Janet and Peter On Tour: September 2014

Monday, September 29, 2014

East to Mt Isa

We stayed in Darwin an extra day to wait for the fridge door which arrived on Wednesday but the screen was delayed so they will post it to us in Mt Isa (hopefully!), so we spent a wonderful day at the Leanyer Water Park and set off the following morning for Kakadu National Park. While there, we saw crocodiles - many of them, in the rivers and on the banks. They can be seen in big numbers around the boat ramps - you wouldn't see me launching a dingy there! But it was very exciting to see them from the safety of the shore. We did quite a gruelling walk to Maguk Falls - gruelling because it was so hot, but the swim was so worth the narrow path and rock climbing. That night we camped in Kakadu and were nearly carried away by the flies! Once the sun went down they disappeared and we could appreciate the outback starry sky. We visited a few other places in Kakadu, including the Bakery at Jabiru - yum. The humidity is rising and starting to get uncomfortable so we decided to head further south the next day, left Kakadu and stayed at a free camp site before travelling back over ground we covered on the way North.
On Saturday we headed for Mataranka to watch the Grand Final and swim in the thermal pools again. We got there in time for a swim and lunch before the match started and then settled into the outdoor bar which is fan cooled and very comfortable. The locals were much more entertaining than the match and we had a very pleasant day, swimming during half time and after the match before hitting the road for a free camp down the road. We stopped at various places that we hadn't stopped at on the way up so we saw different things and this morning pulled into Three Ways caravan Park to do the washing and get ready for our next leg. The difference in humidity is huge since leaving Kakadu. It's still hot but not sticky and the nights are much more pleasant.
Sunday was a big driving day, we don't normally travel more than a couple of hours a day but we spent the time tackling the big questions, like - "would you rather be eaten by a shark or a crocodile", "would you rather be trapped in a tent with a snake or a spider" and making up elaborate stories as to why certain places like creeks and bridges are named what they have been named. Plus we have come up with some great dance moves you can do sitting down! Life's never boring :)

A Peacock showing off at our camp in Darwin

Leanyer Park was good fun

...and all for free. Brendan has been here!

We have passed many bush-fires along the way and this one caused a tree to fall across in front of us

I couldn't wait to see a croc in the wild!

This one's on the move!

Our bush camp in Kakadu

Beautiful Maguk

Peter, will you please stand back!

Watching the Grand Final with the locals at Mataranka

We decided against the Joy Ride!

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Next stop....Kakadu

We have been in Darwin for 11 nights and have thoroughly enjoyed the sights including Berry Springs, Howard Springs, Charles Darwin National Park, the City, the Suburbs but the absolute highlight was our Sunset Dinner Cruise on Darwin Harbour. Never have we seen such a spectacular sunset and being on the boat with the wonderful sea breeze and seeing Darwin from the water, not to mention the meal...WOW.
Tonight we watched the sunset from the beach and it was just as spectacular.
Not sure what's happening tomorrow, we have been waiting for a fridge door to arrive and also the reversing camera screen. Both were due today but true to form...they didn't arrive! As much as I love Darwin, we have been told that NT stands for Not Today, Not Tomorrow, Not Tuesdays and Not Thursdays...we may be staying longer

Our trusty sea vessel Cape Adieu

All Aboard!

Leaving Stokes Hill Wharf

Government House

The photos don't do it justice

Awhhh

going...going..

nigh' night

me on the flying fox singing "I came in like a wrecking ball"

One of the many bunkers, used during WWII, scattered throughout Charles Darwin National Park

The boat we were on last night

Tonights Sunset from the beach

Friday, September 19, 2014

Darwin

We spent a lovely day in Litchfield National Park visiting Wangi Falls, Tolmer Falls, The Lost City -which was via a 4WD track, Buley Rock Holes, Florence Falls and the magnetic termite mounds.
The next morning we headed to Darwin and are staying at a place near Howard Springs. The couple that own the place have room for eight self contained vans. They supply power and water but you need your own shower and toilet as they don't have that facility. They do have a Dam full of Barramundi and lots of other fish as well as a couple of fresh water crocs, and a tinny you can take out and try to catch fish - or just row around like we did.
The heart of the city is only about 15-20 minutes away so it's really convenient. We have been all over the place and had our fill of retail therapy. There's a great swimming beach which is protected from stingers and crocs and is surrounded by grass which makes it really pleasant.
I arranged to meet an old friend, Katherine, for lunch and we had a good catch up and will meet again before we move on.
Steve rang this morning and asked where we were. He was just coming into Darwin and happened to be only five minutes from us so he stopped by for a chat!
We will be here until at least Tuesday because we are waiting for a new fridge door to come in - ours fell off! Luckily Peter has fixed it temporarily so it's all ok.
Today, we packed a picnic lunch and went to Berry Springs Nature Park where we swam in the different rock pools and went for walks or lazed on the lawns.

