Today we were lucky enough to to spend the morning with top end Aboriginal artist Manuel Pamkal. He taught us the traditional Dalabon method of line painting, how to light a fire with 2 sticks, and throw a spear with a woomera. It was very enlightening to hear about Manuel's upbringing as well as his current views of town dwelling aborigine's and their struggles with alcohol abuse. His biggest fear is that this amazing culture and the passing on of hunting, la...

Today's a special addition with Jack! The morning when we woke up almost straight away we hopped in the car to go on a cruise in the Katherine Gorge. The gorge was really amazing and we saw some fresh water crocs on the way. The guide told us if a croc is swimming away from you it is a fresh water croc, if it is swimming towards you it is a salt water croc. There were 3 different gorges along the 4 hours, because there were rocks between each gorge in dry sea...

Drove to Katherine and finished our first audio book on the way (The Hobbit - 11hours of it). We were sad to say goodbye to Bilbo however welcomed Hazel & Fiver from Watership Down by Richard Adams. Arrived mid morning at Katherine and headed to auto electrician for some repairs to our electric brakes from the Mereenie Loop. 3 now working, booked in for Thursday morning to take wheel off and look at shorted out brake. After setting up camp took a tour aro...

This morning was work for Baz and Mathletics for Jack & Pops. Pen was required for tutoring. We then visited Mataranka Homestead at Elsey Station. This is the site of the famous Australian novel We Of The Never Never. A replica homestead is on display, as well as more thermal pools, these being concreted for the officers in the second world war (not as natural as bitter springs). We then had a tour of the town, this literally took 5 minutes - couple of ho...

Today we drove the short distance to Mataranka. After setting up camp (and doing a couple of loads of washing after having no external power and water for 3 days) we walked down to the Bitter Springs Thermal Pools - less than a km from our park. Here numerous subterranean springs pour more than 30 million litres of warm water into the Roper River each day. A great way to sooth the body as we floated...