Darwin

 The first taste of Darwin was a solo effort with Cindy jetting off to Melbourne to see Bon Jovi. Tom managed to entertain himself staying at the backpackers on Mitchell Street for 3 nights.....
First solo night at the back packers and now needed to eat the spoils of the latest fishing trip. Was a little problem, the pots in the communal kitchen was not big enough to cook the muddie. After driving around town for a few hours managed to get one from Vinnies for $10, perfect. Dinner of mud crab followed by mango, does it get any better than this, poor back packers watched on salivating. With Cindy away and left to his own devices Tom headed of f to the Big House (Casino) for the regular donation. Not the best outcome and was happy to be home early as there was the scheduled 8am tee time at Darwin Golf Club. The game started well with 5 straight pars and then the wheels fell off. Lets put it down to the conditions, 35 degree heat, humidity ranging between 95% and 110% (when raining) and the fact that there is only 1 drink tap on the whole course (back of the 8th tee for those interested in playing). Anyway finished with a solid 32 points but had 2 birdies on the back nine.
Saturday night alone in Darwin, few beers and then back to the casino to redeem, quick hit and run, got back the previous nights errors and headed home.....fishing Sunday.
Headed back to Sandy Palms for another fishing adventure on Bynoe Harbour. Weather was not the greatest so had to sit around waiting for the rain to clear, was a good time to change the radiator coolant in Trev, runs heaps better now.
Managed to get on the water by about midday and had a very successful day, caught 3 barra, kept 1 as well as Treadfin Salmon and a 2.5kg Mangrove Jack. All this and still managed to get back to Darwin in time to pick up Cindy from the airport, lucky she was delayed by a couple of hours.
Next day we checked in to Shady Glen Caravan park for the next 4 nights, been based in one place for a few days allowed us time to put up the tent and have a constant base for a while. Was a good idea to put a ground sheet down and a large tarp over the tent, seems that the wet is starting. We had an inch the first day and then Wednesday arvo nearly 2 inches fell in about an hour. This nearly flooded the camp and there was a little trench digging needed to stop things going under.

Did a little sightseeing, visiting the Military Museum and Aviation Museum, both were very interesting and worth the trip. Did a drive around town stopping at Cullen Bay, Fannie Bay, Lee Point and around the Wharf Precinct. Tried to go to the WWII Oil Tunnels but these were closed for the wet.
Also when to the Parap Markets today, interesting place and heaps to see and eat.
Dinner in Darwin

Have enjoyed our time in Darwin and seem to have conquered most things, now we are at the airport waiting to board our flight home for Xmas, via Melb for a few celebration drinks with the Kingsville crowd and then up to Gold Coast-Wooli for Xmas with Brother Nick & Mum & Dad. Trev is locked away for a few days and will be raring to go when we get back on the 28th......

Merry Christmas to all...

Cox Peninsula and Bynoe Harbour

With Litchfield NP behind us we headed north towards Darwin looking for our next adventure. Some good info on a nice pub at Mandorah we headed this way, even the Lonely Planet recommended it as a good place to stay......shame this was a 4 year old copy as the accommodation option no loner existed. Mandorah in across the harbour from Darwin and a great place to stop for a beer, there are ferries that run regularly from Darwin and weekends can be very popular. We stopped of a cold one and did a few emails.

Discussing a few option for camping with the local barman we headed off with a mud map of a few beach side camping options.......not what we were looking for so next stop, Crab Claw Resort. Charlie & Ames....great place for a wedding......

A long drive down a dirt road we came to a great little set up and a popular place for boaties and keen fishermen. Before dinner Tom tried his hand at fishing, with not results but is always nice to walk along the beach and see barra swimming next to you....if only they would take the lure. Had a great feed of seafood and then headed of to bed, lucky the mossie net keeps out sandies as well.

The next, before leaving the resort there was a little more chasing of barra....same result but once again you could see the barra feeding along the shore.
A little more local info and off we headed looking for a place to fish and our next nights accommodation.
Whilst flicking a lure at the Sandy Palms boat ramp, the offer of fishing came from one of the locals.....be here at 10 the next day and I will take you out.....hard to pass up.
With this in mind we headed further down the road to Dundee Beach, what a place at the end of the road. Magic clear water and palm trees, also a pub and managed to get Internet access. We did a few emails and had a beer to offset the heat.
Due to the impending fishing trip the next day we decided that it would be easier to head back to Sandy Palms pub and camp there for the night.
In the morning, the chase for barra was on, managed to catch 4 small barra, a few cod, one nice Mangrove Jack and big muddie. Managed to get back to the campsite just in time to have the heavens open up. A little while later Trev was all packed and we headed for Darwin, Hostel for Tom and Airport-Melb-Bon Jovi for Cindy. The Magrove Jack made a great meal for us both and then dropped Cindy off at the airport.

Next Darwin.......

