Wednesday 7th October 2009

We set off on our road trip this morning with Daisy and Mark who we had met on the Perth to Broome tour and they had hired a sponge bob square pants wicked camper van so we decided to tag along with them to get us to Alice Springs. Today's destination was Kakudu national park.

We left Darwin at 08.45am this morning and drove through Humpty Doo (I love that name) to Palmerston to get supplies ready for the next few days. From the supermarket we then drove to the "Original Jumping Crocodile cruises" which I had really wanted to do and dragged the others along. We went on an hour long cruise along the river Adelaide a salt water croc invested river and they hang meat off the side of the boat and the crocodiles jump up to get it, it was really good and we got so great pictures. Also while on the cruise we got to see an eagle and lots of swooping kites who they where also feeding I've never seen so many birds up close it was pretty amazing well worth $26!!

From here we got back on the road and stopped at Bark hut roadhouse for lunch and then carried on another 95km passed the South Alligator to Mamukala wetland where there was controlled bush fires happening we were a little concerned walking in between fires on either side of us but nobody else seemed practically bothered so we guessed it was ok. Here we saw lots of magpie, Greece and lots of other birds that we couldn't identify. After we had finished at the wetland we nipped to the Bowali Vistitor centre to get some information about Kakudu and where we could visit in a 2 wheel drive as a lot of places you need a 4 wheel drive to access them. From here we drove to Jabiru where we found a campsite to stay for the night and I had my first experience of putting a tent up it was actually a good first attempt I thought but Suzie found it very amusing all the same. After we had got sort we all went for a much needed swim it had been so hot it was like heaven jumping into the pool. Daisy cooked dinner tonight on the stove which was a very nice green Thai curry and then after dinner we played cards by torch light.

Thursday 8th October 2009

This morning we left the campsite at 09.00 nipped to the supermarket to get some more supplies and some very sexy but much needed fly nets they are a nightmare!!! From Jabiru we drove 40km to Ubirr first stop was to do the 1.6km nature walk and then from here we went to another part of Ubirr to do the aboriginal rock art and view walk which was really interesting. From here we drove to Yellow water and had some at the campsite, after lunch we were all a bit tired so we spent the afternoon sunbathing and reading by the pool.

We then had a drink at the bar before dinner before playing cards again but this time it was a bit of a luxury we actually had some light to play by!!

Friday 9th January

Early start this morning 06.45am and left the campsite at 08.45am we then drove to the yellow waters lake and billabong and had a walk along the water front seeing lots of wildlife and some great views. From here we went to the cultural centre for an hour or so which was based on Wattadjan.

It was then back on the road again for another 2 hours which took us to pine creek where we had lunch at a little cafe called Maisies cafe. After lunch we carried on the drive to Katherine where we had been before on the Western Exposure Tour. We stopped at the hot springs in Katherine which were really nice we didn't go to them on our last visit. Mark managed to lose his wedding ring under the waterfall at the springs we all thought he would never see it again but a little girl who had goggle's found it how lucky?? While we were at the springs we bumped into a lad who we had met in Exmouth so we all had a chat with him.

Before going to the the camp ground we nipped to the supermarket in Katherine it was sooooo SCARY it was like being in a dodgy night club but it was only 4pm. There were so many drunk aborginal people and there were fights going off left right and centre. The checkout lady said we were lucky, if we'd been the day before one old chap had been streaking through the shopping centre and that wasn't a pretty sight.

Tea tonight was cooked by myself and Suz sausage and mash good old comfort food it was really nice. After tea as usual we played cards it was becoming quite a tradtion.

Saturday 10th October

We left the campsite this morning after breakfast at around 08.30am back onto to the Stuart highway and drove 25km to the Cutta Cutta caves. I think this was the morning I announced to Suzie "I quite like this camping lark" a statement she thought she would never hear obviously I like it a lot better when there are showers and electricity so I can dry my hair and mirror is often useful to do the makeup!! We arrived at the caves and did an hour long tour around the caves. We saw rock wallabies and different rock formations you could even make out a mans face in one of the rocks.

We left the caves just after 10am and drove on to Bitter springs which had been recommended by one of the tours guides from our last tour it was an 80km drive. We swam here for over an hour it was lovely and as warm as a bath with beautiful scenery to go with it. The current was really strong which we didn't expect so it was pretty hard work swimming back up the springs after we had swum down. While we were swimming done we saw a huge monitor lizard who decided he would like to join us for a swim we weren't so keen on his company.

After swimming here we had a picnic lunch before going to Mataranka hot springs for another swim. It wasn't as nice here as bitter springs but we had a nice swim regardless there were lots of flying foxes (bats) in trees above our heads so we were quite lucky we didn't get pooed on that wouldn't have been very pleasant!! After swimming we had a soft drink at the bar before driving on to Daly waters pub 160km away where we had decided to stay for the night.

We arrived at Daly waters pub at around 5pm, it a very small place there is a petrol station, a camp ground and a pub with rooms but anything you want you pay for at the pub. After paying our camp fees we all read for an hour before having tea and setting up for the night before going to the pub. Daly waters pub is one of the most famous pubs in the Northern Territory, it a really unique place there's knickers, bras, flip flops, bank cards and foreign currency every where that people have left. We did think of leaving our knickers but as you know we don't let any old stranger fondle our knickers!! We stayed at the pub for the rest of the evening drinking far too much wine we glad we had put our tent up before we went to the pub that's for sure!! A funny thing happened that night I went to the toilet and there was a frog on top of the toilet which I thought was plastic until I poked it and it jumped I don't know who jumped higher the frog or me!!

Sunday 11th October 2009

We left Daly waters this morning at 9am with slightly sore heads and drove 600km to three ways road house where we had lunch before driving on to Tenants Creek we did intend to explore Tenants Creek but once we arrived we soon realized there was not a lot there so we just went to the bottle shop to stock up and carried onto Devils Marbles.

Devils Marbles are a group of rock formations shaped like marbles I suppose if you're turned on by rock formations it would be a very exciting sight but it didn't really thrill us very much so we had a quick walk around before heading of to find a campsite. We found a place to stay called Wuchope we arrived here at around 16.30pm. Once we got settled in we all had much needed swim and read by the pool until it got dark. We had tea which was steak and salad tonight and then settled down to the nightly event of cards.

Monday 12th October 2009

We left the campsite this morning around 9am and drove for 400km to Alice springs we arrived here at around 2pm. Once we were in Alice we had a walk around the town centre, went on the internet (obviously a very exciting activity when you haven't been on facebook for a whole 6 days) and nipped to tourist information to find a campsite. We found a campsite called Good day mate on the outskirts of Alice which was very nice, we read our books when we arrived here, Daisy and I painted our toe nails and then we decided we should really cook tea. Fish, chips and Salad tonight which was good before going to bed no cards tonight.