Mt Isa to Darwin.....

In reverse chronological order so start at the bottom and read up.....

Humpty Doo! - Wednesday 9 July
We arrived in Darwin, with Grandpa in tow....

Road Signs you don't see every day....




And it's more than a few cans to the next servo......










Edith Falls - Monday 7 & Tuesday 8 July

As beautiful as these places were, we had to get a move on to Darwin as we were now very close to running out of money.

Edith Falls is another great camping area on the north side of Nitmiluk (Kaherine) National Park, we had a nice couple of days here and then reluctantly packed up to head for Darwin.

We had lunch at Adelaide River (about 2 hours south of Darwin) and caught up with all the V8 trucks heading out of Darwin.

V8 Supercars at Hidden Valley in Darwin first weekend in July... Anyone keen? Anyone want to come up and babysit so we can go????

Springvale Homestead - Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 July

After two days we decided to explore another camping ground, Springvale Homestead, that Grandpa had spent some time at. Just the other side of Katherine (and near the Katherine Hot Springs) this was a great park with lots of lovely shady spots and a pond that had turtles and freshwater crocodiles.... in a caravan park.......

We ran into trouble in Katherine as bottle shops don't open until 2pm now. Havoc for travellers as most people pack up camps 9ish, on road till lunchtime and that's when you stock up in town and then head out to your campsite to be settled by 4ish, having to hang around town until 2 for the bottle shop to open, was just not on.....

Speringvale Homestead is the oldest standing homestead in the NT dating back to 1879. A lovely spot on the Katherine River. Hutchy and Grandpa kept themsleves entertained by putting out crab nets for 'cherubin' local freshwater yabbies, and of course now that we had radio range we could listen to the footy....

Freshwater Crocodile at Springvale Homestead Caravan Park - Katherine NT



Now thats a big tree.....

Swimming with Grandpa at Katherine Hot Springs

The Historic Springvale Homestead












Katherine Gorge - Thursday 3 & Friday 4 July

We met Grandpa at the Katherine Information Centre. Because Katherine is a three ways junction (West to Kununnara, South to Alice or North to Darwin) and the shopping centre is nearby, and it has a big car park, the Information Centre is always busy with travellers, we couldn't believe the amount of motorhomes and caravans there. We decided to head out the Katherine Gorge for a few days to have a look.


Katherine Information Centre - the Meeting Place, that's Grandpa's rig on the right.


Climbing up to get a good look at the Gorge

Katherine Gorge













The Katherine Gorge is just spectacular, unfortunately we were now running very short of funds and a boat cruise or helicopter ride was a bit out of our budget, we planned to go back. It was great to catch up with Grandpa and chat about our travels, especially with someone who has already been to most of the spots we discovered!

Twelve Mile Hole (Mataranka) - Tuesday 1 & Wednesday 2 July

We decided to stay a litle bit away from the main area of Mataranka, at a small bush camping area on the Roper River. We went swimming at the beautiful Bitter Springs which is on the north side of Mataranka township, and also at the Mataranka Hot Springs. We stayed here for a few days as we were trying to get in contact with my Grandpa who was hanging around the area after travelling the Simpson Desert with some friends. We got in touch with Grandpa and organised to meet in Katherine.

Swimming at Bitter Springs (hot)

Mataranka Hot Springs, the pool was built during the war for officers

Roper River














Banka Banka to Mataranka - Tuesday 1 July

On the way to Mataranka Hot Springs, we dropped in to have a look at the Daly Waters Hotel, interesting little spot as you can see from photos. We will have to make time to visit again one day.

Inside the Daly Waters Pub




Camped opposite the pub











Devils Marbles to Banka Banka - Monday 30 June

We had a nice cruisy drive today only about 300kms to Banka Banka station which we had been told about by a couple at Isa. We knew we were getting close when we saw the signs on the highway "Hot Showers" "Cold Drinks" "Green Grass".

Banka Banka is an old cattle station, one of a few owned by the Kidman Family. It was a great place to stop, yes it did have green grass, and beautiful underground springwater, a donkey, goats, cows, chooks, a white turkey, and a border collie that visited our campsite quite often.

We were lucky we got there early because by about 4'o'clock the campsite was full and they closed the gates. Every evening they hold a slideshow to show people how the cattle stations operate, very interesting.


Travelling in style.....












Avon Downs to Devils Marbles - Sunday 29 June

So we packed up and hit the road again... in the 500kms between Camooweal and Three Ways (Junction of Barkly and Stuart Highways) about the only thing besides red dirt and scraggly trees and few burnt out cars is the Barkly Homestead. We stopped there for lunch. I I (seriously) thought that we would be able to get fresh bread for sandwiches there..... I was wrong. We bought take-away lunch and Hutchy's Hamburger cost $12.50..... the diesel price was $2.25 a litre and we saw our first four trailer road train.



Barkly Station Fuel - from Mt Isa to Tennant Creek there are only two places to get fuel, Barkly and Three Ways.

Y WORRY

First four trailer road train - at Barkly Station











We moved on, headed south on the Stuart (hang on, Darwin's North!) because we wanted to see the Devil's Marbles about 100kms south of Tennent Creek. Fueled up at Tennant Creek - a lovely outback town and headed out the the Devils Marbles.

Devils Marbles is not even worth describing on paper (or blog) it is a natural wonder that must be experienced, just stunning, and amazingly you feel like you could stay there for weeks, in a camping ground with no facilities (hole-in-the-ground toilets only), no grass, no shade.... We saw our first dingoes in the wild too.

