I remember now about that walk I could not remember, it had a lovely smell of eucalyptus and I saw my first billabong! I was way too tired to remember the details!

So we went to the statue which marks the tropic of capricorn....I think they could have done something a little more extravegant but never mind, it was still an interesting place to stop at the side of the road! The following stops we had, were the first telegraph station in the Northern Terriroty at Tennant Creek which was literally an empty building with a sign, I have never laughed so much! It was hillarious because it was so weird. We also went to the Creek Hotel which has things from around the world in it, its quite a strange little place which is just covered in tatt basically but it was quite fascinating! I was more interested in the place as it was where Peter Falconio was murdered and Joanna Lees was found (remember that?) but no one could tell me any more than what I already knew. Never mind, I will just have to read a book about it when I am back (I am a little book worm now).

Following the excitement of the these stops we saw a controlled bush fire by the side of the road which was slightly strange to think that they actually do these but we got a talk about it and I can now see fully why they do them and so therefore I support them. (but not as much as I support the Aboriginal people getting their land back, Im thinking about emailing parliment about that one).

Then it was to the UFO captial of Australia, Wycliffe Well..again hillarious beause its weird! What was weirder was that there was a guy from Korea who was doing a documentary about it and filmed us eating lunch....hmmmmmm! So I have made it onto youtube (Canberra) and Korean TV! I will be a movie star in no time.

After all these randon stops we then went to devils marbles. These were great! Scrambling over rocks and scraping knees was so much fun, there were a couple that I literally have to slide down on my bum to get off but still it was a good laugh, then it was time to cool off at Mary Ann lake with a nice paddle!

That evening we had a nice campfire and this time we had a guitar and a singer, it was lovely had a few renditions of Hotel California, bit of Oasis, the usual!

The next day we were back on the happy bus (as I call it) and we were playing the famous people game (we had to make it the object game in the end as we detoured greatly off famous people). We had one French girl and so when it was her turn I suggested she had to guess Coco Chanel and so we agreed this was a good idea so we started getting questioned on it. Then she asked if it was a person and the girls all said 'yes' and the boys 'no' it was so funny, the boys just thought it was a perfume - I found it amusing anyway!!!

Then it was to the Daly Waters pub at lunch time so I had a traditional Bundy and Coke, then it was the Pink Panther pub and I had a traditional Bundy ginger beer and after all these stops we had arrived in Katherine. Unfortunately we couldnt go to the Thermal Springs as it had been flooded and there were crocodiles so we just agreed to go straight to the campsite for more singing and camp fires! I went to sleep early and it was nice to lie in my tent and listen to the music to fall asleep too - bliss.

The final day on this tour was to go to Katherine Gorge, the South Rock Waterfall which was spectacluar, the water was so fresh it was lovely to swim in the humidity. On our way to Darwin we went via the place to see Charlie the Water Buffalo that Crocodile Dundee puts to sleep on the first film, I was so excited but I was so disappointed - it was STUFFED. I was so not impressed.

When we hit Darwin we had a lovely cheer as we had just completed 3000km on the Stuart Highway! Wahooooo! My favourite kilometer had to be the 1876th, it was such a special kilometer, the worst was 764 - just nothing special at all-boring you might say! Now 3000km sounds a lot but when we have rowdy songs like the Gum Tree song (it has actions!), the Duncan song, the Tourist song, pop hour, rock hour, name game....the time just flies!! To celebrate this achievement we had a nice meal out in Darwin ready for our Kakadu trip the following day.

So on the happy bus, but this time it was a 4WD happy bus and we left Darwin and our first stop was Banyan. Unfortunately this was not the same as the Banyan in Harrogate however it still reminded me of home! Following this we visited the termite mounds which were HUGE we saw two types the mud and magentic types which were actually pretty cool and interesting. Then it was swimming time in the Litchfield National Park at the Buley Rockpools and then onto the Florence Falls for yet more swimming. Our trip to the Florence Falls was quite interesting as we saw two snakes in the wild, a 5meter long rock pyton which was pretty fay and a tree snake, I was a tad scared but soon got over that to get my pictures (such a tourist!) Then it was onto a culture camp where we learnt how to make aboriginal bags and perfect my digiridoo playing (im getting quite good!) before it was more camping!

WE GOT A LIE IN! 5.30am we had to get up, a whole 30minute lie in, so happy! We were going to Kakadu (which is where they filmed crocodile dundee!) but I didnt realise it was over 20.000 square feet. damn it, no pics of where they filmed it because it was flooded and out of bounds! But we did see some rock art which was actually very interesteing and then had a cruise on the yellow river and saw another crocodile in the wild. i do think crocodiles are becoming my favourite animal (and they make nice shoes!).

So for my final day in Australia we went to the Gubara Pools and it rained, poured then rained a little more! But I still wanted to make the most of it so I went for the walk (some people didnt) to the pools and waterfalls and by the time we got there in the rain and humidity I couldnt wait to get in the water. Unfortunately I couldnt take any pictures as I did not want to ruin my camera in the rain so I just have to have memories of this site but it was lovely. You had to scramble over the pools to get to others and it was really warm. For the hours walk back to the bus we all decided to just walk in our bikninis because we would just get soaking again so that it what we did!

This brings me to now, my final night in Darwin. We are just going to have a meal and early night as I dont want to be too tired for the journey home but I have been thinking on the journey back to the hostel today.

It has most definately been a trip of two halves. The first half was all about bikinis, dresses and beaches (and tans) and the second half all about stars, fire and rocks (no tan anymore!). Interestingly for me I have enjoyed them both equally, learnt a lot about myself and I am shocked at some of the stuff I did (e.g. touch a snake - what?!). I have learnt mainly that I can survive with a backpack and 3 pairs of shoes (note the word survive not choose to when it comes to the shoe bit!) and I can't drink tea out of a plastic green mug (ewwwwww!). I also have taught a lot of germans, italians, french, danish, dutch people new words, there are now alot of travellers who now say 'lovely', 'sweetie pie' and 'tally-o'!

Highlights for me have definately been surfers paradise, the night out in Waxys, the bridge climb, fraser island/lake mckenzie, cape tribulation and Hollow Mountain. I have thoroughly enjoyed Australia and backpacking and I will be doing it again (sorry mum!) and one thing is for sure:

Australia: I'll be back.