7th July, 2014

Another beautiful Katherine morning, we relaxed a bit, saved all our photos and videos to a hard drive and did some washing before embarking on another sojourn up the rock escarpments of this beautiful gorge. This mornings walk was only 1 and a bit hours but provided some magnificent views of the gorge and the river. 

After our walk we had lunch and then drove into Katherine. It's school holidays up here and the school of the air was closed so we headed over to the Katherine Museum instead. It was very interesting to read and learn about the history of this place.

Here is Trent in front of one of Dr. Fentons planes. He flew these around to treat the sick and injured and was an inspiration to the people but a thorn in the side to the government and officialdom. Once back at camp we put on a roast lamb and veggies before heading down to watch the bats take flight with Clare and Alyssa.

Tomorrow we head for Kakadu and so may not be able to update the blog for few days. See you later.

6th July, 2014

Another beautiful morning, this time out at Nitilmuk National Park. There is heaps of wildlife up here hanging around the campsite Eagles, Kites, Lorikeets, Cuckoo's, Bee Eaters, Kookaburras, Bats and Agile Wallabies who like to pay a visit or two.

After enjoying bacon and eggs for breakfast and attending to a few housekeeping items we headed off to do one of the short walks that leave from the visitor centre. We did the Windolf walk which is a 8.4 k - 3.5 hr return walk out to Pat's Lookout and the Southern Rockhole. The walk starts pretty easily and is followed by a moderate climb up to the top of the cliffs and then it basically levels out until you get to the lookout. 

This is the view of the 1st gorge from the lookout.

Once we had taken a few snaps and spoken to the ranger we continued on down to Southern Rockhole which involves a bit of rock hopping and a couple of steps but overall nothing to difficult.

The water is a stagnant at the moment but there was still fish swimming around in it and the photos oft in the wet make it look pretty special. If you are up here aft a good wet season or early aft the wet you can swim here.

A short walk through a butterfly filled gorge led us out to a sandy beach on the gorge. Trent was a bit concerned about the freshwater crocs that inhabit the area but we all stripped off and had a swim.

Loving this panorama function on the iPhone but trying to take photos with the Nikon, GoPro and iPhone is pretty tough. Ah the things that concern us on holidays.

It took a bit of convincing to get Alyssa in as well, she was worried about walking back all wet, at least that's what she told us - image is everything.

We then headed back to the visitor centre and were back basically spot on the 3.5 hrs which wasn't bad after our swim. Then we had lunch and went for a swim in the resort style pool that this National Park offers before getting a ice cream and checking out the bats hanging in the trees.

Just before dinner Trent and I went down to the swimming jetty to watch the bats take flight. It was amazing and something not to be missed if you are here. The bats all leave their trees and form a whirlpool of sorts above the water, swooping down to take a drink, while trying to avoid being snapped up by the waiting freshwater crocs and then they all fly away - just awesome to watch, although I did get shat on once.

5th July, 2014

Well today brings to an end our first week on the road, that's right 7 days down already.

We pulled out of the overflow at Daly Waters and checked out the Old International Airport, Stuart Tree and the Chinese Cemetery. 

Trent was in his element checking out an old aircraft wreck. Later we heard a bit of a ruckus outside and found this large snake, not sure if it's an olive python or a brown snake?

Then we headed for the Mataranka Thermal Springs where we all enjoyed a dip in the beautiful warm water. 

From there we went back out onto the highway and into Berry Springs for lunch. They are a lot less commercialised and in our opinion better then Mataranka.

Tonight we are at Katherine, Nitilmuk National Park Caravan Park actually, it's 8:00 pm and Trent is still swimming in the resort pool and it's still 23 degrees. Hard to take I know.

4th July, 2014

This morning, yet another beautiful sunrise at the packed Devils Marbles campground. Pictures don't do the place justice, that soft early morning light makes the place glow. Trent and I explored the marbles and took a heap more photos before a pancake breakfast. Packed up the camper and headed off towards the Daly Waters Pub for a Beef and Barra dinner tonight. 

