Darwin Bound #1

We have to do some back tracking now but one good thing is you know the facilities and the parks you want to go back to.  Tonight we are at Fitzroy Crossing and I knew they had a good barbeque will a grill plate so we had a nice steak.  We met some lovely people who gave us tips on where to stay and what to do in Darwin.  We will try to go to Lake Argyle tomorrow it will be a big day but David is keen.  We will probably stay at Lake Argyle two nights as you can use as much water as you want and we want to wash to car and van and David knows he will be able to watch the football there.  We will not have mobile or internet though.

Basketball

Today we went to Cable Beach to watch the Cable Beach Invitational Basketball between the Perth Wildcats and the Singapore Slingers and two other international teams.  Both matches were tight and exciting to watch with all the razamatazz of an international basketball competition.  The highlight of the day was going to McDonalds on the way home and using the free wifi to download David two more books onto his Kindle.
David went to the ablution block when we came home and found this sign but I don't think we will apply.

25^th September  - We started  the day with breakfast overlooking the harbour from the van park.  We have more scenic views now as there are fewer people in the park now.    We went for a drive and  walked around the town, Dampier Street which is the esplanade of old Broome where most of the pearl houses are located.  We had morning tea at Pearl Luggers where we were able to view some original pearl luggers. On our walk I found a fabric shop it was a general store which included a newsagent and Haberdashery .

Pearls

24^th September – We went to the Pearl Information Centre and learnt how they grow pearls, what a pearl is and how you can tell if its real.  The presenter passed around strands of pearls and the one near my neck is worth 12,500.  We also went to the museum which David and I walked from the van park to, this showed some of the early history of broome particularly the pearling and the bombing  of the harbour during the second world war.  A couple of young lads who are Grace and Fred’s neighbours went on a fishing trip and bought us home some fish which we cooked on the webber, a great way to finish another day in paradise.

Broome

20th September - We collected the car and caravan from the park where we left it and headed to Broome where we met up with our friends.  They had a lovely spot right on the beach front and ours is a shady one just behind.  It is good being able to share their view.  21st September -  Kimberley Wild tour of  Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Boab 'Prison Tree', Napier Range, Gibb River Road and Fitzroy River . We were picked up from our accommodation with a very early start of 6.30am and travelled to Willare Roadhouse on the banks of the Fitzroy River where we had morning tea. 

 Then onto the Boab Prison Tree for a quick stop, from there it was back on the bus for Windjana Gorge.  After an hour and a half on the Gibb River Road (pleased it was not our vehicle) bouncing corrugations in the road we arrived at Windjana. 

We went exploring while the tour guide prepared our lunch and yes you guessed it more crocodiles as well as archer fish. 

 

Back on the bus we headed to Tunnel Creek which was the highlight of the tour. Tunnel Creek is an underground stream which goes under the Napier Range.  We paddled through knee deep water through the cave system where stalagmites and stalactites formed spectacular formations.  On arrival at the other end we were able to go swimming in a beautiful cool pool  however Jenny’s swim was cut short when she saw the baby crocodile on the edge of the bank within meters of where we were swimming.  Back to Willare Roadhouse to enjoy dinner where the boys got to watch a bit of the fotty on their television and then we travelled back to Broome arriving at 10pm.

 

 

 

 

Horizontal Falls



 19th September - We travelled from Fitzroy Crossing to Derby stopping to take a photo of the boab tree.

At Derby we were picked up by bus and taken to the Airport where we boarded our float plane headed for the Horizontal Falls. We flew over the falls before the plane landed beside the pontoon and we were shown to our rooms.

 

 

 First was the feeding of the sharks and being able to swim in the shark cages beside them. David got to hold one by the tail.

After the feeding was over we boarded the fast boat and were taken to the calm waters and shown where the boys used to live before the new house boat was built and he showed us his pets as he called them, we could not see anything until he threw out some bread and then all these bat fish appeared. We then headed to the horizontal falls I don't think I have words to describe this experience we both loved this part. The water flow and the whirl pools were amazing. There was a narrow opening and a wide opening we could only go through the wide opening as the narrow one was too dangerous. We then went back to the house boat where we were given crispy barbequed barra and salad for dinner, there were eight other couples and we had a good time hearing of each others travelling experiences. We went to bed and were amazed that we did not even feel as though we were on a boat it was so calm. In the morning after breakfast it was time to go on the fast boat again and the falls were really cranking (this was the words from the boys driving the boat) when we got back the plane was waiting, we boarded and were taken back to Derby. The young lad who drove the boat was amazing the way he handled driving through the rapids, it was strange to go up hill on water.

 

 








































 

Fitzroy Crossing

Another Crocodile

17th September - At Lake Argyle we met Fred and Grace who are travelling in a Motorhome and we have continued to travel to the same camp spots.  We have done a few trips with them and given them a lift in our car.  Today we went on a boat cruise of Geike Gorge from Fitzroy Crossing where we will spend two nights.  We saw more crocodiles and learnt about both the white and indigenous history of the Gorge.  It has it's own unique features and the hour cruise was very enjoyable. We thought about having a drink at the hotel on the way back but the barred windows and doors and local inhabitants scarred us off.  We came back and enjoyed a refreshing ale at the bar at Fitzroy Lodge where we are staying.

 

18th September - Today we went shopping for some food supplies and to the Information Centre as David wanted to ge information about a trip to the Horizontal Falls.  An expensive trip but one he has seen a lot of on the travel shows. We were able to book and we will fly out of derby tomorrow, board a 600hp fast boat and then overnight on a creek cruising vesel.

