Day 150
We get up early and talk to Sarah who is in Sweden, on Skype and wake nearly the whole CP!!!.......We decide we had better leave here before we get lynched by the swarms of grey nomads...Scary thought!!! We can’t check into our Darwin CP till this arvo so stop at a car wash and Al spends about 20 bucks trying to wash the car and trailer. He barely gets through the first layer of grime but it’s a start. Do a bit of shopping and then get to the CP where we are given the same site as we had a couple of weeks ago. We feel like locals!! More cleaning throughout the afternoon and we have a visit from Carol and John Huitson from Busselton who are here for their son Glen’s memorial service next Monday.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Tumbling Waters is Tumbling Down!!
Day 149
The sandflies were horrendous last night so hope the new owners find a solution to that problem too!! Headed east towards Darwin and set up camp at Tumbling Waters CP which looked amazing on the brochure ....but was not really that good!! You should always check these places out on foot before committing but when it is hot you just trust people!!!! Anyway we take a drive up to Mandorah and the peninsula across the water from Darwin, actually you can get a lovely view of the city and as it is only a 15minute ferry ride from Darwin so a popular place with the locals. It has a hotel and not a lot else but there is talk of building a bridge to here in the future so has huge potential for the land owners and developers. We get back to Berry Springs where we have a swim in the warm springs again and a favourite swimming spot for many Darwin locals.
The sandflies were horrendous last night so hope the new owners find a solution to that problem too!! Headed east towards Darwin and set up camp at Tumbling Waters CP which looked amazing on the brochure ....but was not really that good!! You should always check these places out on foot before committing but when it is hot you just trust people!!!! Anyway we take a drive up to Mandorah and the peninsula across the water from Darwin, actually you can get a lovely view of the city and as it is only a 15minute ferry ride from Darwin so a popular place with the locals. It has a hotel and not a lot else but there is talk of building a bridge to here in the future so has huge potential for the land owners and developers. We get back to Berry Springs where we have a swim in the warm springs again and a favourite swimming spot for many Darwin locals.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Adelaide River and the Glen Huitson Memorial Park
Memorial to Glen Huitson in the park named after him at Adelaide River
Sunset at Dundee BeachDay 148
We head into Adelaide River and check out the lovely peaceful and well looked after war cemetery. We call into the little town where there is a park which is named in memory of Glen Huitson, our friend Lisa’s late husband who was killed on duty 10 years ago near here and from the many memorials to him was not only much loved by family and friends but also well respected in the community and NT police force. Alan and I are playing in a memorial golf Day in Darwin next week to mark the anniversary and will also attend a memorial service along with many family and friends who are travelling here to remember Glen. We head further north and turn off to the Cox Peninsula and Dundee Beach. There is a large caravan park here which ,after a couple of attempts by past owners to develop the land, not very successfully, the new owner has plans to get the cp on the tourist map to reap the rewards from the thousands of grey nomads. It has potential but needs a lot of work....and money. There is a lovely beach with palm trees lining the grassy foreshore and it looks like you could jump in and swim in the gorgeous azure water.....except for the croc warnings!!!! Not sure I could live in the northern part of OZ....give me Kingscliff Beach anytime!!! We enjoy a nice cold beer watching the sunset over the Timor Sea.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Umbrawarra Gorge and Mt. Bundy Station
Day 147
We decide to drive out of Kakadu and south of Pine Creek to check out Umbrawarra Gorge. The campground isn’t much so we just take a walk into the gorge and have a swim before heading north to Adelaide River. We decide to stay at Mt. Bundy Station where they have various campsites under the shade of huge trees. It is a working station only 3km from Adelaide River but they have branched out into tourism like many of the outback properties hoping to help their cash flow.