The weather is warmer now after crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, it's a balmy 25 degrees at midday, shorts and t-shirts from here on in. 

We arrived at Daly Waters at about 3:30, it was absolutely packed. We went for an unpowered site and were placed in the overflow directly across the road. After setting up, Trent had a swim, we all had a well deserved shower and then went over for dinner. 

They had a couple of different singers entertain us for the night and the Grey Nomads really lived it up to the old rock and roll tunes. I wonder what sort of music they will be playing if we return in 20 years?

3rd July, 2014

This morning we awoke to yet another magnificent sunrise in very very cold conditions, -2 degrees at 0600 hrs and it still was when we pulled out at 0805 hrs. It was trying conditions to pack up in, the milk and the orange juice froze sitting on the kitchen bench as did the water pump, it simply couldn't force the water through and there was a drop of water frozen at the end of the tap. The iDevices all couldn't handle the cold and shut down as if they had no battery left.

We did see our first dingo of the trip wander past camp and then when Trent ran into the tent and zipped it up, the dingo appeared to become more inquisitive and came back for another look, perhaps smelling our frozen food and drinks.

After an hour or so of driving we stopped at Alice Springs and rewarded ourselves with a visit to McDonalds for a coffee or frappe depending on your persuasion. A bit of shopping at Coles followed before a visit to the dump point and a quick wash of the camper trailer at the car wash, to remove the excess dust, makes things cleaner when walking around it and getting things out.

From there we hit the road again bound for the Devils Marbles. We arrived at 4:30 pm and were lucky to find a camping spot crammed between two others. A quick set up and we went for a walk to view the sun setting over the marbles before coming back and firing up the Weber for some marinated chicken wraps.

There we are behind the gazebo.

2nd July, 2014

We started the day with a sleep in (6:40) which was not by design. Trent woke us up at 4:30 shivering and we had to warm him up before we could get back to sleep, then we overslept. Anyway we are on holidays.

Once on the road it was about an hour to the Northern Territory Border wether we stopped for the obligatory photos.

From there another hour or so had us at Erldunda, where we stopped and used the mobile reception to download the paper and catch up on the news of the day.young Nick Kyrios had beaten the all mighty Rafael Nadal overnight to reach the quarter finals, what an effort.

We decided to make it a half day today and get out of the car for a while and stay the night at the Rainbow Valley Conservation Area. We were not disappointed, it has well appointed camping areas, clean pit toilets, fire pits, gas bbqs and hot plates, all for the princely sum of $7.70 per family. The Vic government could learn a thing or two here.

After setting up camp and the solar (beautiful sunny day of 19 degrees) we had lunch and went for a walk to Mushroom Rock.

The we headed back to camp for dinner. Trent wouldn't leave our side worried at the thought of a Dingo attacking us. As the sun set we made our way to a viewing area to have a look at the changing colours of the rock face. It was no where near as busy as Ayers Rock.

Loving the panorama function of the iPhone, which is providing all of hone pictures for this blog until I get home and get some broadband again.

1st July, 2014

This morning we awoke to another beautiful sunrise at Lake Hart. We tried to photograph it while packing up camp and having breakfast, all at the same time. In the end we got away 10 minutes later than yesterday at 8:15. It was pitch black when I got up at 0600 hrs though.

Before we left I used the iPhones panorama function.

We drove to Coober Pedy where we fuelled up, before having lunch at the picnic area behind town, where the kids did a bit of fossicking for opals.

We then headed for Marla where the kids were rewarded with a ice cream for their excellent behaviour, before continuing on and pulling up stumps at Agnes Creek, another free camp. We set up camp while cooking some garlic bread on the weber and preparing the camp shower, while watching the sun set.

Plenty of dead cows on the side of the road today, no wedgies yet though.