Kakadu

We enjoyed our stay at Howard Springs, set off Monday morning down the Arnhem Hwy for Kakadu National Park. Not a long drive today.

Jabiru is the main township in Kakadu, providing a range of essential services for thousands of visitors each year and a gateway to all parts of the park and Arnham Land.

Had a look around the town and visitors centre to decide on where to go and what to see in a couple of days.  In the evening at the Kakadu Lodge (where we are staying) walked to the pool/bistro/bar where a ranger gave a very interesting slide show and explanation on Rock Art.

Decided to go south and see Nourlangie Rock Art, had a 1.5 km circular walk that took us past ancient   Aboriginal shelters and rock art sites. Climbed up to a lookout for great views of the Kakadu escarpment.

 

 We had a great day finishing off with a sunset cruise on the Yellow Water Wetlands which is part of the South Alligator River floodplain one of Kakadu's best know landmarks located near a small settlement of Cooinda about 50 klms south of Jabiru.  Birds and crocodiles were plentiful.

Certainly an unforgettable experience in such a beautiful peaceful place.

The next day we drove north east from Jabiru to Ubirr (Oo-beer) to another rock art site and stopped at Cahills Crossing on the East Alligator River where the man was taken just recently by a croc from his fishing boat, there was quite a large croc in the water which is very muddy being a tidal river.  Some tourists came along and were standing quite close to the river edge when warned by another tourist they were too close and how dangerous it was despite all the warning signs that are everywhere.

It was quite hot so didn't do the climb at Ubirr to look out over the floodplain. Rock art was amazing these photo's not very clear.

Arnhem Highway

Had a day trip from Howard Springs on Saturday to visit Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve.  The dam is a remnant of the early attempts to produce rice on the Adelaide River floodplain.  Today it is an important refuge for wildlife.  Not very spectacular not many birds there at present.

Continued along the Arnhem Highway to the Adelaide River and went on a Jumping Crocodile Cruise,  I chose the upper deck on the boat!!  

We were very fortunate to see lots of crocodiles on the banks and in the water and at a safe distance thank goodness.

There were quite a few buffaloes in a paddock on our way home, haven't seen any others yet.

Later on Saturday evening went back into Darwin and had dinner at Saffrron  an Indian restaurant

recommended to us by Peter & Penny Treleavan ( have been in contact with them and hopefully will see them in Broome).  Had great food even took home the left overs!!

Sunday was a lazy day, doing washing and packing up ready for trip to Kakadu on Monday.

Darwin

Just a short trip today of over 300 klms.  Howard Springs is about 35 klms from the centre of Darwin, a nice park with plenty of trees.

We are right along side of another Retreat Hamilton, they are from Tasmania.  There are another couple of Retreats in the park.

We are close to Palmerston, have been over a couple of times.  Had a drink at a pub where the Dockers were on Foxtell on Saturday, needless to say did'nt stay too long!!!

On Sunday drove into Darwin for a look, getting the ute serviced on Monday morning so thought we had better know where we were going.  Darwin is very clean and easy to find your way around,

has a very relaxed atmosphere, just like Broome.  

We have visited the WW2 Oil Storage Tunnels, 5 were constructed to protect the Navy's oil supplies from bombardment during the war ( however they were never used). 

East Point Military Museum where there is an extensive collection of photographic and informative

displays of military equipment.  Tone even found an army truck like he used to drive in the bush at Poppa Dousts timber mill!  

Have done a few more things, had a quick look at the Mindil Markets on Sunday arvo, went back Thursday evening, certainly attracts big crowds and an abundance of food stalls, the weather is ideal for evening markets.

We drove to Litchfield National Park on Wednesday just for the day, took our lunch & bathers and had a great day.

The termite mounds that stand up to 2 meters high pointing north-south to minimise their exposure to the sun were fascinating.  Florence Falls, Tolmer Falls & Wangi Falls were all beautiful and very popular with the tourists,  lots of people swimming.  We decided this lovely quiet spot on the edge of the creek just before Florence Falls was a great place for our lunch and paddle our feet.

On our way home visited Berry Springs Nature Park and found a small waterfall with pandanus

palms and rainforest surrounding it.  Did not have our bathers on but soon changed our minds and had a wonderful massage under the waterfall, apparently much warmer water than at Wangi Falls.

Happy 40th Shell, lovely to talk this morning hope you celebrate in style, sorry we are not with you.

Went to the Darwin Show today (Friday 25th) it's a public holiday today, large crowd in attendance.

The boys would have liked the very large yellow fire engine

Saw these very large pumpkins one was 87 kgs.

and some very big Brahams cattle

There was a very entertaining Canadian Lumberjack Show, where the two team members speed climbed a 15m pole, blew up an outback dunny, log rolled in water and duelling chainsaws.

Katherine

After 5 nights with Sue & Keith we left late morning on Tuesday heading for the top end.  Our first stop was at the Tropic of Capricorn, we didn't have a long day ended up at little place in the middle of nowhere called Wauchope behind a pub with a fence around to stop cattle coming in!

We had an early start and ended up travelling 808 klms arriving in Katherine around 5 pm.  Had intended staying at Mataranka but not able to get a booking.  Thought we can go back there on our return from Kakadu on our way home.

We took advice from Shell and gave Elliott a miss can understand why it is not high on the tourist route.

Stopped at Daly Waters for a look (full of grey nomads!) 