 16th September - We left Lake Argyle travelling through Kununura, Halls Creek to our overnight stop Mary Pools a lovely cool free camp nestled among river gums beside the Mary River.  I could hear cows and I looked around and they were just behind our camp.
17th September - We headed for Fitzroy Crossing and I thought I was cleaver to take a photo out of the front window of the dust storm we could see ahead.

Dust storm ahead

Float Plane



Bungle Bungles

The day for our awaited float plane trip over the Bungle Bungles has finally arrived.  The float plane picked us up at the Lake Argyle Resort where we were staying.  We lifted off past the Dam wall and flew the length of Lake Argyle, it is amazing seeing the extent of the dam from the air after seeing it from the river cruise.  We headed over the Tanami Desert to the Bungle Bungles a truely spectatular site.  We then headed back over the Argyle diamond Mine to land on Lake Argyle where we taxied to a remote Island for afternoon tea on the beach.  We boarded the plane once again to be bought back to our accommodation.



Argyle Diamond Mine

Lake Argyle



David swimming with 35,000 crocodiles
 

10^th September – We left Timber Creed at 7.45am and travelled 220k to Lake Argyle and arrived  8.30am.  David thought the country we travelled across looked like that he had seen in Texas movies and was waiting for an Indian to ride out.  We have a lovely grassy campsite.  Drove 70k to Kununurra to visit the Information Centre and do some shopping as the price of a 1ltr long life milk was $3.  We had no fruit and veg as you were not able to bring any across the border in Western Australia.  A fruitful afternoon.  We are booked to go on a cruise of the Lake tomorrow and will stay here three nights and then go onto Kununurra where we will go on a flight of the Bungle Bungles. There is no phone service out here but they have internet connection you can purchase.


Relaxing in the Infinity pool is a hard life
 

 

 

13th September - We decided to stay at Lake Argyle as we could do the flight of the Bungle Bungles from there the only disadvantage is the phone and internet service.  We went on a boat trip of the Lake on Tuesday, the story was amazing and the crocodile were everywhere.  They stopped the boat  in the middle of the lake for people to jump off and have a swim.  In Kununurra today for some shopping and a look around so have updated.  Next update will be Sunday may be.

Timber Creek

9th September - After attending the 9am service at the Anglican Church Katherine we headed for today's overnight stop Timber Creek. We have a nice shady spot with some grass near the camp kitchen for our chairs on the banks of the Victoria River which is Northern Territory's longest river. Decided we would not go swimming as the crocodiles come up to be fed each evening.

Daly Waters to Katherine

5th September - .  It was morning tea time when we were near Elliot but it did not look safe so we went on to Newcastle Waters rest area which we felt safer at.
At first we thought we would stay  at Dunmarra tonight but Dad had talked so much about Daly Waters Pub and it was only 47k more we thought we would go and stay there – a good plan.
The pub was very rustic and the memorabilla hanging around the walls was fascinating including the bra’s and nickers. We enjoyed our Beef and Barra meal with some fellow travellers we met at Banka Banka.

6th September - we left Daly Waters and our morning tea stop was Mataranka Thermal Spring where we had a luxurious dip in the thermal pool.  Nothing can describe how wonderful and amazing this natural wonder was.  A highlight so far.

We arrived at Springvale Homestead set up camp and went to book a trip of the gorges where we met some people who wanted to go on the Crocodile  Night Adventure and needed  two extra people to make up the numbers, which left from the park we were staying at.  We had planned to do this maybe the next night but helped them out and what an awesome experience it was seeing the crocodiles on the cruise down the river and then pulling into a spot on the river bank where the guide cooked us a BBQ meal , his fellow guide had to chase the crocodile away from the table so we could eat our meal safely.  Following the meal we realised why the crocodile was visiting as he then hand fed the 3.5m fresh water crocodile.

 

 

 

7th September – We followed our evening cruise with a breakfast cruise on the Katherine Gorge another unbelievable experience, after I recovered from the stress attack caused  by me realising I had forgotten the tickets when we arrived, they let us on without them so all was good.   As we travelled up the first two Gorges we enjoyed a breakfast of bacon, scrambled eggs ,sausages, croissants, mushrooms and other delicacies. Yes Kylie I found another child to pinch, we shared our breakfast  table with a young couple who had the most delightful two children.

 

Banka Banka

Check out the bath tub David is sitting in

4th September – Banka Banka had no power but a nice grassy spot.  Ironed my hexagons for the side of my bag at the camp kitchen and noticed a sign saying 2k to waterhole.  We thought how could there be a waterhole for as far and wide as you looked all you could see was arid countryside.  We set off up the hill and followed the path along the rocky ridge.  We eventually found the water hole and David noticed a place where we could cross to the other side.  We found a nice spot and I stripped to my underclothes and had a refreshing dip.  We then noticed a car track and decided to walk along it  and found it a much easier way back.  The bar opened at 6:30pm followed by a campfire.

Camooweal to Barkly Homestead

3rd September 2012

Today we are camped under a shady tree at Barkly Homestead in the middle of nowhere in the Northern Terrritory.  There are long expanses of nothing as you drive the roads up here.

We did not have to leave early in the morning as we did not have far to go to our next stop so  we had a pancake breakfast before leaving.  I tried to purchase ice cream at the servo last night but they did not have any.  I remembered Matthew Bignall showing me how to make ice cream and had the ingredients so made some.  It was yum with our berries and maple syrup.  We were the envy of those walking past.