28/6/12 Left Beatrice Hill and drove back towards Adelaide Creek. That was where that Olympian was killed the other night. Visited the Window on the Wetlands bulding on Beatrice Hill which had a very informative display. Bought a couple of DVDs to show eveyone when we get home. From there we drove to Adelaide River and watched a boat load of crocodile watchers go up river.

Turned around and headed towards Darwin. Tries to book into a Caravan Park using their booking number only to be told they didn't take booking over the phone. When we arived in Darwin we found the Park to be full. Drove around Darwin for a look see and ended up at the Aviation Museum which has a wonderful collection of airplanes as well as other war memorabilia. Had lunch, tossed a coin, and decided to head towards Litchfield Park. Had a leisurely run down the highway, went through Batchelor and headed for Wangi Falls Camp area. Managed to find a good site , then walked down to look at the falls. It is a beautiful setting with heaps of people enjoying a swim. Looked very inviting but we had left the togs back in Rocky and didn't think the Territorians were ready for us in our undies.

29/6/12 After Breakfast we decided to do the 1.1 km walk to the top of the falls. Very healthy and invigorating. That took about 3/4 hour and after that we drove on to look at the Tolmer Falls. Another big walk this time only to gaze at the falls. No way down to the bottom which looked very inviting. Drove on to Buley Rockhole and then onto Florence Falls. More walking at both spots. We will be as fit as Mallee bulls by the time we get home. After that we looked at the Magnetic Termite Mounds before having lunch. Headed off towards Batchelor and then onto Adelaide River where we got one gas bottle filled. It has run out the night before.Drove on to Bridge Creek Camp Area where we propose to spend the night.

25/6/12 Drove to the Mary River Road House Information Centre and got some very good information from the lady there. Much better information than we got in Katherine.Went to Bukbukluk where we visited the lookout and then went on to Gungural and went for a walk to Geoworie Creek. Didn't get too close because we were in crocodile country. Then we drove to Cooinda and booked a cruise on the Yellow Waters at 1.15. Saw more crocs than in the Fitzroy and any number of birds. A very enjoyable hour and a half cruise. Decided on an early night and returned to the Mardugal Camping Area.

26/6/12 Went back to Cooinda and did a walk on the raised walkway over the lagoon. After that we visisted the Warradjan Cultural Centre before driving onto the Mirrai Lookout. After a half hour cimb up to the lookout we found the view was damaged by all the smoke from the various fires that had been lit by the rangers. After smoko we drove onto Nourlongie Rock where we spent an hour or two looking at rock art. Another lookout to climb and some spectacular views. We then had a late lunch and decided to find a camp for the night. Went to a camp but s it wasn't as good as the one we had the first night decided to return to Mardugal.

27/6/12 Up early (around 7.30) and after breakfast took a walk to the Mardugal Billabong. A beautiful stretch of water ut always a lookout for crocs. And we saw more rosellas. Shame we don't have more empty bottles and sugar. Drove down to the Bowall Cultural Centre and checked that out. Very informative and different from other Cultural Centres we have seen. We then drove into Jabiru where we filled up with water, emptied the toilet and filled up with diesel. Took a look at the lake and the township paying a visit to the local Shopping Centre. It was too eary for lunch so we motored on to te Merl Camping Site to check it out but decided it was substandard. From there onto Ubirr to look at more Rock Art. Unfortunately the Rock Art wasn't as good as the previous day ( in fact I don't think it is as good as what we saw at Charlie Phillots's Carisbrooke property outside Winton in the early 80's). Had lunch and an argument with people who were trying to park us in, and then decided to leave Kakadu and drive towards Darwin. Picked a campsite site known as Beatrice Hill some 60/70 kms from Dawin and we are ensconced there as I write this.

21/6/12 Drove onto Tennant Creek where we restocked the larder and filled the tank. Then drove on to Attack Creek Rest Area where we spent the night. People coming in late, up until around 9 at night. I can't understand their mentality.


22/6/12 Drove on to Daly Waters where we booked into the Caravan Park behind the local historic Hotel. The pub has various collections of thongs, undies, cap, hats etc and put on a show each night as well as a bbq dinner of Barra and Steak. The park was packed liked sardines and very dusty. Was nice to have a hot shower and wash the hair.

23/6/12 Drove back to the HiWay Service Station before motoring onto Mataranka where we purchased a couple of books at the local markets and then drove onto th thermal springs at Mararanka Homestead. Felt like a quiet day to we motored up the road and spend the night at the King River Rest Area. Put up the satellie dish and watched two games of Rugby League - one win one loss.

 24/6/12 Late leaving the Rest Area as I spent time checking the tyre pressures and pumping up the tyres. The  drove on to Katherine visiting Cutta Cutta Caves on the way. In Katherine we replenished the larder and the diesel tank. Phoned Geoff's brother-in-law Steve who is in Katherine visiting his sister. Promised to contact him again when we return to Katherine before going to WA. Decided we would do our katherine site seeing on our return so drove on towards Kakadu. Spent a very enjoyable night at a free camp at Harriet River. On our way in we saw some rosellas, so after smoko we went for a walk and picked some which were converted to jam. Obtained a bottle and lid from the lady next door and gave her a bottle of jam for her assistance.

18/6/12 Drove into Alice Springs and parked in Railway Terrace while we did some shopping at Woolies. Walked to the Information Centre to get the gen on the McDonnell Ranges and then walked to Anzac Hill which we climbed to take some photos of the Alice.

