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Travelling around Australia

a travel blog by michelle62


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At the hot springs

Mataranka, Australia

We have taken the past two days since Tennant Creek to travel to Mataranka. We are currently in the town but will be heading out to have a swim in the hot springs which I hear are beautiful. We are still having a great time and amazingly the rain has stopped which is great. We will probably get to Katherine tonight but we will just see how we are going along the way. School work is now finished and posted for the school holidays so we now have two weeks off - Glenn and I are looking forward to that. Yesterday we stopped at Daly Waters which was a very interesting pub which had thong trees, bottle trees, underwear, license, money (even pounds) and hats pinned to the walls. It took us ages to walk around it and read and take it all in. There were even some tourists who had left their xrays - go figure. Off course we had to have a drink there - it was well worth the drive. I am off for a swim now.

permalink written by  michelle62 on June 27, 2007 from Mataranka, Australia
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We had a good swim

Katherine, Australia

We had a lovely swim at Mataranka, it was beautiful. It was like a Hollywood set paved area around the pool with tall palms and gentle steps moving taking you into the pool. They weren't serving Champagne which would have finished it off nicely though. The pool was built by the army during the second world war while they were stationed in the North. It was for officers use only - obviously! There were signs that the fresh water crocodiles around there are harmless to humans but I am inclined to not test that theory and the first sign of one I am running faster than you could ever imagine I could.

I also forget to mention that at Daly Waters Pub when Glenn bought the drinks they tossed a coin and he guessed the result, if you get that right you do not have to pay for the drinks - we thought that was fun but unfortunately Glenn guessed wrong.

We are currently in Katherine and are planning to head for Darwin but stop for a day or two in the Litchfield Park before getting there. We are having a terrific time still - we havent got sick of each other yet!!!

permalink written by  michelle62 on June 28, 2007 from Katherine, Australia
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Litchfield National Park

Batchelor, Australia

We went to the Litchfield National Park for two days which was really beautiful. A must visit for any prospective travellers. We camped at Buley Rock Pools and spent a lot of time down at the Rock pools which were really beautiful with cascading waterfalls down to seperate pools. We enjoyed our time there especially Caitlin who befriended a gang of young girls who played with their teddies, had picnics etc. The territory has four weeks holidays so there was lots of families down at the water hole. There were many fires happening while we were there which caused some concern until we realised that this was control burns regularly carried out over the dry season to keep the tall grass which grows during the wet under control. When we left the National Park we took the gravel road rather than the bitumen back throught Bachelor. The result was soft dirt, and large corrugations and lots of bumping. Caitlin thought it was better than a Dream World ride and the truck (and our bodies) survived the excitement.

permalink written by  michelle62 on June 30, 2007 from Batchelor, Australia
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Having a rest

Darwin, Australia

We have been staying at 'Shady Glen' (would you believe the moniker) in Darwin for the past couple of days and we intend to leave Saturday for Kakadu. We are having a great time exploring Darwin and really love it. We do not like the mossies which are constantly attacking us and we have gone through a power of Aerogard. We are riding our bikes all over town and are becoming familiar with the roads and the bike tracks. We even met Molly on Sunday in the mall - can you believe that. Sunday was Territory day the day which NT received self governance and it was a huge affair which we got involved in. In the night we went down to the beach market and watched the fireworks and we even let off some of our own - great fun.

permalink written by  michelle62 on July 4, 2007 from Darwin, Australia
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We are leaving

Darwin, Australia

Today we relunctantly leave Darwin after a lovely six days. We are off to Kakadu. I spent a day on my own travelling into town and looking at all the sites I am interested in. I went to Government House where the Administrator, Ted Egan lives, and to the Parliament House also. I spent some time in the NT Library which was spectacular (note for Rachel and Jacinta) with fantastic resources and facilities. The library is on the site of the Post Office which was bombed during the Darwin Assault - 9 PMG employees and volunteers lost their lives in this attack as it was a strategic hit by the Japanese. The Library building has incorporated the remaining wall of the post office to show where it stood and provides a record of the lives lost. I also caught a bus out to Stokes Wharf to get involved in the filming of Australia. I didnt see Baz but I saw Nicole and Hugh's body doubles though. It was fun watching the film being created and I saw some 'Big Shot Film Productions' Shot bags - I got a photo to prove it. I walked all over the town and was able to pick up my mail at the post office -Thanks Jacinta. Yesterday we rode to a recreation reserve where there was a huge pool and water park. In the water park there were water slides and sprinklers and even a large bucket up high (about the size of 10 people) which would filll with water over a period of time and then tip over everyone - we spent all day there - it was heaps of fun (Glenn liked it because it was free!!!)

permalink written by  michelle62 on July 6, 2007 from Darwin, Australia
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World heritage site

