Jack Brumby Creek

On the Victoria Highway 

between Victoria River and Timber Creek 

not far from the NT / WA border

Litchfield

Fantastic couple of days in Litchfield. Far more impressive than I remembered and that is despite all gravel roads being closed and the days being VERY hot. Have met up with the Brownhills now so kids are delighted (and so are we - no whinging!)







Stopped off to look at the Magnetic Termite mounds and Cathedral Termite mounds on the way in to the park. Amazingly the termites aline perfectly north-south to maximise sunshine on the elongated east-west walls and maintain the required temperature during the day. Dan was impressed by the size but on the basis that they are just ants was sure he could push one over.

At the Cascades

Great walk to the Cascades on the first day. Over 30 degrees and worked up a real sweat on the walk in. Crystal clear water cascading over rocks and fantastic rock pools for a swim. Kids had a fantastic time rock hopping (and climbing) down the river through the forest to get back to the car.




Yesterday was busy. Wangi Falls - beautiful but closed to swimming because of crocodiles. Went on to Greenant Creek and another hot walk was rewarded with a spectacular rock pool at the top of a waterfall. Kids all enjoyed jumping over the top of a small waterfall into the deep pool below.

Greenant Creek with Brownhill kids

Tom at Greenant Creek

At Wangi Falls

Afternoon kip in the 33 degree heat and then a trip to Florence Falls in the afternoon. Again spectacular. Able to swim across the deep waterhole and beneath the high waterfalls. Dad completely exhausted after repeatedly dragging the kids through the strong currents to cling to the wall beneath the falls - now that Dan is 6 he is up for anything and drowning beneath a 50 foot torrential waterfall is fair game!

Enjoyed a nice glass of red courtesy of the Dimmicks. Everyone slept very well last night

Harry Potters birthday

Dan turned 6 today and what a day it has been. Tom was less than enthused when Dan opened his presents. Harry Potter Hogwarts uniform, glasses, wand and broomstick. Tom's birthday is in 2 weeks and it will be a long 2 weeks for him!

We went to feed the fish - you stand in the water at high tide and hundreds of then come in to be fed bread - they eat it out of your hand and the water froths and boils as they fight for food. They nibble at your legs in the water. Kids LOVED it.


Then to Crocosaurus Cove to see the big fellas. Fascinating. The kids got to hold lizards and crocodiles and we saw a live show where a small python was fed (and ate) a large rat.

Hot day so back to the park for a swim and a barbie. They had entertainment in the park and the man sang Happy Birthday to dan for the whole caravan park. He was stoked but still cannot work out how he knew it was his birthday.

Susan cooked a Harry Potter birthday cake in the Weber BBQ. Who can cook a cake in a BBQ - Fantastic. Best mum in the world!

Exhausted!! Off to bed. This is meant to be a holiday.

Kids arrived

Darwin

Bumped into some random friends (The Brownhills) at Katherine Gorge this morning so stopped for a coffee and a chat. Short trip to Darwin and set up the camper trailer for the first time. All good! Had a few beers and magnificent Barramundi at a pub in town and then sat down to watch the Reds ......... lose. Kids arrive tomorrow so that will be great. Let the fun begin!

The Prado - what a beautiful machine

Big day today. Mount Isa through to Katherine. Just under 14 hours on the road. The pint at the local Katherine Club was very nice. Have clocked up 3118km in 3 days towing a tonne worth of camper trailer and in that whole time have been overtaken by only 2 cars on the NT open road. I love my Prado more every day!

Another fantastic day of driving. The trip across the Barkley Highway from Camooweal was stunning for its desolateness. Extraordinary to look 360 degrees and see open grass plains all the way to the horizon. Barely a tree to be seen.

Have seen roos, emus, dingos and managed to miss them all. Apart from a few less-than-wise owls camped on the white line in the middle of the road, we have managed to not add too much to the road kill.

Darwin tomorrow. Kids the next day. Can't wait.

Mount Isa

The trip meter now reads 1884km. Big day from Augathella to the Isa. Really enjoyed the day. Fantastic diversity of scenery from the flat expanses of nothing around Longreach to the scrubby channel country around Winton and then the rugged rockiness into the Isa. Gee I sound old - may have to start watching the ABC

We drove into the glorious sulphur tinged sunset over the mine and as we turned the corner to see the big smoke stack rising up it was almost as if we left only yesterday (not 14 years). Dinner at the Buffalo club and then a drive to revisit our old haunts.

Some parts of us wish the kids were here to enjoy the trip. Other parts are very glad they are not!

You can check out our progress on the GPSed link. I have not yet worked out my apple computer so cannot download photos yet

On the road at last! Augathella via Miamba

We managed to get going by 10. Not bad for Susan who is normally so badly organised!

Slight detour and we stopped off for Susan to see Miamba - the family property where she grew up as a child - nice start for the trip.

Motel in Augathella tonight. Not bad for Day 1. Not hit any Roos ........ Yet

Tomorrow is the big day

The car is packed and we are all ready to go. Dropping the kids at school in the morning and then we start the long drive. The kids are staying with their Nan and Grandad (Susan's parents) and then flying up to meet us in Darwin on Sunday. No turning back now.

Too late to back down now

Only 4 sleep (or lack of them) to go. Starting to get a bit excited. 257 things crossed off the list of things to do. Only problem is there are over a thousand things still on the list and it keeps growing.

Camper trailer check list
 - Inner spring queen mattress - check
 - Gas hot water system - check
 - Toilet - check
 - shower tent - check
 - digital TV tuner - check
 - carton of french red - check

Really looking forward to the drive to Darwin..............

Planning is well underway

A little less than 3 weeks to go before we head off. on the weekend we made the inspired decision to drive to Darwin. The kids are booked on a flight to Darwin already so Susan's parents will pretend to be us and fly up with them. We will drive the 3600+ km towing our trailer over 4 and a bit days. A cold beer will be very welcome when we finally get to Darwin!