We decide to drive out of Kakadu and south of Pine Creek to check out Umbrawarra Gorge. The campground isn’t much so we just take a walk into the gorge and have a swim before heading north to Adelaide River. We decide to stay at Mt. Bundy Station where they have various campsites under the shade of huge trees. It is a working station only 3km from Adelaide River but they have branched out into tourism like many of the outback properties hoping to help their cash flow.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Yellow Waters Cruise to Gunlom Gorge
Lotus flower lily at Yellow Waters
Azure Kingfisher
Gunlom Falls Gorge
Yellow Waters at SunriseDay 146
We are up very early for our sunrise cruise on Yellow Waters .The morning is spectacular except for a few vicious mozzies and we enjoy 2 hours cruising and seeing lots of crocs and birdlife. After a yummy brekkie( which was included with the cruise) Rose and Don have decided that they will head for home today so we pack up and say goodbye and Carole and Les and Al and I head for Gunlom Falls and a large campground which was packed with lots of local Darwin people here for the long weekend. After a swim in the lower pool we take a hike up the hill to the top of the gorge and are rewarded with a series of lovely rock pools where we enjoy a couple of hours cooling off in the heat of the afternoon.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Twin Falls and Jim Jim Falls
Jim Jim Falls
Twin Falls
Twin Falls Gorge
Kakadu Nat Park, Rocky escarpment views
Sunset over the Northern Kakadu Nat Park wetlandsDay 145
Drove to Cooinda and find a site in the very crowded and dusty campground. We book for a Yellow Waters Cruise for the next morning and after lunch we drive to Twin Falls and Jim Jim Falls. It is about 70km each way and quite a rough road for the last 10km. We get to Twin falls and they run a shuttle boat service at regular intervals throughout the day which takes you part of the way to the falls with another 500metres to walk to the end. There isn’t much water running over the cliffs but it is a nice walk. We are warned yet again that we shouldn’t swim in the pools although they look inviting. Alan and I decide to go to Jim Jim falls and although no water at all running over those falls we enjoy the walk about 1.5km and manage a quick swim to cool off before the long drive back to Cooinda. It is getting dark as we drive back and takes lots of concentration on the rough gravel road. We are happy to get back to the CP and a nice cold beer.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Arnhem Land and East Alligator River Crossing
You don't need a 4wd to cross here
But this crocs swam over the crossing just after the red car so would want to be sure!!
Barra Fishermen with crocs 2 metres away from them
Al and I crossing the East Alligator before the tide comes over the crossing
One of the Artists at work in Oenpelli Arnhem LandDay 144
We get an early start as we need to get over Cahill’s crossing while the tide is low and we don’t want to break down in the middle of the river with the amount of crocs about!! The drive in to Oenpelli is beautiful with magnificent rocky hills and wetlands and billabongs and we arrive at the arts centre at opening time, 8:30. The centre is run by a white curator and assistants and they buy the paintings, weaving, wood crafts etc off the local aboriginals and sell the pieces here and probably all over the world. There are artists painting and weaving on the verandas outside and though we can’t venture too far from the centre the community looks like many others we have seen in this part of the country. We make a few small purchases and drive back to the crossing with not too much water over the causeway. There are many fishermen this morning and by the time we have morning tea the tide is flowing in very quickly and the crocs seem to be waking up for their daily feed. The barra are literally jumping out of the water against the tide and presumably trying not to be lunch for the preying crocs but as we watch from rocks about 20 metres away, the crocs expertly catch their fish to the amazement of the crowd that has gathered for this daily spectacle. It is getting very hot now so we head back to the CP for lunch and an afternoon relaxing and swimming.
We get an early start as we need to get over Cahill’s crossing while the tide is low and we don’t want to break down in the middle of the river with the amount of crocs about!! The drive in to Oenpelli is beautiful with magnificent rocky hills and wetlands and billabongs and we arrive at the arts centre at opening time, 8:30. The centre is run by a white curator and assistants and they buy the paintings, weaving, wood crafts etc off the local aboriginals and sell the pieces here and probably all over the world. There are artists painting and weaving on the verandas outside and though we can’t venture too far from the centre the community looks like many others we have seen in this part of the country. We make a few small purchases and drive back to the crossing with not too much water over the causeway. There are many fishermen this morning and by the time we have morning tea the tide is flowing in very quickly and the crocs seem to be waking up for their daily feed. The barra are literally jumping out of the water against the tide and presumably trying not to be lunch for the preying crocs but as we watch from rocks about 20 metres away, the crocs expertly catch their fish to the amazement of the crowd that has gathered for this daily spectacle. It is getting very hot now so we head back to the CP for lunch and an afternoon relaxing and swimming.
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