodians, the Arrernte people, refer to Alice as ‘Mpwante’.

School of the Air

Established in 1951, the Alice Springs School of the Air provides education to primary aged school children living on remote properties throughout the Northern Territory. You’ll learn how this essential service is delivered via satellite across more than one million square kilometres.

Alice Springs Telegraph Station

Built in 1872 to relay messages between Darwin and Adelaide, the historic Telegraph Station is the site of the first European settlement in Alice Springs. After 60 years of operation, the premises then served as a school for the local Aboriginal children. Now a historical reserve, featuring the original stone buildings and furnishings from the early 1900s, the Telegraph Station is a must to visit and learn more of the history of the Alice.

Royal Flying Doctor Service

Now you’ll visit the home and headquarters of the highly respected Royal Flying Doctor Service. Delivering medical services to people who live, work and travel in remote and rural Australia, the RFDS is a critical resource for this community. Learn of its remarkable history through stories, images and their wonderful interactive museum.

Alice Springs Reptile Centre

Home to the largest reptile display in Central Australia, the Alice Springs Reptile Centre will introduce you to Terry the saltwater crocodile and let you get very close to enormous goannas and frill-neck lizards. The Gecko Cave features a large collection of gecko species from all over the Northern Territory. You’ll have lots of fun here, particularly during the afternoon show and if you’re game, try the supervised handling session.

Anzac Hill

Last stop – Anzac Hill. Originally dedicated to the many men and women who lost their lives during WWI, it now honours all those who have served in wars in which Australia has played a role.