Alice Springs Convention Bureau and Northern Territory Convention Bureau recently hosted their annual Alice Stampede.
Guests stayed in the luxury 66-room accommodation wing of Lasseters and enjoyed an itinerary that incorporated a wide range of attractions and experiences showcasing the infrastructure, culture, business and quirky aspects of Alice.
Participants rode mountain bikes to the welcome party that was held at the historic Telegraph Station and ‘Stampeders’ participated in a mini Henley-on-Todd Regatta in the dry river bed before enjoying a performance by Indigenous children’s drumming group, Drum Atweme. A visit from some unusual ‘Territorians’ from the Alice Springs Reptile Centre preceded the market-style al fresco dinner set up on the lawns and an extra special surprise saw each guest fitted for their very own Akubra hat.
Image by Tracey A Lowe for TAL Marketing Concepts
A business forum was held at the Alice Springs Convention Centre, where five local speakers talked about their Alice Springs. Ruth Hirst, from Sydney-based Synergy Events, also provided invaluable planner insights when she talked about her corporate client’s 2013 Alice Springs conference.
A day at the races ‘Alice Springs-style’ took guests to the world-renowned Camel Cup and luncheon in the Lasseters ‘Camel-Cage’ marquee. Another fun element was a visit to the Alice Springs Beanie Festival where ‘Stampeders’ made their selection of an Alice keepsake from a ‘beanie buffet’ piled high with a crop of hand-crafted, work-of-art hats produced by surrounding Indigenous communities.
A camel trek courtesy of Pyndan Camel Tracks, a guided stroll around Alice Springs Desert Park, an early morning hot air balloon ride and the finale dinner at The Quarry delivered spectacular views of the desert landscape and real ‘sense’ of the NT.