Litchfield National Park

Managing to obtain a midday checkout we had a sleep in before changing the Air Con belt on Trev and heading for Litchfield NP. Think some of the rangers here had the same ideas as those at Kakadu although most things were still open with exception of Sandy Creek and a number of the 4wd tracks.

First stop was Wangi Falls, amazing although once again we are looking at things in the heat of the day.

A little more exploring was done but due to lack of interest and the fear of flyingfoxes this adventure was short lived. We headed off looking for a suitable camp site as the ones visited at Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole did not have a great coverage of grass and the weather looked ominous, muddy camp sites are not fun. We settled on a very strange place just down the road from Wangi Falls, Litchfield Tourist Park. Was different but just what we needed, grassy site and facilities.
There was a massive storm over Darwin and luckily we missed it.
In the morning we headed off to Buley Rockhole for a swim, this was great considering the temp was already nearly 40.

After this we headed down a little further to Florence Falls, another must where you need to conquer 135 stairs to get down to the bottom.

We also stopped in at the Magnetic Termite mounds where they all seem to be facing the same way as well as Tolmer Falls. The whole visit to the NP was well worth it and would recommend it to anyone who visits.

Kakadu

Leaving the comfortable accommodation in Katherine we headed north to Kakadu, stopping for the standard photo shoot.

Exhibit 1, tourist in town After a quick stop at the Info centre where we found most things were closed as there was a couple of inches of rain in Oct and this was all the excuse that the rangers needed to have an early Christmas break, some of the major attractions were closed in the first week of Oct and since then there has not been any rain......what a scam

We headed for one of the few places that was still open, Gagudju Lodge Cooinda 9Just next to Yellow Waters, where we set up camp and Tom managed to locate a tool of trade for the following days activities.

The night was interesting, the mossies were thicker than anywhere else we have been, may have been the swamp we were camp on but who would know. Good to see that there was a good supply of cane toads around to eat them.....
Middle of the night the camp ground was invaded by a mob of wild brumbies that decided the grass was better here than in the rest of Kakadu....then of course just to put Cindy as ease there was the stray dingo that came wandering through.

Early rise and off on the cruise we booked the night before, Yellow River where we managed to spot a large number of the local bird life and Cindy came face to face with her first wild Croc.

Was a close call but all survived and now Cindy will not get in a boat again let alone go for a swim.
After breaking camp we headed north towards Jabiru stopping at every little spot we could find that was not closed for the wet season (when it comes) such as Bowali Visitor Centre and Nourlangie Rock Art sites. Also drove in to a few billabongs that are normally open for camping but have been closed.
Arriving to Jabiru and working out nothing happens on a Sunday we did a quick lap of town and decided that the best way to see the rest of the park was by air. So off to the airport for a scenic flight over the northern end of the NP and a bit over Arnhem Land and some of the wetlands. There was no point in flight over the classic areas such as Jim Jim & Twin Falls as these were not flowing......even though they were closed due to rain that had fallen 2 months earlier....hope the rangers got sunburn lying on the beach in Bali or where ever they went. Below are photos of the flight, including The Archway, East Alligator River, Majellan Falls, Wetlands and the passengers

 The last things we managed to spot was the elusive buffalo, managed to get a quick snap and for the trained eye they can be spotted under the tree.

Trev did manage to let us down a little, having to drive back to Darwin in 45+ temp as the air con belt was gone again. Stopped at the classic Humpty Doo Pub for a beer and the decision was that an air conditioned motel would be just what we needed for the night.

Good to have a sleep in and fix Trev in the morning

Edith Falls and Katherine (Tindal)

After spending a great night been entertained by Check & Bron, emptying the fridge and sleeping in Air Con (great change) we got up at an reasonable hour, well after our hosts had left for work.

Spent the morning sitting around for a few hours and watching the first session of the Adelaide test we decided we should get out and do something........in the hottest part of the day.

Packed up Trev and headed for Edith Falls, about 65 kms north of Katherine. Temp was pushing 45 but why not do a walk. After climbing the ridge we came down upon the famous Edith Falls, there had been some good rain in the last week so the falls were flowing well.

Managed to get a couple of good snaps and have a quick swim. From here we walked the rest of the track up via the lookout where you could get a good view both up and down the gorge.

The walk was well worth it but next time maybe we should not do it in the middle of the day.
We headed back to Katherine (Tindal) and another night of great hospitality (and airconed bed) not before stopping to pick up more supplies from the bottlo. Made the mistake of getting there at 2.30pm, which happened to coincide with the rush hour for the local inhabitants as you can only buy grog after 2.30 and not on Sundays.

Managed to contribute to the 12million cans of beer that are consumed in Katherine every year and had a great night. Even managed to get some casting lessons from Check and the kids before heading further north in search of barra.

Trev the trusty steed

 Well 8,000kms and our trusty steed Trev is still battling on, conquered the Track, Lake Eyre, The Rock and now the wet north.

Only a couple of minor issues with the Air con, which has been a concern due to the 45 degree heat but hopefully things are on the up.

