Saturday 17th of January

I arrived in Alice Springs. Booked myself accommodation at the Heavitree Gap resort before I left and was pleased to find out in my guidebook that it was a recommended place and that you could feed rock wallabies there! Yay, I thought, thought sounds really fun. I also thought that being a hostel meant that I could meet a few people there, have some sort of social life!

Stepped off the plane and found out from some other people there that the Heavitree places isn't close to town at all, but another girl on the same plane was staying there, so we took a taxi together. She wasn't that friendly (seemed a bit dippy but was going to be studying architecture in Oz for 6 months as a placement type thing....make of that what you will. She said she lived in London but told the taxi driver she lived in Oxford.....whatever!) but at least we shared the taxi fare!

Got to Heavitree and it was basically in the middle of nowhere, built at the back of some big rocks! After my initial shock of being told that it would cost $15 each way to get a taxi into town, and they didn't recommend walking there after dark, I decided to settle in. The room wasn't exactly clean (dead cockroach on the floor and a few dead mozzies in the bathroom) but at least I had it to myself.

You see, Heavitree points itself more towards tourists with cars (they also have a camping ground) and during the Ozzie summer, they are actually quite empty and not a lot happens.

But, I was stuck there for 2 nights with nothing to do?!! I knew I had to get up ultra early to get my desert safari tour bus on the Monday, so I wasn't interested in doing anything on Sunday evening, but that still left me the whole of Sunday to do something with myself. I got there late-ish on Saturday, so was happy just to get over my flight an watch a bit of telly. There were also not many other tourists there and the ones who were, were leaving early on Sunday morning to go on their tours!

Luckily, I kept myself occupied on Sunday by going to the desert park which wasn't too far away and I could get a bus there. The desert park was actually really nice - saw some red kangaroos, some emu's, and all sorts of birds. It was quite interesting to learn about all the desert too!

It was also raining quite a lot which meant it was really nice to wander about, not getting too hot and baked out there as everything was outdoors, obviously!

Came back Sunday afternoon and had to re-pack my case as I knew I couldn't take it with me to the desert! 15 kilos only allowed, which meant minimal clothes, and the essentials like toiletries, towel, walking boots, and so on. Blimey, you'd think I'd be good at packing by now but it really makes me wish that I could travel super light!! I'm sure I probably could if I really tried, but you know what it's like when you think you need this that and the other!

Also fed the wallabies on Sunday night. They're just so cute and the ones there are really tame that they ate right out of my hands! There were only 3 out by the time I wandered over to their little area, but it was really worth it, even though it was raining! I really want a wallaby - they have such cute little faces! Not many rocks where I live in Harrow though, probably not the best habitat for them! Heaven knows how I'd fit one in my suitcase as well..... :D

Next stop, the desert!