17th August........... We went for a tour with the Duckabout Tours. This was on a Big Wheels on Water a 1063 Model American Larc (This was used by the American Army in the Vietnam war for transfering cargo from ships to shore) and it has been slightly modified to carry people.  We cruised around Darwin Harbour, just beautiful.
By the way Darwin Harbour is 5 times the size of Sydney Harbour.

 

After about one hour we emerged from the water on the beach outside the famous Mandorah Pub, where we enjoyed a light lunch and the view of Darwin.

After about 1 1/2 hours we were back in the water and headed for Mica Beach where we saw the woods Mangroves and collected mica from the beach, chased crabs and enjoyed the surrounding views. After 4.5 hours we returned to land. As they say we splashed, cruised, explored and had a very relaxing day, it was just magic.

19th August......... This morning we drove to Howard Springs Nature Park. The park covers 280 hectares and features diverse  habitats including monsoon forest, extensive swamps and riverine areas providing valuable wildlife habitats for an extensive range of bird life including Magpie Geese, Whistling Ducks and Pygmy Geese.

      we were watching several people feeding the Barramundi and turtles in the spring-fed pool.

                           This one is 1.2 mtrs long.










This reserve was built back in WW2 by the Royal Engineers, mainly for a swimming area and later into a nature reserve.

14th August

The Fannie Bay Goal is rich in social history and one of the NT'S most important heritage sites, the goal operated as HM Goal and Labour Prison in Darwin from 20 September 1883 until 1 September 1970.

                             

. There was an Aboriginal art collection on site, these were painted by Aboriginal inmates, these were for sale and most of the proceeds go to the victims of crime.

There is one painting there I think should be in an art museum it is incredible.

We then visited the Museum and Art Gallery, which featured the collections of the regions art, natural science, history and culture. Encompassing Aboriginal art and culture, arts and craft from the South/ East Asia and Pacific Regions, Maritime archaeology and local history, the museum includes a fascinating Cyclone Tracy exhibit. And we met Sweetheart, the Top End's most famous croc. Sorry no photo's as on camera's were alowed.

And I can tell you up here they breed their mosquito's bloody big.

This one got away

11th August

This morning we left Wangi Falls and headed for Darwin via Berry Springs Nature Park and Springs .This is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, and you can see why. The park features two large spring-fed pools and a small waterfall fringed by pandanus and monsoon rainforest. The water here is crystal clear and there were many fish in these springs.

We had  morning tea and headed for Free Spirit Caravan Park at Palmerston, what a beautiful oasis in busy suburbia s We settled surrounded by palm trees has three camp kitchens and pools and the main pool has a bar and restaurant close by.

12th........Sunday we went to tour the WW11 Storage Tunnels in Darwin in the Harbour region. These Tunnels were constructed to protect the Navy's oil supplies from bombardment during WW11. The five steel-lined tunnels extend from the Wharf and run under the city. The only tunnel open to the public these days is tunnel 5 and along the walls are tales of the war years in Darwin and view a fascinating display of historic photographic images of wartime activity in Darwin and around the Top End. 

We had a look at the Wave Lagoon and strolled around the Waterfront Precinct and had lunch in the Irish Restaurant "The Fiddlers Green.

13th.............Today we visited Crocodylus Park& Zoo and were there for first feeding at 10.00am. This park was built on 30 years of research and conservation, the parks hosts over 10,000 crocodiles from hatchlings to adults of up to 5 meters. We were able to hold a baby croc and took photos, Graeme also fed one of the crocs. The park also features , big cats, primates, giant lizards and a world-class crocodile museum. It was well worth the entry fee.

6th August

Travelling to Adelaide River we made a morning tea stop at Mayce's Cafe at Pine Creek for her famous Scones/Jam & Cream. Just scrumptious. I took over the driving from there, it was quite a good run to Adelaide River where we were staying in a caravan park behind the Pub and we backed onto the swimming pool, which was very nice. After settling down we visited the War Cemetery. During the second World War, Adelaide River was the headquarters of a large base and the Adelaide River Cemetery was created especially for the burial of servicemen and women who died in this part of Australia.

 

     

7th August to 10th August

After filling the tank and jerry can, we headed for Wangi Falls in the Litchfield National Park where we hoped to get a caravan site for 4 nights. We made a stop at Batchelor to obtain some groceries. Graeme spoke to the ranger who advised us to go straight to the Wangi Falls find a site and then go a pay . We were very lucky we were driving around and found a couple who were just finishing packing up. This is a very popular place and you can see why. We settled in had lunch and went for a swim in the Falls. The Wangi Falls, has two falls cascading into a cool, freshwater pool, it was just beautiful and certainly cooled us off. It was 36 degrees and climbing. Every morning and night we were honored byb the presents of mum Wallaby and her off spring.

 

8th August ......... Up around 8.00am had breakfast and decided to take a scenic walk 1.7km loop return walk, an interpretive walk, which commenced near the pool. The loop took us through rainforests and many rocky paths over the top of the falls. This took nearly 1 hour and we were certainly ready for coffee when we returned.