Looking down on our van from atop the highest 'marble'




















Avon Downs - Saturday 28 June

By the time we did some last minute shopping (we planned not to have to buy any major food items or alcohol before getting to Katherine) and packed up the van, We passed through Camooweal, and finally the NORTHERN TERRITORY BORDER. We crossed the border at 3:30pm

The thriving metropolis of uptown Camooweal.

WE MADE IT!!!


One of the many rivers, they are all dry most of the year, flood during the wet.







We pulled up for the night at Avon Downs, this was the only free roadside camp for over 400kms that has toilets. Avon Downs also has a police station, nothing else, just a police station.

As you can imagine the terrain is pretty rugged, we had a laugh watching a couple of Italian backpackers walk back and forth through the campsite trying to find a soft grassy spot to pitch their tents.


Avon Downs Police Station


Avon Downs Camping Ground












Leaving Mount Isa

The most striking thing about Mount Isa is that the mine is just on the edge of town, just over the Leichardt River, so even in the middle of town, you can see and hear the mine, especially at night. The Leichardt River is like most around here, it only has water during the wet. In the dry season, they actually burn off the long grass in the river bed as it is a fire hazard.

I couldn't finish the Mt Isa section without mentioning the FANTASTIC lamb shanks at the Townies club in Mount Isa. They would be worth the drive from the coast..... Well, definitely worth stopping at Mount Isa the next time you are passing through.


Leichardt River at Mount Isa, during the wet it floods, during the dry they have to burn off the grass

Bike veledrome in the middle of the Leichardt River - Mt Isa


Mt Isa Mine

Mt Isa Mine






Canoeing at Lawn Hill Gorge

Back to 'The Isa'....

Mount Isa again - Monday 23 - Friday 27 June

Well, the 200kms of corrugated, dusty road was not as much fun on the way back out (it never is), but we did stop at the Riversleigh Site D Fossil area, the Riversleigh Fossil Site is World Heritage listed and one of the most significant fossil deposits in the world. The D Site is the only area accessible to the public of this area, some of the fossils found date back 25 million years!

The Mount Isa Show was on during the weekend while we were at Lawn Hill and as we headed back into town we saw them all heading out, looks like we'll be travelling with the carnies.

We had to spend the week in Mount Isa waiting for some money to clear so we could stock up before heading into NT. A looooong week, thank god we had our friends Carol and Brendon here, don't know what I would have done if they weren't here.

Worth mentioning in Isa is the Irish Club (biggest in the world) and Tourism Centre (best in the world).

We are looking forward to hitting the road again tomorrow and heading towards Darwin.

An oasis......

Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park - Thursday 19 June to Sunday 20 June

Lawn Hill Gorge is absolutely spectacular and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who has an extra three weeks to drive out here from the coast!

Carol and Brendan have canoes, so the next morning they set off for a paddle and were lucky enough to see a big freshwater crocodile in the water, in fact Carol and Brendon saw Emus on the drive out, a freshwater crocodile and feral pigs on the trip while all we managed was some cows and a turtle.


Carol and Brendon in canoes at Adeles Grove


Tubing at Adeles Grove


Brendon and I were the only ones brave enough to swim to the pontoon at Adeles Grove

We had picked up a brochure on Lawn Hill and saw that there were some walks one of which was a cave shelter and indigenous artwork so we set out in the afternoon to go on the walks, all seemed fine, we went over the bridge, we turned right, there were no signs which we thought odd, we ventured back to the office to get another copy of the maps (as we had left ours back at the campsite) Brendon went back to the campsite to get more beer, we walked some more (in circles) Hutchy went back to the campsite to get more beer, and after about two hours we realised that the maps pertained to the Lawn Hill Gorge camping ground, not the one we were staying at. We decided that we would go to Lawn Hill the next day to do the walks.

We had a lovely dinner (of prawn curry with the frozen prawns given to us at Groper Creek) and a roaring campfire, and the next morning set out for Lawn Hill Gorge. We did the walks, the caves and artwork were amazing as is the Gorge, and then hired a three seater canoe for Hutch, Jess and I, and set off up the gorge, had a great afternoon. To do both Upper and Lower Gorges took about two hours with a swim inbetween, just perfect!

The next day we had a designated lazy day, and the day after that too, and then headed back to Mount Isa on Monday.


From this.........

To this........









Put another log on the fire.....


Bush creativity

Mining town...

Mount Isa - Tuesday 17 & Wednesday 18 June

So we arrived in Mount Isa at 6:00pm and were directed to our campsite by the Assistant Managers Carol and Brendon. As they only get one day a week off Carol and Brendon had been working right through to save up days off for when we arrived. They had worked about 23 days straight! So you can imagine they were pretty tired and needed to get away as they also live in the caravan park. Because we had not been in phone range Carol was not sure what day we were arriving, they had to work the next day but then could have four off. I suggested that we pack up and go to Lawn Hill Gorge for thier days off, they, of course thought this was a brilliant idea so Hutchy, Jess and I spent the next day shopping and getting prepared for the trip.


Brendon and Jesse on the caravan park caretakers choice of vehicle
We set off on Thursday morning, Carol and Brendan looking forward to a break and Hutchy, Jesse and I looking forward to having some travelling companions for a few days(all very excited to be getting out of Mount Isa).

The trip out was long to say the least as we had to stop for a few refreshment (cold beverages), firewood collection and 'comfort; stops along the way.

We had decided to camp at Adele's Grove instead of the Lawn Hill groge camping ground, even though it was more expensive it had hot showers and you could have a campfire (no brainer really!).

Arriving at Lawn Hill is an experience in itself becuase you are travelling on red, corrugated roads with barren plains all around and then you arrive at this lush tropical oasis.

Miles from anywhere....


A shady spot (few and far between on this road)


Creek crossing, Brendon's Truck