Darwin, Australia

We left Darwin and headed straight for Kakadu National Park. We stopped at Humpty Doo because with a name like that you have to say that you have been there. We stopped at Aurora, Kakadu for the night and we had dingoes and wallabies around our truck. During the night the dingoes were wailing and Riley was apprehensive when he went out to the toilet in the dark. It was a beautiful spot which was part of a resort so we had access to the swimming pool, (the only safe place to swim in Kakadu) so we swam in the pool despite the mosquitoes. They are ferocious here and we are constantly reapplying creams and sprays to prevent the welts that their bites create. We liked the spot so much that we decided to stay a second night and do a walk not far from there. In the morning all dressed and ready for a walk we found out that the walk was closed as the paths were still covered from the wet and there were numerous crocodiles on the way. We didnt take much persuading that this was not going to happen today. Instead we swam and relaxed all day in the sun and had a lot of fun. The next day we drove to Myrl to set up camp and also explored Jabiru before heading off to Ubirr to do an evening walk and watch the sun set. Ubirr is famous for its aboriginal rock art paintings which we checked out as we did the walk. The sunset was spectacular over the wetlands and I stayed lower to hear the Ranger talk but the others climbed up into the skies to get a better vantage point. We are really enjoying our time in Kakadu.

permalink written by  michelle62 on July 9, 2007 from Darwin, Australia
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We are back at Katherine on the Way to the West

Katherine, Australia

We spent five days, four nights in Kakadu which was fantastic. I think the sites can't get any better. It is almost like travelling in the South Island of New Zealand where every turn is a Snow capped mountain or Glacier ( in other words a post card picture) - you almost become complacent about how beautiful it is. The last night in Kakadu we drove on 37 kilometres of dirt roads (4 wd recommended - alas our vehicle is not 4 wd but Glenn wanted to give it a go). After alot of jolting and eating of dust we arrived at a spectacular camping area. In the morning we walked up to a waterfall where there was large plunge pool which they all plunged into for ages. Only fresh water crocodiles there which are harmless, needless to say I am not brave enough to swim if there is any potential of crocodiles fresh or salty. It was certainly worth the corrugations and bumping to get to this site. At the rock pool we met another family travelling for nine months and they had a daughter (Caitlin's Best friend of course) who was 6 and her birthday was only a week after Caitlin. They had lots of fun together and when we walked back to our camp site Sophie came over and they watched Sponge Bob together. Caitlin is hoping we will meet up again as they are heading in our direction. Last night we left Kakadu and went to Edith Falls just 50 Kilometres North of Katherine where we camped for the night. This morning we went on another walk to the Edith Waterfall and a large plunge pool which they all dived into. We are now in Katherine getting fuel and doing a big shop before heading west for Kununurra. School holidays are almost over so we will savour the last couple of days

permalink written by  michelle62 on July 12, 2007 from Katherine, Australia
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The Edge of Australia

Wyndham, Australia

We travelled to Kununurra and tried to ascertain the standard of the Gibb River Road as it had been closed only two weeks ago and impassable. We had positive feed back at Kununurra but decided to drive on to Wyndham before making our decision. We camped just out of Kununurra in a road side stop and were up early for Wyndham. We travelled to Wyndham but on the way stopped at the Gibb River Road turn off and spoke to some of the people who had just come off it and they believed that it would be tough but possible. It is meant to be a road for 4WD and we only have a 2WD vehicle but we do have significant clearance which is in our favour. At Wyndham we said what the heck and filled our Jerry Cans with diesel and filled up on water and fuel and decided to tackle it. The Road was very corrugated and dusty and the first River crossing we came to was, although we didn't realise at the time, the widest and deepest. The kids thought it was great as we forded the river with the water rising higher and higher. We made it and after that we were confident that we could manage the road.

permalink written by  michelle62 on July 17, 2007 from Wyndham, Australia
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Rest from the bumping

Derby, Australia

We spent four days in Derby at the Kimberley Entrance Caravan Park which was nice and relaxing after the Gibb River Road. Life is quite relaxing and we are still enjoying ourselves greatly. Our wedding anniversary was on the 20th of July and we all went out to dinner at the Boab Restaurant. It was beautiful and I had a huge scotch fillet so I assume I have replenished my iron levels significantly. Caitlin had a 'Red Fire Engine' which was a red mocktail and she thought she was pretty flash with the umbrella etc. Riley had a yummy chicken meal and Glenn had a boring Vegetable stir fry. ( He enjoyed it though). Can you believe that I have been living with Glenn for 22 years even Brynley said he said it was better me than him having to spend 22 years with Glenn - But I think Glenn is Great !!!!

permalink written by  michelle62 on July 21, 2007 from Derby, Australia
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Beach mecca

Broome, Australia

We left Derby and stayed at a roadside camp on Saturday night before heading for Broome. We had been warned by many that we would have difficulties getting a spot there and they were right. The parks, hotels, motels etc are all packed. We got a space at the overflow which is the Police Citizens Youth Club and is very cramped. Although others are complaining we are enjoying it. Riley can go and play pool in the pool room, there is a basketball court which we have been all using, it is a short riding distance to town and Glenn has even joined the gym as a casual. We have stayed five days and intend to stay another two days before heading south. Every day we do school work in the morning and then head to Cable Beach and swim for the afternoon. Caitlin has made new friends from Sydney and we catch up with them practically every day. Today we are going to their caravan park to swim at their pool before going down to Cable Beach to watch the Sunset. We have also met another family from Ballarat with five kids who are travelling for four months. It is certainly a very small world!!!. Broome is a Mecca and I recommend it to all but especially Christine McD as she will really love the beach and the seafood!!!

permalink written by  michelle62 on July 27, 2007 from Broome, Australia
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Trip around Australia

4/5's of the James Family have been planning to go on a trip around Australia for a number of years. We now have the vehicle which we are having modified and we hope to leave late April 2007

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