We arrived in Darwin having had exactly zero hours sleep on the flight!! Not ideal when we were anticipating driving for the next 10hours!! After the vigorous immigration department- they had both our bags unpacked, and asked both me and Tom (separately) our plans for Oz- we eventually managed to get a car hired for the two days!

We stepped outside to set off to be confronted with a crazy rainstorm- apparently Darwin has had record rainfall recently!! Anyway I jumped in the driver's seat and we went in search of breakfast and a sim card for my phone- didn't really fancy driving in the outback without means of contact!!!

Eventually (about 8am) we got ourselves on the Stuart Highway south of Darwin, commencing a mammouth 1500km drive to Alice Springs in our little red Hyundai, which we named Shanessa (Gavin and Stacey reference!). After leaving Darwin, the roads became littered with potholes (and at one point a big black snake!) as we made our way southwards! Eventually we reached a place called Katherine, where I decided I had to stop driving as I was feeling tired! After a quick attempt to get some sleep (failed, as it was too hot!) Tom declared he was OK and we should go visit the Katherine Gorge, about 20km detour... so we did!! After fairly dragging me up a cliff (I was shattered!) we took some snaps, headed back to the car, and cracked on with the journey, Tom at the wheel!!!

What seemed like hours later- for Tom... I slept to get ready for another stint- we changed roles at Dunmarra!! Feeling refreshed, I then drove through late afternoon (and some pretty intense storms!!) towards our intended destination for the night, Tennants Creek. Also, I maimed several birds who refused to get out of the way... their bloody fault... I retain no guilt whatsoever!! The "graveyard shift" took me into the dark of night, which the guide book recommend you don't drive through.... but we all have targets you know!!!! Eventually made it there, and after checking the prices of a couple of frankly extortionate motels, we settled on a bug-infested caravan thing!! It was crap, but it was a bed!! We went out for a quick dinner, then crashed out having travelled around 1000km since Darwin!! Next day should be easier!!

In the morning we set off around 11am, Tom taking the wheel for a great drive in the sunshine... tunes blaring from the stereo, sun beating down on our arms!! We changed at Ti-Tree and headed the couple of km to Alice Springs, stopping for a photo at the Tropic of Capricorn.. which sounds quite exciting... it wasn't!!!

Got to Alice Springs around 4.30pm... drive done!!!