For ANU cricket captain Ben Mitchell, nothing compares to playing in Alice Springs and overlooking the orange ranges.
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He has played cricket in Canberra, Sydney, Darwin, Shellharbour, and even Surrey in England, but they don't come close to Alice Springs.
It is there Mitchell gets to reconnect with his Indigenous heritage.
The scorching conditions, the beautiful landscape, seeing the faces of Indigenous kids that "don't have a whole lot behind them" when he gives them his cricket gear - it simply "doesn't get much better".
Mitchell starred for runner-up New South Wales at the national Indigenous championships this month to earn a black cap as a member of the team of the tournament.
He doesn't know a whole lot about his Indigenous background, but the cultural and learning experiences are the reason Mitchell loves going to the tournament.
"Honestly, I'm pretty naive about that side of my family," Mitchell said.
"It's all my father's side and I haven't had much to do with my father since I was born. It's good to go and learn. I've loved it."
Mitchell picked up 15 wickets at an average of just 8.9 for NSW at the national Indigenous championships. The miserly spinner only went for 2.6 runs per over to boot.
Mitchell is in the race to secure a spot in the national Indigenous squad, announced in April, which would pit him against the national performance squad and Australia A in September.
A chance to press for higher honours highlights the importance of the national tournament, because opening up that pathway helps Indigenous youths steer away from "the wrong road".
"If you get Indigenous kids playing cricket instead of committing crimes, that's huge," Mitchell said.
"I know in Alice Springs they found that. They're running cricket programs now... endless community charities out there that are now cricket-based.
"Participation is up, I couldn't tell you the exact figure but it's gone through the roof since the Imparja Cup got so much publicity."
The likes of Ashleigh Gardner and D'Arcy Short are paving the way for Indigenous youngsters who want to push into the upper echelon of Australian cricket.
Gardner recently debuted for the Southern Stars after setting the Women's Big Bash League alight, while Western Australia's all-rounder Short is considered a player to watch.
ANU's Douglas Cup finals aspirations are hanging by a thread, sitting sixth and four points adrift of a semi-final spot.
What makes it harder is the other two teams in contention for fourth spot - Ginninderra and Queanbeyan - are playing each other, meaning one of them is guaranteed points.
"We're pretty realistic about our finals chances, but while there's still a chance you've got to play as if you're every chance of making it through," Mitchell said.
ANU will have to do it without Mitchell on day one - he'll be playing for NSW Country against touring New Zealand outfit Canterbury at Bradman Oval in Bowral.
He'll slot back into the Owls' side for day two next weekend in a last ditch effort to help his side into the Douglas Cup semi-finals.
CRICKET ACT DOUGLAS CUP
Saturday: Round 14 - Weston Creek Molonglo v Wests-UC at Stirling Oval, Tuggeranong Valley v North Canberra-Gungahlin at Chisholm No 1 Oval, ANU v Eastlake at ANU North Oval, Ginninderra v Queanbeyan at Kippax No 2 Oval. All games start at 11am.
