We started a bit later this morning and that was good since we drove over 500 kilometres yesterday. Today we had to drive an even longer distance, 560 kilometres so we had to choose what we wanted to do in Tennant Creek before starting our drive.



We chose to visit the Battery Hill Mining Centre. We were the only people there to take the 9:30am tour of the mine. The tour guide we had was funny, friendly and he knew a lot, mum and dad think he has previously worked in the mines. Tennant Creek is known for gold, the tour guide said it was the last goldfield to open in Australia. Tennant Creek is different to other gold mines, the gold is found in heavy black stone. I lifted one stone and it was very very heavy. It was cool seeing how the miners made tunnels and drilled holes to find the black stone. Our guide even showed us how rocks that are broken up are dropped through chutes in the mines right to the bottom where they are then lifted to the top. I got to hold explosives and learnt how they blow things up in the mines. It was also good to know how miners worked in the old days and how they do the same things in a different way now. My highlight was playing with the mine elevator bell and annoying my dad by ringing it repeatedly.



We were soon on the road again and soon came across the Attack Creek Monument. The monument is dedicated to Constable Shirley, a police officer who was killed by aboriginals in the old days.

At this time the day stated to get hot and we stopped at Renner Springs to cool down. It was like the other places we stopped at, walls covered with messages and photos of people who have come through.

At Elliott we stopped for fuel and mum bought a necklace from Johnnie a local aboriginal man. Elliott was so small, there is nothing there. I do not believe people live in places like this.



After Elliott dad told us were going to visit a ghost town. I imagined it would be very quiet and the buildings newish. When we got to Newcastle Waters it was quiet, no one was around. The builds were different to what I imagined, they were old. We visited the hotel and it was empty and dusty. Dad explained that this town was built in the 1930s. The area was an intersection between different roads that people used to move their stock. The hotel was closed down in 1972 and the person who owned the hotel moved his hotel license to nearby Elliott.



We stopped at the Telegraph monument. Dad explained that this is the place where the Northern and Southern parts of the Overland Telegraph Line were connected. When they connected the lines here it was the first time Australia and England could communicate instantaneously.



Last stop of the day was Daly Waters. Dad said he has always wanted to come here. He has heard so much about it. We stayed there for about half an hour. The place is weird. The inside of the hotel is covered with hats, photos, bottles, pins, badges and even woman's underwear. I just found this place strange!



We finally arrived at our campsite at Mataranka early evening and just in time for dinner. During dinner they had some entertainment, a singing family and this guy who is a whip cracker. The whip cracker was a bit full of himself and kept telling the crowd he has a world record for number of whip cracks in one minute. Who cares!



Our campsite is literally next to the springs and since we only have an hour trip to Katherine tomorrow we can spend most of the day at the springs! Can’t wait. Mum can’t wait also as she will love the water which is 34 degrees.

This evening we have completed 2,655.7kms in our campervan.