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 HomesteadKatherine 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 GorgeThe 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 RiverBanka 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 StationWe 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
