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.