After lunch we drove to see the:

Magnetic Termite Moulds.......These moulds standing up to two metres in height, are in a north-south orientation. The configuration acts as a built-in-temperature mechanism, allowing only the  least  possible surface area to be exposed to the heat of the sun.

     

Buley Rockhole..........This is a series of small waterfalls and rock holes which provided a perfect site to cool off. I wadded in for a short time while Graeme took photos. If you were feeling energetic there was a track which lead from there to the Florence Falls, we weren't, it was too hot.

        

Florence Falls..........This was a double waterfall set amid monsoon rainforest, and don't we know that as we took the longer walk through the forest to the falls. There were many small streams and little bridges to cross to get to the falls. We had a swim and sat for a time just taking in the scenery even a tree snake that caused some disturbance particularly among the women. There were fish that swam around us and didn't worry about the human invasion. When we walked back we climbed 135 stairs which was the shorter way, but not half as nice. I

think we walked around 4.5 klms that day all up, which did us no harm.

Tolmer Falls viewing platform..........This was our last stop for the day as it was getting late and we were very tied and hot. One of the most spectacular falls, Tolmer Falls cascades over two high escarpments into a distant, deep plunge pool. There is no public access to the bottom of these falls as this is home to several colonies of the rare and protected bat species, Ghost Bats and Orange Horseshoe Bats. We headed home for a well earned rest , dinner and early bed, ready for tomorrow

                 

9th August......We decided to drive the 4WD track 10.5kms to the lost city, what an experience, I was glad to get there. This was a very impressive site reminiscent of the ruins of some long lost civilisation, it is a formation of sandstone blocks and majestic pillars formed and weathered by the elements. We spent some time walking around this wonderful sire taking photos and just being amazed of what was there.

29th July

Left Mount Isa for Avon Downs for our first night of free camping. Stoping at Camooweal for morning tea and continuing onto Avon Downs opposite the police station for our night stay

 

We crossed the Border  for the Northern Territory 10 kms out of Camooweal.  The speed for Northern Territory is 130kms. Staying at Avon Downs didn't eventuate  as  we had trouble with the gas to our fridge. We decided to go onto to Barkly Homestead where we would have electricity for the fridge and Graeme could have a look at the problem.  460 kms later we arrived, set up and Graeme began to look at the problem

30th July

Leaving the Barkly Homestead at around 9.23am after getting Diesel and trying to refill  a gas bottle to no avail we headed for Kyana Turnoff  Rest area, after stopping for morning tea at Brunette Downs Rest Area for morning tea while travelling along a single lane road, Very frightening, if something came the other way you  would have to move to the side. There were many cattle that were killed on the side of the road, and the terrane changed  dramatically. Arriving at the Kyana Turnoff Rest Area for lunch we decided to go onto the Heartbreak Hotel Campground to stay for a couple of night

31st July

We stayed around the campground just doing odd jobs and the washing and waiting for our helicopter ride to "The Lost City" surrounding a semi permanent waterhole on the  Caranbirini Reserve near Borroloola these spiral sandstone rise up to 25meters and provide a vivid contrast in colour and shape to the surrounding countryside. Our pilot was very informative, a great flight

1st August

Today  we are heading for Daly Waters 282 kms along the Carpentaria Highway, a single lane highway, didn't see much along the way. Stopped for morning tea, had a talk with two people from Tasmania, than continued along our way arriving at Daly Waters around 2.00pm  having lunch at the restaurant on the corner of the Carpentaria & Stuart Highways. We are staying at the caravan park behind the pub. Went to happy hour with a couple from Horsham in Victoria, a very enjoyable time. We settled down to a very early night.

2nd August

Travelling the Stuart Highway heading for Katherine some  290kms from Daly Waters we had a early start before 8.30am. We had a short stop at Larrimah and continued on to Mataranka for morning tea ,where we stayed for an hour. Graeme got talking to a couple who were working for "Where Is" up this area.

We took a photo of me under the giant Termite Mound in the centre of town and continued onto our destination the Big 4 Caravan Park at Katherine, which is situated on 44 acres of  treed land, very picturesque for 4 night of comfort, no more dirty toilets or showers.

3rd August.... Our day was spent have a 4 hour cruise in the Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge. This is the land of the Jawoyn and Dagomen  People the traditional land owners who invite us travellers to explore and behold the natural wonders they call home. The sheer walls of the Gorge etched by time and the elements  are home to a myriad of plant and animal life, much of it unique to this area, which is very important to the Jawoyn People. We were able to see 3 crocodiles, a beautiful kookaburra,

             

4th August........ Spent the morning around the van and went sightseeing in the afternoon. We visited the Springvale Homestead, which is the oldest original homestead in the Northern Territory. The station was established in 1878 and managed by Alfred Giles, the ex Overland Telegraph linesman.

At night we went for drinks with two couples from Victoria and listened to the entertainment provided by Chrissy & Tom from WA. They were very good.