A little history, Trev was somewhat green when first picked up from Benyule, Cooroy with a mere 148,000 kms on the clock, not too bad for a 14 year old, how things have changed, now 160,000+ (sorry dad) and about another 14,000kms to go to the end.

Below are a few happy snaps of Trev enjoying the finer things this great country has to offer, will have to see how he handles the wet and flooded roads of the NT & Northern WA in 2011.



Trev enjoying the Sunset in the Flinders Ranges

A few more picks on how things are set up



Delays in posting

Hi All,

Currently experiencing some computer issues so have not been able to update blog.

Hope to have this sorted shortly and will put up a full summary:
Edith Falls
Katherine
Yellow River (Kakadu)
Jabaru (Flight over Kakadu)
Litchfield NP
Bynoe Harbour and fishing
Darwin

Hopefully all will be posted shortly with heaps of pics

Cheers
Tom & Cindy

Alice Springs to Katherine

Well we have done a few k's in the last few days, conquered the Rock, trekked the Canyon now we are in Alice....what an interesting town. Needless to say we stocked up on supplies, did the washing (Cindy) and checked out what was to offer, mainly tours to all the places we have just been. Needless to say we were up and on the road first thing, after a little more retail theraphy and purchasing a  new Telstra Prepaid phone as the current ones do not have the same coverage as the new ones....bloody Telstra.

We headed north and a few hours in the request came for a comfort stop, pulling up there was a queue, a big Ass at the toilet door.......Cindy was to scared and then it chased us as we went to drive off....the strange things you see in the Territory.

Next stop was Wycliffe Wells, land of the Alien invastions or as it may seem except for the Chinese couple who now run the Roadhouse. Whilst Trev was busy getting a feed of very expensive diesel Cindy was busy chatting up a couple of green creatures.

Next stop was our planned destination for the night, Devils Marbles. After a quick stop and inspection of camping area we headed off again, not before getting some great shots. I think it was Cindy's fear of dingoes that changed her mind about staying the night.

We pushed on to Tennant Creek and set up camp in the local caravan park.........not as secure as you would hope but not too bad. The night was a little restless with all the locals fighting and screaming just the other side of the high fence that surronded the park...might have been quieter at Devils Marbles with all the dingoes, next time we will know better.

In the morning we did a quick drive around town and headed up to the Information Centre to pick up the key for the Overland Telegraph Station about 13kms north of the town. Must be a busy place that info centre, we had to leave $20 deposit for the key, looking in the register that last person to pick up a key was 4 weeks earlier. Was worth the effort though, very interesting and hard to comprehend how things must have been back then.
Due to the rising costs in fuel Cindy decided she would look to earn a little extra cash at the Telegraph Station, was a nice thought but the earning capacity of Pole Dancers at Tentant Creek Telegraph Station is not the same as the big smoke.....might have to try things when we get there.

Headed back in to town to drop of the key and fill up with fuel, also got the local Mitsubishi dealer to check the levels in Trev, all good does not look like there are any issues there....at least for now.

We pushed further north in to the heat and possible rain/wet season with a good plan to camp at Daly Waters and visit the Daly Waters Pub. Great place to stop for the night, $5 camping fee and the site was straight out the back through the beer garden. Had a couple of cold XXXX Golds served to us by an Irishman.....who would have guessed.

After a quick check out of the old WWII air base we headed north for Mataranka with plans to camp on the banks of the Roper River and have a swim in the thermal springs around town. The camp sites were not as they were rapped up in the Lonely Planet (but it is the offseason) so a good look around, stopping for lunch on the bank instead. Good to see just opposite the boat ramp was a Croc trap, we must be getting further north.....

 

The springs were very refreshing even that slightly warm, was heaps cooler than the 43 outside.

Instead of staying here we headed for Katherine Gorge, about another 130kms up the road. What an amazing place, once again there was very few people camping, must be getting too hot for the oldies (can relate though) and we had the place nearly to ourselves. Needless to say the wallabies decended on us as we parked on one of the few green patches. Now you think possums are bad when you camp, these wallabies stole and ate anything that was not put away, from carrots to brochures from the Info centre.......Managed to get a few nice shots of a mother and baby eating our carrots. The bloody things kept us up all night though.

In the morning we headed off for our cruise up the Katherine Gorge, only the first 2 (of 13 gorges). Amazing and when you think that levels rise up to 20 metres when in full flood, as we saw when we visited the museum in Katherine.

Quote of the week was spoked at the Info centre



We have managed to catch up with some old friends from the Brisbane days (Check and Bron) who now live in Tindal (Airbase just out of town). Check was posted here a bit over 2 years and they all seem to love the northern lifestyle (heat???). Always great to catch up with familar faces and the offer of an airconditioned room for a couple of nights is aways hard to refuse and in this weather gratefully apreciated

Next entry to follow - Trev the Triton....watch this spot.