G'Day!

Since last time we have made our way up to Darwin (only about 3000km) from Cairns! Along the way we have seen loads of nothing, if that makes sense! The scenery is actually really interesting even if it doesn't change that much, and the sunsets in the outback are spectacular! The only eye-sore is the hundreds of kangaroos you see dead on the side of the road and the odd cow! The towns are all very quirky (all 5 or so of them!). Most of the towns are either mining towns or old stops for the horse and carts. Some towns only have 3 people live there now! At Cloncurry we watched a couple perform Johnny Cash songs around a campfire and had billy tea and damper afterwards (proper aussie culture!) There are an amazing number of stars in the sky because of the lack of civilisation! We got dressed up in mine gear in Mt Isa and went down to look around a mine. We saw a group of 7 Emus by the road and we've seen lots of Wedge-Tailed Eagles (They're huge!). In the middle it is very dry and there are loads of flies which get very annoying! As you start heading North its exciting to see lots of greenery again! We've been to the oldest pub in the Territory, swam in hot springs at Mataranka. We stayed at Katherine Gorge and Gaz went swimming in the water, Tish wouldn't go in because there may be freshwater crocodiles in there (They are the less aggressive type)

We've just come from Lichfield National Park which had some really nice waterfalls, we both swam underneath one of them, the water is a nice temperature. They have huge termite mounds to look at. (the biggest was 6m). Today we finally made it to Darwin and have booked to go on a tour to see crocodiles on Monday before starting the drive South via Kakudu National Park (the biggest one in Australia). We will be in Alice Springs for camel racing and we're going on a 3 day tour to Ayers Rock and surrounds!

Hope alls well in sunny England!

Gareth + Tish

(p.s. Thanks for all the messages Dad, makes us feel popular!)