Staying for 3 nights in Katherine, at Shady Lane Tourist Park, about 6 km from town with large shady trees and great amenities.  Katherine was very busy yesterday being pension day and the local show is on this weekend.  Had a look around, visited the Hot Springs and wished we had taken our bathers.

Visited the information centre, and as usual the tour director (according to the financial manager) has information overload!!!

This bronze statue is a Katherine Icon of Subu Sing an aboriginal stockman, was erected to commerate Australia's Year of the Outback in 2002.

Happy birthday Keik,  enjoy Melbourne, hope the weather is kind to you.

We have booked a Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Dinner Cruise for this evening  (Friday 18th) which has been recommended to us on the first 2 gorges. 

Our cruise left at 4.30 pm on a beautiful afternoon/evening.  Had a very relaxed time, admiring the fantastic gorges & river,  after the first gorge we left the boat and walked over to the second gorge and another boat was waiting for us, such a beautiful peaceful place.  When we returned to the first boat it was all set for our dinner with the chefs, waiters etc on board.  We chose barramundi which was delicious, had a lovely time.

Leaving for Darwin on Saturday have booked 7 nights at Howard Springs, thought we can visit Litchfield from there.

Alice Springs

Decided on our way to Alice Springs to take a short cut unsealed 100 klm road.  First 20 klms were terrible with corrigations, it certainly tested the van for dust etc.  a couple of drawers came open and a few other things thank goodness we came to Sue & Keiths so Tone was able to do the repairs, wash the van and go through a car wash.

Alice Springs has about 25,000 population with very good amenities and shops. 

We had a great day out with Sue & Keith at the Camel Cup on Saturday, there was a big crowd there and you guessed it we met David & Raelene again.  They were having 4 nights of luxury at a hotel after camping!  

A short drive from town is a Simpson's Gap another very pretty place.

We had a look at the grave of John Flynn's just on the edge of town ( the founder of the Flying Doctor).

Sunday we did'nt venture to far as it was cold & wet all day, 7 degrees max & min not very nice.  Lovely & warm in the house and lucky for Tone we could watch the Dockers on foxtel.

On Monday Keith & Sue took us to Glen Helen Gorge about 130 klms west of Alice Springs in the West Macdonnell National Park again very picturesque, we had lunch out there, the managers are friends of Keith & Sue.  On our way home we went to Ormiston Gorge where a man had fallen and all the rescue teams were there, we could see him wrapped in the silver blanket and they were deciding how to lower him down from the rock he was on.  We also stopped at Ellery Creek Bighole where there was plenty of water and a great place for swimming in the summer.

Kings Canyon

Left Uluru early for Kings Canyon which is north east from Uluru about 300 klms.  Stayed at Kings Creek Station which is a working cattle station 40 klms from the canyon.  Lots of activities for kids here camel rides, helicopter flights, quad bikes and Harley Davison rides (we chose not to do any!) It was a great bush setting for camping etc.

We walked along the canyon floor which wasn't as arduous as the rim-edge walk, both thoroughly enjoyed our day here in such a beautiful place.

A short distance away is Kathleen Springs while walking along we met David & Raelene Birch (ex Boyup) now from Dardanup.  Does anyone remember Raelene Carmody who was a high school teacher at Boyup?  Such a surprise to meet someone we knew, and they were camped just behind us at Kings Creek Station!  Had a few wines together that evening.

 

Uluru

Spent a night at Erldunda which is at the junction of Stuart and Lasseter Highways ready to go to Uluru (Ayers Rock Campground, Yalara) on Tuesday.  Very busy being school holidays in NT, most expensive park so far $48 a night on red dirt with no grass!!  Had a lovely day visiting both rocks lovely warm day didn't do any of the walks just had a good look and plenty of photos.  The campground had a great lookout where we saw the sunset.  The Olgas are magnificent and very vivid in colour.

 

Coober Pedy

So glad we have had our electric heater which Pam suggested we buy, have had some very cold nights in SA.  Stopped at Woomera on our way to Coober Pedy to look at the outdoor display of rockets & missiles unfortunately the museum was closed.  It is certainly in the middle of nowhere!!

Nothing else to see until Coober Pedy.  Decided to stay 2 nights and take a bus tour the next day, very enjoyable a bit long, had a tour of the town, a very strange golf course that did not have a tree in sight, lots of mines and the equipment they use, the 'Breakaways' which is about 30 klms from town and has been used for a few movies including Mad Max, Pricilla Queen of the Desert and then back to town and then toured an underground gallery, museum and old mine and the Serbian Church all very interesting, finished the day with great pizza from the Stuart Range Caravan Park where we were staying, they even had 2 guys playing country music!

The outside of the underground museum

The Serbian Church

Port Augusta

After our 4 night stay at Auburn set off for Ardrossan on the Yorke Peninsular via Balaklava, Port Wakefield down the coast to Ardrossan to stay the night with Sharon (ex Wiluna).  The town is situated on top of imposing red cliffs, very popular for holidays and grey nomads!!  We had a look around with Sharon and enjoyed our evening with her in front of her lovely fire, we are looking forward to heading north and some warmer weather.

Travelled to Port Augusta on Friday morning not very interesting except for hundreds of wind turbines on the hills, we have experienced lots of wind since coming to South Australia.  Very open country with very few trees.  Did some grocery shopping ready for heading north, left the car connected ready to go next morning off to Coober Pedy.

Sharon & Elinor in front of her lovely little house she is renovating

This is Adrossan taken on lookout over the town.