Tolmer Falls, Litchfield NP

The Lost City, Litchfield

Florence Falls, Litchfield

Florence Falls at water level, Litchfield

Termite Mound, Litchfield

Rowing on the Dam

Hidden Valley Racetrack, Darwin

A great swimming spot in Darwin

Peter having a dip at Wangi Falls

I'm always amazed at the trees growing in rocks

Darwin City from Fannie Bay

The washing machine is great!

A pool in the Berry Springs Nature Park, full of fish, the water is so clear you can see to the bottom

Another pool at Berry Springs

Nothin' to do but swim, laze and take selfies!

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Life by the water

7.08.2014...Fathers Day
I write this sitting in the shade of our canopy surrounded by trees and palms and listening to birds and our own personal waterfall. Life's good :). We are at a place called Robin Falls about 12 kms from Adelaide River. There is a walk up to the top falls which we will do tomorrow but I'll catch you up on our adventures since I last posted...we stayed at Mataranka for three days. While there we swam in the hot springs both at Bitter Springs and Mataranka, visited the house and viewed the costumes that were used in the movie "we of the never never". One night we downloaded and watched the movie. We met three lovely ladies who were travelling together but each had there own motor home. They told us about Robin Falls where we are now. We also met a couple from Young in NSW they were also having a "Gap Year" like us. After Mataranka we travelled 90 k's up the road to Katherine. SHOPS!!! Our first big grocery shop since Alice Springs. After a couple of hours of retail magic and filling up with Fuel and water, we headed off to our stay for the night which on Wiki Camps was called "bush camp". Well....it was a little winding uphill and downhill track close to the edge of a gully. Of course, there was no where to turn around so we kept going...until the road had washed away. Good ol' Pete and our wonderful little van managed to do a 10+ point turn and get us back on the track. We pulled off the little track and Peter did some "gardening" to make our space bigger and we had a great camp site for the night! The sunset was wonderful and Kangaroos can hop very fast up and down hills, we observed.
In the morning we went to Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge) and did one of the walks to the top of the Gorge. Bats were hanging in the trees, people were canoeing along the Katherine River, the scenery was magic. Edith Falls was next, where we stayed for two nights, on the other side of the National Park. We swam in the bottom pool - which you could have sailed a cruise liner on - and did the walk to the top falls and swam there too. The water is crystal clear and freezing cold at first but once in, it's beautiful. While there, bushfires were happening around us. The fires were a fair way off but the smoke was quite thick and they were talking about closing the National Park. We headed off to clearer air and stopped at Pine Creek to look at the Markets there. We ended up having a good look around the historic and interesting town and got to Robin Falls later that afternoon.

10.09.2014
Steve was with us!!! We were able to talk to him while he was in Katherine and told him where we were. He rocked up about 4pm on Monday and it's been great to catch up! We have spent a wonderful two days talking about our travels, looking at photos and taking dips in the river. He headed off this morning to Kakadu. Safe travels Steve, it was great to see you. xx

Peter and I will probably stay here for another day or two before heading off to Litchfield National Park.

11.09.2014
We decided to set off to Litchfield this morning because we were getting way to comfortable and the van (and ourselves) were in great need of a clean up. I spent a bit of a marathon on downloading photos and doing the blog yesterday afternoon using the cars inverter for power...so, this morning the car wouldn't start! Thankfully the caravan battery gave enough kick to get the car started - lesson learnt! Tonight we are in a caravan park and we've spent the day doing the washing and getting rid of the dust and dirt. The Caravan Park has a pool so we had a dip too. The inside of the van is now sparkling but the bats have had a field day on the outside - that will have to wait.