Day 41: Jabiru

Leaving the van in Jabiru whilst we do do some day tripping around the area. First stop was Arnbangbang billabong and Norlangie Rocks. When we arrived at Arnbangbang Felicity realise she had left her shoes back at camp, so we gave Bridget's thongs to Felicity and basically carried Bridget around for the day.

The Billabong was only half full due to it being the end of the dry season, however it still looked a treat in front of Norlangie Rocks.

At the base of Norlangie rocks we saw some more stunning Aboriginal art work dating back as far as 20,000 years. The kids were especially impressed with paintings of 'Namarrgon the lightning man'.

For lunch we went to Cooindee where there was a caravan Park and a pool we could have a dip in. Just ariund the corner was Yellow Waters wetlands where we sat about 8 Barramundi just cruising in a small pool between the reeds.

Before returning to camp we went to the far side of town where the Ranger Uraium mine is. It's quite odd to find something like this in the middle of kakadu.

Besides the dingoes roaming camp the last interesting thing for the night was 2 talkative barking owls which were happy to respond to you if you made a 'woof woof' sound (learnt that at the Territory Park).

Day 40 Corroboree to Jabiru (Kakadau)

Today it was off to Kakadu for a few days. First stop was the Mamukala wetlands. Plenty of birdlife there - lots more Magpie Geese and Whistlings ducks, and a heap of Jabiru on the far side of the lake, that we needed the binoculars to pick up. It was then on to the Jabiru township itself to set-up camp at Kakadu Lodge Caravan Park. Tight squeeze there, as there was about 6 of us in a park that had 186 powered sites.

After camp set up we had time in the afternoon to drive up to Cahill's crossing which is the main road into Arnhem Land. There were guys casting lures from the ford as the cros swam around - crazy.

Just up from. We Cahill's crossing was Ubirr - a site which had numerous aboriginal cave paintings that date back 20,000 years. A tour group happended to be moving around just in front of us, so the kids were not shy in joining up and getting the guided tour.

The view fom the look out at Ubirr goes down as one of the best. You could see 360 degrees and the view changedfrom rocky hills to the distant escarpment of Arnhem land to the vast plains to the north which will flood in the months to come. It was interesting chatting to the tour guide was said there was once 500,000 water buffalo that roamed these plains, however they have now been culled back to just a few thousand. We saw some wild pigs from the hill top but no buffalo today.

After snapping a few photos we had to scarper quickly off the hill top due to a storm front moving quickly towards us from the East. Then back to Jabiru for the night.

Richard

Day 39: Corroboree Tavern

Thanks for the recent comments. The kids are always excited to see who has been online. Just one thing - if you don't have a registered google account, etc then the comment will just come up as 'anonymous'. It's nice if we know who the comments are from, so if you remember put your name at the bottom.

Now next day....

Arived at Corroboree Tavern which is on the road towards Kakadu last night after stocking up on supplies in Coolalinga again. In the morning we headed out on a wetlands cruise on Corroboree Billabong, that was very informative. Saw a couple of crocs, apparently there's a 6.4m one in there. I've seen a 4.9m croc up close and it was massive - I struggle to comprehend a 6.4m.

We also saw a heap of birdlife. There was a pair of Jabiru with two young, magpie geese, whistling ducks, sea eagles, cormorants, egrets and many more. For the kids - does anyone know what sort of bird a Jabiru is? Australia only has one type of this bird.

Day 38: Litchfield to Corroboree Tavern

Last night it was lights out early as the flying termites were in abundance with nightfall. Even after we escaped to the van they were still getting inside - so it was lights out and a quick spray of Mortein before bed.

Today our first stop was Florence Falls. Got there early and interupted a couple preparing for some photos. It was great however with the snorkling gear with lots more and bigger sooty grunters awaiting us plus archer fish, eel tailed catfish and others. A little while into our swim a your group arrived and Dad was happy (read into that what you like).

It was then a short drive to the Buley Rockholes which is a stream that flows down through some deep pools beore reaching the Florence Falls shown above. They are crystal clear, don't look that deep, but you try to touch the bottom. The kids certainly enjoyed the rapids too between the pools where the water flowed from one to the next.

Richard

Day 37: Darwin to Litchfield NP

Well today we packed up and said goodbye to Dave, Emma and Diesel (their black lab) and headed for Litchfield NP. Stopped at some massive termite mounds first up. Their were two types - cathedral mounds and these flat ones (can't remember the names of those ones). Anyone the flat ones area all in alignment. The flat sides face East / West so to maximise the morning heat from the sun after a cold night. Apparently the termites that do this have a built in compass - clever little tikes aren't they.

Then we dropped in at Tolmey falls - good to look at but you can't swim there because it has Aboriginal significance.

