Sustainable Trails
Conference 2021
Alice Springs,
Northern Territory
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country, the Central Arrernte people. We pay our respects to all Elders, past, present and emerging, as well as elders from other communities who are here today and participating in this conference. They hold the memories, traditions, culture and hope of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people around Australia.
Conference Location
Mparntwe (pronounced M-ban tua) is the Arrernte name for Alice Springs. The Central Arrernte (pronounced arrunda) people are the Traditional Custodians of Alice Springs and the surrounding region.
Alice Springs is the third-largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. The town is a thriving, spirited outback centre and is as famous for the personality of its locals and contemporary and traditional art as the natural wonders, including the stunning Larapinta Trail and the MacDonnell Ranges, which surround it.
The climate in June in Alice Springs is dry; it never rains. Temperatures are up to 19°C. On average, the recorded minimum temperature is 13°C.
Conference Venue
Desert Park – Red Mulga Event Centre
Desert Park is located at the base of the spectacular West MacDonnell Ranges and just 10 minutes drive from Alice Springs, the Desert Park is closely connected to the local Arrernte people and embraces parts of the Akngwelye and Yeperenye Altyerre (Wild Dog and Caterpillar) dreaming stories. Opening in 1997, the park covers 1,300 hectares of land 7 kilometres west of the Alice Springs town centre. With a core area of 54 hectares the park presents and interprets the Australian desert environment and, its inhabitants while contributing to the conservation of Australia’s desert flora and fauna. Alice Springs Desert Park is a dynamic and authentic showcase of the natural, cultural and biological features that make Australia’s deserts so special and is truly one of a kind.
Website: https://alicespringsdesertpark.com.au
Address: Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs Northern Territory 0871
Note: There will be a conference bus available from selected accommodation to and from the conference daily and to the evening social events. See program for pick up times.
Registration
Official registration will occur at the Alice Springs Desert Park on Tuesday afternoon.
Please ensure you wear your name tag at all times.
All speakers are asked to make themselves known to TRC staff at the conference registration and ensure their presentation has been submitted.
Bus timetable
Please review the bus timetable and pick up locations HERE, if you miss the bus, it will be your responsibility to arrange alternative transportation.
Dress Code
Conference: Casual dress
Field trips: Long, lightweight clothes (good for sun & insect protection) and warm layers, appropriate footwear , hat
Gala Dinner: Smart casual. Note: dinner is outside so please bring a jacket or warm layers
What to bring
- A reusable drink bottle
- Your own name badge/tag, if you do not have one we will provide one at registration
- Save the conference program/bus timetable on your computer / mobile device so that you don’t need a paper copy
- Create an e-business card to exchange your details with new contacts
Tuesday
• Dinner is outside at the Desert Park, please bring a jacket
Wednesday
• Bring a backpack and reusable drink bottle, wear appropriate field trip footwear and clothing to the conference, hat, and warm layers for field trips
Thursday
• Dinner at Ooraminna Station is outside, please bring a jacket
How to get there
Airport
The airport is located 15 km south of town (10 minute drive).
Alice Springs Airport website: www.alicespringsairport.com.au
Taxis
Taxis are available from the taxi rank which is located directly in front of the Terminal.
Taxi pricing is charged by meter; expect to pay around $45.00 for a trip between Alice Springs Airport and the Alice Springs CBD district.
Taxi company contact details
13Cabs Phone: +61 132 227
Alice Springs Taxis Phone: +61 131 008
Alice Springs Airport Shuttle Service
The Alice Springs Airport shuttle bus service is operated by Emu Run Experience and operates for all scheduled flights into and out of Alice Springs. The shuttle bus will transfer passengers between the airport and the town centre, hotels, motels and hostels.
Tickets can be purchased from the attendant at the airport or bookings can be made online at www.alicespringsairportshuttle.com.au
T: 1800 687 220 (within Australia) or +61 8 8953 7057
E: info@emurun.com.au
Accommodation
DoubleTree by Hilton
Website: doubletree3.hilton.com
Address: 82 Barrett Drive, Alice Springs Northern Territory 0870
Phone number: 08 8950 8000
Distance from conference venue: 8.7 km
Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters
Website: www.ihg.com
Address: 93 Barrett Drive, Alice Springs Northern Territory 0870
Phone number: 08 8950 7777
Distance from conference venue: 8.5 km
Desert Palms
Website: www.desertpalms.com.au
Address: 74 Barrett Drive, Alice Springs, NT 0870
Phone number: 08 8952 5977
Distance from conference venue: 8.9 km
Quest Apartments:
Website: www.questapartments.com.au
Address: 9-10 South Terrace, Alice Springs Northern Territory 0870
Phone number: 08 8959 0000
Distance from conference venue: 8.6 km
With thanks to our host sponsor
What did past attendees think?
The Sustainable Trails Conference provided an excellent opportunity to share best practice across a variety of topics from trail building to governance. Each session was valuable in its own right. Great to see the collaboration between our two countries as we all strive to make the most of this growing community.
The sustainable trails conference is a must do for all those involved in the planning, development and marketing of tracks and trails.
A well run and organised conference, excellent speakers who certainly provided a range of information in the topics presented. Took away some key learnings.
I have been to a lot of conferences before, this was one of the best I have ever attended.
A fantastic conference. Great speaker line-up with leaders in the field. Learned a lot and made new connections.
The Sustainable Trails Conference provides a unique opportunity to appreciate the importance of trails to local economies and tourism, the amount of work going on in this space, and to share and learn from others working in the field.