We were up there this time last year Chris.  I too had heard all the stories and admittedly some of them come a little way to being true but overall we had no problems and we were in the middle of town on "dole" day.

We were quite impressed when we went the the local liquor outlet to see that the "elders" were keeping a very close eye on proceedings and any sign of any antagonism was quickly quashed.

We stayed at the G'Day Mate Caravan park on the edge of the town and found the overall experience to be very good.

Lets face it if you frequent places that are known trouble spots then that is what you have to expect.

Keep to the tourist route and you can't go wrong.

Make sure you go out to Standley Chasm and Simpson's Gap......not to be missed.

Make sure you spend a whole day at the Desert Park.. and especially see the film there. Awesome! I appreciated the whole landscape so much more after that.
Dont miss Uluru, Kings canyon, its such a long way to travel to see these places you have to make the absolute most you can out of it!

Pricey43 was there very recently, have a read of his blog, sounded as if they enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

We were in Alice in '08 and had no trouble at all. Did the Tanami Rd and stayed in Alice after that. We did a camel ride, it was called Camels to Dinner I think. They pick you up from the van park, take you out to their farm, go for an hour ride on the camel and he talks history and then stayed for dinner and drinks. Had a ball and enjoyed every minute of it.

Can't remember the name of the park but it was in town somewhere there and very nice and clean as well.

Would you advise not to free camp?

ChiChi we did the Tanami Road and just after hitting the bitumen, had to pull over for the night and we free camped about two hundred metres off the road. Trucks going past tooted as they were elevated and could see us but on the whole it was unnoticed by the passers by. I have to say I  can't remember the distance but it was a fair way, maybe 100 klms. Still in all, it was a lovely camp, we were alone and had no trouble except wild camels making their camel noises.

I don't know what it would be like any closer but rule of thumb is no closer to a town then 30 klms for us anyway.

Sorry this answer is a bit sketchy mate, I just can't remember, it was in '08.

If you are interested in fossicking at all... while out that way, take the time to go to a little place called Gemtree. About 150k from Alice. Heading north from Alice take the Plenty H/way ... it's all bitumen, and many free camp out at the "mud tank". Enjoyed Alice ,but....would not camp overnight in Tennant Creek.. Go 25k further north to the 3 ways. Enjoy your travells.
Cheers Dellie

Spent 3 months in Alice last year. Stayed at G'day Mate. Lovely and clean and quiet. We went out at night to restaurants, bars and Special Events. As long as you use your common sense it's a great town. We attended 2 large free concerts at night. Yes there is no denying the problems were there, but the police kept the drunk and rough element under control and we simply kept away. Would go back tomorrow.

Hi all, a lot of good comments above and yes there are some really great places to visit in and around the Alice. As for Alice itself....don't listen to the scaremongers. Yes, we have some problems but tell me where else doesn't? Alice is a great little town that services the mining, tourism and cattle industries as well as being the major centre for regional communities. Ok, I wouldn't go walking by myself in darkened, less populated areas late at night but again, where else do you feel comfortable doing this? Most of the anti-social behaviour is centred around alcohol. Aboriginal people that live outside of Alice are not allowed to drink, in other words they live in dry communities. Alice is itself a dry town...you cannot drink in public areas. What would you do in the same situation?....You'd go somewhere where you could.

On the whole we would be far better served to pressure the government (Feds and NT) into opening up these communities to normality so that people don't have to travel. This would mean that people could get jobs and not be so bored that they rely on alcohol to pass the time.

Why is it that the minority always gets listened to?

I live in Alice and it's a great place. I brought up my daughter here and whilst she is studying in Adelaide where does she come for uni breaks? Back to Alice...

You all come and visit sometime and make up your own minds....

We lived in Alice for 15 years. Left in 2006. We never had any problems with the locals in that time. Our kids went to school there and made friends , played sport and interacted with the night life as they grew up. Never had a problem. We still visit the place. One of our daughters lives there. We will be going through in May on our way to Darwin to visit another daughter and grandkids. Take heed of the advise given already, use common sense. If you wouldn't do things or go certain locations in the big smoke because you think it could be dangerous, use that same thinking in Alice. It is quite safe to go to restaurants and other venues at night. Just use commonsense and you'll be right.  Most of the fighting and drinking problems is amongst the local indigeonous population and the out of towners that come in from the dry communities.  Don't try to intervene by yourself when you see trouble brewing.  At night go in groups if you are going to drinking holes.
Places to visit include, the Desert Park, Western McDonnells, Eastern MacDonnells out to Trephina Gorge, all the Gorges, RFDS display in town, Stuart Town siding, Motor Vehicle Museum, School of the Air, etc. Plenty of shops in town . Have a great time. See you on the road sometime.

cheers,
Alby

-- Edited by AlbyofCraigmore on Thursday 17th of March 2011 03:36:05 PM