A Red Centre Romance
One that touches the very heart of Australia.
We’re celebrating our love for Alice.
Alice Springs has a multitude of untold love stories, celebrating the town and it’s surrounds.
We’re taking the opportunity to unearth the love that exists for the town at the heart of Australia. We’re telling the stories of those that have loved, lived, visited and stayed in Alice Springs.
From hot air ballooning at sunrise, uniquely Alice Springs festivals and events, a vibrant foodie scene, and a strong sense of community. There’s a lot to love about Alice Springs. Scroll on to find out more or submit your own love letter to the town at the very heart of Australia.
Dear Alice,
We first met 30 years ago. I'd brought my baby daughter to her grandmother's country. Arrernte Country. Ghost gums kissing an endless blue sky. Washed dry Todd River pebbles at their feet. Red dirt running all the way up the MacDonnell Ranges. Desert sunsets that ignite the senses. Surely it was you who inspired Albert Namatjira?
Each time I return, you're as beautiful as the last.
Your people just as welcoming, you're rich in lore and culture. There's a spirit in every being. A community that serves. Leaders who lift. Children who grow.
Strong is the heart that keeps the Red Centre beating. Bright, smiling faces proud of their ancient home. Ready to share their stories. So we can create our own.
Yours,
Narelda
~Narelda Jacobs
Narelda Jacobs OAM
Journalist & Presenter
Narelda Jacobs OAM is a celebrated Australian journalist, newsreader, and television presenter known for her powerful storytelling and advocacy. As the host of Love Letters to Alice, she brings her deep appreciation for Alice Springs to life, sharing the rich connections and heartfelt experiences that make the Red Centre unforgettable.
Dear Alice
When I first arrived, I didn't quite know what to expect. But over these magical years, you've shown me a side of Australia I'll never take for granted. You're practical, grounded, my kind of place.
Sure, people come for Uluru and Kings Canyon, but they don't realise how much else you've got. The MacDonnell Ranges with their waterholes, Simpsons Gap, Ellery Creek and Rainbow Valley.
And they always leave amazed and wanting more.
I came here for the chance to build something in your iconic outback town. You're not like the well-trodden East Coast, you attract people with grit, folks looking to take the road less travelled. And that suits me. I love showing off your best sides, your local sides. Then out to the places that can only be found with a bit of hard work.
You're not flashy, Alice, but you don't need to be. You've got a beauty that sneaks up on people, and I'm lucky to call you home.
~ Bill Wilcox
Meet Bill
Tourism Operator & Advocate for Alice Springs
Bill Willcox is a long-time tourism operator and passionate advocate for Alice Springs. As the owner of Sandrifter Safaris and G’day Mate Tourist Park, he has welcomed countless visitors to experience the magic of the Red Centre. Through Love Letters to Alice, he shares his love for the people, landscapes, and lifestyle that make Alice Springs a truly special place.
Hey Alice,
You've been with me my whole life, even when I didn't know it. I was born in Darwin, but Mum's roots led me straight back to you.
Every time I see the MacDonnell Ranges come into view, my pulse slows. I can breathe again. You're home, plain and simple. You are more than stunning. Everything about you has meaning, and I feel it in my bones. You hold libraries of stories in your hills, plants and dry rivers. Stories the young step up and share with such pride, keeping them alive.
I left before, but I missed your sense of community. Having a yarn in the street, the way people here stick together when times get tough.
Alice, you're ancient, yet full of life. You've taught me about commitment, about holding on to what matters, and sharing it with others.
Whether it's through bush foods, art, or over a cuppa. I'm here to stay now.
I couldn't leave if I tried.
With love,
~ Rayleen Brown
Meet Rayleen
Business Owner and Culinary Trailblazer
Rayleen Brown is the founder of Kungkas Can Cook, a renowned Alice Springs-based business celebrating Central Australian bush foods. With a deep passion for Indigenous food culture, she has brought unique and gourmet native ingredients to a national and international audience. A proud ambassador for the Red Centre, Rayleen’s love for Alice Springs is reflected in her dedication to preserving and sharing traditional bush tucker.
Alice, Mparntwe,
Whenever I sit in the cold glow of blue light and blurry nights, I hold you close, a handful of desert gold to keep my heart full if I'm far away. I love your contradictions and quirks, a melting pot where first and far-flung languages are spoken up and down the mall.
You are motorbike madness meets meditative landscapes. You are captivating. You're a meeting place where opposites collide and create magic. From sunset welcome drinks on Undoolya Hill or the healing embrace of your waterholes.
You are landscapes of deserts, hills, rivers, woodlands, all within reach, and all within my heart. The world doesn't always see your resilience, our stories of strength and collaboration, our young thriving against all odds. But I do. And I always will. You are my home and my heart. Thank you for holding, shaping, and constantly inspiring me.
Forever yours,
Rona
~ Rona Glynn-McDonald
Meet Rona
Filmaker, Musician & Activist
Rona Glynn-McDonald is a proud Kaytetye woman, award-winning filmmaker, musician, and activist. As the founder of Common Ground, she is dedicated to amplifying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices. Through her letter she shares a deeply personal reflection on the beauty and contradictions of Alice Springs and growing up in Alice, capturing its vibrant spirit and cultural richness.
Alice, Mparntwe
You raised me, my story started with you, and now I'm proud to be sharing yours.
I'm from a proud Arrernte lineage. From a fresh sprout to rock faces carved by ancestors, every story connects us to you.
When I guide others through your sacred places, I see them moved - eyes wide, they leave with a piece of you and still, they wish for more.
The world needs to see you for what you are, more than postcards and headlines.
You are culture. You are country. You are home.
~Will Palmer
Meet Will
Cultural Tour Guide & Arrernte Storyteller
Will Palmer is a proud Arrernte man from Mparntwe (Alice Springs), whose passion for sharing culture and country has led him to become a leading local guide. Starting as a kitchen hand at Standley Chasm, he has since stepped into the role of Head Tour Guide and is now working towards establishing his own tourism business. Through his letter, Will expresses his deep connection to the land, aiming to inspire and educate visitors about the beauty and significance of Arrernte country.
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Share your story to win the ultimate Red Centre adventure
Enter for your chance to win an unforgettable 8-day Red Centre holiday including flights, accommodation, experiences, and car hire.
This incredible prize includes an epic 8-day adventure across Alice Springs, Kings Canyon, and Uluru with car hire to explore at your own pace. From hot air ballooning, visiting the Kangaroo sanctuary, stargazing outback dinners to witnessing immersive sound and light shows. This prize has it all, plus, you’ll enjoy 2 return Qantas economy flights from your closest Australian airport that Qantas services to Alice Springs.
To enter, simply tell us your favourite memories that made your trip to Alice Springs so special or if you haven’t visited, what you’d love to experience most! Is it the breathtaking landscapes, the vibrant culture, or the serene outback waterholes? Share your story, and you could be packing your bags for an unforgettable escape to the Red Centre.
In partnership with
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