Then off to our camp spot for the night which was Wangi Falls. Wangi Falls was spectacular and it was great to spend the afternoon there after a hot day. There were heaps of fish too to snorkle with including some fairly big Sooty Grunters. Bridget is a bit like a fish, as she swims better under the water than on the top.

Only thing in these places are these signs......

Day 36: Darwin

Well today we went off to Crocodylus Park which is part crocodile display, part crocodile farm and part zoo. They gave us a guided tour which started with a showing of crocodiles jumping up to grab a bait in the pond. We then got to feed the crocs with a pole and a string. The kids were the first to volunteer for this as usual and loved every second. When you see these creatures this close up, you just cant believe how big they are - they are awesome! (You know when they breed the crocs if they incubate the eggs at 36 degrees the croc will be male, but any colder or hotter and they will be female - or at least I think that's what he said - Leroy, Hunter, or any other kids - happy for you to research and correct me on that one)

You know the biggest croc they have is 4.87 metres, but they also have Eric who is 4.7 metres but is missing the end of his tail. He was pulled from the Adelaide River after he ate a few people. They tried to breed with him but he bit the head off his last 2 female companions (has anger management issues).





And of course at the end of the tour we got to hold a baby crocodile

At the end of the day Dave, Richie and I went fishing at Buffalo Creek, just off the river bank, using live mullet. We nearly got isolated by the tide rushing in at a great rate of knots. I had a Barramundi pick up a bait, take it for a run but then drop it. Richie did catch a small Threadfin Salmon.

Day 35: Darwin (city)

Today we cruised into town to go to the military museum. Here the kids learnt all about Darwin's role in the second world war as an allied base. There was a video describing the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese, where 188 Japanese planes sunk 10 ships and killed 251 people.

In the afternoon we headed for a man made lagoon on the edge of Darwin Harbour. It's cordoned off from Crocs! A nice way to finish off the day.

PS Thanks to all those leaving comments - we really enjoy reading them.

Day 34: Darwin (Wildlife Park)

Seems there's a bit to do in and around Darwin. Today we're off to the Territory Wildlife Park. It is basically a zoo encompassing the Territory's particular wildlife. It had a pond that housed freshwater whip rays (stingrays). I had no idea there was such a thing as a fresh water stingray. The best thing here though was that we could hand feed them.

They also had a good aquarium and a bird of prey show. The aquarium has a 4m male salt water crocodile named Graham. Penny got a photo of Bridget up against the glass. (You know they actually get them up to 7m)

The bird of prey show included a black breasted buzard which is one of only two birds in the world to use a tool - in this case a rock to break an emu egg.

On the way home we dropped in at Berry Springs for a cool off. This had little archer fish that chewed the dead skin on my heals (a bit off a shock at first when they start nibbling).

Day 33: Darwin

Today Dave and I (Dad) put the boat into the Elizabeth River to go fishing and caught a brown snapper (or at least that's what some guy said it was) and some finger marks. Interesting fishing up here with huge croc traps along the side of the river banks and the occasional big swirl in the water near you.

While we were fishing Mum took the kids to the hospital to pick up Felicity's new insulin pump that was couriered up for us.

In the evening we went to the Mindil beach markets which in addition to a great array of stalls had a huge range of foods to sample. It was fairly nice to sit on Mindil beach with the sun setting as we ate dinner. There was some entertainment put on too - some impressive fire twirlers and painters.

Day 32: Katherine to Darwin

Fairly simple day today. We travelled from Katherine to Darwin, with one noticeable thing being the number of old World War 2 airstrips that you pass along the way.

We pulled up at Coolalinga Caravan Park which is 20-30 kilometres out of Darwin CBD. Dave(one of our travelling friends)was coming here to visit his mum who lives here. When we first drove into the park it looked like a desert at the front but the main park was at the back and had luscious green grass and big trees with lots of shade and a nice covered camp kitchen.

We got settled and then went for a drive into Darwin city to the information centre and picked up 100 brochures to plan our next few days.

Day 31: Katherine

At Katherine we got up first thing to beat the heat and headed for Katrherine Gorge. The kids weren't happy but we got them to walk up to the look out at the start of the first gorge. Great view but very hot. Then it was back down to the information centre where you learn all about the local area. Bridget learend that thye Hooded Parrot lives in hollowed out termite mounds. Richie learnt that the Peregrin Falcon can dive for prey at 300 km/hr. Flickie learnt that t]the sword grass in the area can grow 3 metres high in just 6 months.

In the afternoon Dave, Richie and I left the girls and went to Cutta Cutta caves. The tour through the caves was quite good with the aborigal guide telling us all about the formation of the caves and the local snakes and bats that lived there. Also some blind shrimp that are only found in the spring at the very end of the cave.

Day 29: Mataranka

After an enjoying swim at Bitter Springs yesterday afternoon we went back there this morning with the snorkling gear. We had a great time chasing the freshwater fish and turtles that exist there.

In the afternoon we decided to head for the Mataranka hot springs, just a few kilometres down the road. They were very nice too, but the interesting thing there was the thousands of red headed flying foxes (or fruit bats) that were hanging from the palms all around the springs pools.

On the way out coming past the bar we also found one of the local kangaroos hanging out under the billiard table. To Dad's delight the Wallabies happened to be playing South Africa in the Rugby World Cup on the bar big screen TV too (won by 2 points).

When we got back to camp we launched the boat in the local billabong which is part of the Roper River which flows in the wet season. Apparently you do get Barramundi there, but no luck this time.

Day 30: Mataranka to Katherine

Today we went to go have a shower and when we got there we saw a green tree frog and we also saw a golden tree python.

Bridget

We continued on to Katherine where we set up camp at a place called Manbulloo Station that has a nice caravan park on the river. The farm used to be a Mango farm and the caravan park is the area where the mango pickers used to camp. Had insulin pump troubles today and had make hasty arrangements to get a new one couriered to Darwin for us to pick up when we got there.

That afternoon we had a dip in the Katherine hot springs. It was 39 degrees and fairly humid so any chance to cool off is welcolmed. We then stocked up at the Katherine Woolworths and headed back to camp. That evening the farmer at Manbulloo Station took the kids for a tour around the farm and fed the Brahman cattle. He also showed us a bower bird nest that had built to attract a mate (the bird not the farmer).

One other thing you may notice in photos from here on is that Richie and father both took a number 2 to the noggin - it's coller to have no hair.

Thanks to Dave (the man in the middle who owns the clippers) for our new haircut.

Day 28: Renner Springs to Mataranka

Headed off from Renner Springs destined for Mataranka today. Stopped for an icey pole at the Daly Waters Pub. It was one of the fantastic interesting little pubs. The first thing you notice is that there has been a habit of women hanging up their bras and undies all over the inside of the pub.

Arrived at Mataranka and headed for a caravan park right next door to Bitter Springs. So after setting up camp we walked down to the hot springs for a swim, where you take the noodles and float down this beautiful little stream.

Day 27: Devil's Marbles to Renner Springs

Got up in the morning at Devil's Marbles and found the resident dingo wandering around. He was very comfortable with the campers around. Really nice spot to wake up with the sunrise actually.

We then stopped at Tennant Creek to get supplies from the local IGA. We also looked into where we could prospect for gold, as Dave and Emma (our co-travellers from Coober Pedy) had metal detectors and were big into the god prospecting. We didn't end up going however as there was only one area where fossicking was allowed and it was a fair way west (bugger).

From Tennant Creek we moved on to a place called Renner Springs. It didn't actually have a natural spring, but rather a wind mill with a bore. It was an okay spot to stay as it did have a pool and a bar with a billiard table. The kids had fun upon arrival as there were geese who protested their presence by chasing them and honking loudly.

It was an interesting dinner that night as I sat a light on top of the car bonnet and we sat next to the car. Afte we finished dinner we noticed that 2 frogs had somehow made their way on to the bonnet and kept us entertained as we watched them snatch bugs from around the light. The first time we came across cane toads for the trip too.

Day 26: Gemtree to Devil's Marbles

Left Gemtree and charged further north. Had a quick stop at Wycliffe Well, which is supposed to be the UFO sighting capital of Auatralia - only found these ones:

Day 25: Alice Springs to Gemtree

We got hit with a thumping of thunder storms that rattled the van and an inch of rain at Alice last night. I thought it was supposed to be a desert out there.

Anyway, it was then off to Gemtree which is a caravan park about 150km's north of Alice Springs. We set up camp and then shot out for some fossicking for Gems. We went to a spot particularly known for Garnets (there is also a spot for Zircons). You have to sieve piles of dirt through sieves and then wash the remaining stone through. We were however very nervous as there was a huge plume of smoke nearby. The wind as blowing from behind us, but the long grass was tinder dry. We did manage to find a number of small pieces.

Richard

Day 24: Alice Springs (West Macdonnell Ranges)

Bridget had had enough of gorges and walking, so I left Penny and Bridget, and took the twins for a drive out to see the sights of the West Macdonnell Ranges, including Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm and Ormiston Gorge. The pick of them was definitely Ormiston Gorge - it is one massive cliff on one side spotted with ghost gums. Amazingly there's quite a lot of small fish up to 5-6 inches in the rock pools at the bottom of the gorge (don't know what kind they were - any ideas?)