On the way back found a Laundromat so decided to do some washing. Beer stocks were low and I decided to buy some provisions. However there are alcohol restrictions in the NT and the bottle shop didn't open till 2pm, so that held us up a bit more. Filled up with diesel and headed towards the West McDonnell Ranges.Decided to spend the night at Neil Hargreave Lookout which was a really spectacular place to spend the night. We were very high and had wonderful views of the Ranges. Only minus was the 3 degree temperature in the van when we awoke in the morning.

19/6/12 spot of bother with the van when I switched on the ignition in the morning. A warning light remained on and the handbook said it was either time for an oil change or soot in the oil. Light went out after about 5 minutes and we motored up to Ormiston Gorge where we both did the walk to the lookout, continued on down into the gorge, forded a very cold crossing (shoes and socks off and trousers rolled up). Some magnificent scenery - hope the family enjoy the photos we took when we get home. Met with a couple from NZ and their friends from Melbourne. We all did the trek more or less together.

After that we decided to visit Redbank Gorge, however the dirt road into it was atrocious so we turned around and went back to look at Glen Helen Gorge. Then moved onto Serpentine Gorge but again the road was too bad for the motorhome. Decided to drive back to Alice Springs and get the van problem addressed. The mechanic at Centralian Motors - the Ford Dealer - was very accommodating and told us it looked like the computer hadn't been altered when we had the oil changed in Rocky. The soot problem does not affect Australian Transit diesels as they don't have the particulate filter that the European ones have.  Motored north to the Tropic of Capricorn Rest Area for the night. At one stage it looked like we might have it to ourselves but 3 Wicked type campers rolled in before dark. Another cold night with the temperature droping to 2 degrees in the van.

20/6/12 Decided to retrace our footprints and drive back into Alice Springs and out towards the McDonnell Ranges once again. Stopped at the John Flynn monument and grave site. Then we motored to Standley Chasm which is privately owned by a local tribe. Took a walk to the Chasm which was quite impressive. After that we drove to Simpson's Pass and did another walk. Simpson's Pass did not disappoint and after all the walking we have been doing we must be keeping fit. Drove back into Alice and had lunch at the Joh Flynn Memorial before filling up with diesel once again and heading towards Tennant Creek. Decided to stop at the McDouall Stuart Memorial Rest Area, where we experienced another cold night. Watched a bit of TV as I had set up the satellite dish. There were 3 motorhomes, 4 caravans and 2 Wicked type vans there so plenty of company. I went walkabout and talked with a couple from Mornington in Victoria. I mentioned Ian and Barbara and the wife thought she knew Ian's name. It's a small world.

14/6/12 Drove into Alice Springs this morning and filled up with petrol after visiting the Information Centre. Left for Yulara where w arrived after lunch and booked into the Camping Grounds for two nights. Got our washing up to date and managed to get the satellite TV working. Watched the sun set over both Uluru and The Olgas from a sand dune in the park.

15/6/12 Drove to Uluru and did two of the smaller walks. Certainly is an impressive structure. Would have been nice to have rain and see the many waterfalls but was not to be. Drove onto the  Olgas where we did another two walks, one before and the other after lunch. Had filled up with petrol at 211.5  cents a litre beofre we left and filled up again when we returned. $150 for the day is a bit strong. Once again we watched the sunset over Uluru. The Olgas was very hard to see because of haze.

16/6/12 got up early and watched the sun rise over both Uluru and The Olgas. After brekky we moved off towards King's Canyon where we arrived after lunch. We had thought of staying at the King's Creek Caravan Park and called in there  to make enquiries. Did the creek walk at the Canyon and to be honest we were both disappointed. It was too ate to do the big walk and the climb up and down the Canyon wall looked quite dangerous, particularly for two old stagers. Made the decision to return to the Lasseter Highway and camped the night at the Salt Creek Rest Area where half a dozen or ten intrepid travellers spent the night.

17/7/12 Had a late start and headed towards Alice Springs.Had lunch at Erldunda where we had put in some petrol to allow us to safely make Alice Springs. We had made the decision to stop at the Finke River Rest Area and make our way into Alice Springs the next morning.

10/6/12 Visited Aunty Ollie this morning. She lives the the Jenkin's family home. Her son Mark was visiting from Perth. Spent some time with them then drove into town where we purchased some supplies and fuel. Drove onto Mount Isa and checked out Aunty Dawn. She was not home, so we cleaned the toilet, visited the Information Centre before finding a Laundromat where the washing was brought up to date. After that in the back of the van in Miles Street. Phone Dawn again and she was now home. Arranged to visit her, hang the washing in her back yard and park the van in the yard of their trucking business. Uncle Mal had been hit by a bull in Longreach a couple of weeks before and he was wandering around like a lost soul. He is 78, has lost his license, so is very much at a lost end. He is confident the doctor will give him the license back, but Dawn is not so sure.

11/6/12 Saw Dawn after breakfast and met my cousin Greg Cleary who is a well known cake maker and decorator in Brisbane. His business is in Kenmore and is called Sweetums Designer Cakes. Greg is in Mount Isa for two weeks teaching icing classes. Filled up with diesel once again at $1.91.9 and headed towards Camooweal. I was last in Camooweal in 1957 when Dad was working at Morstone. Drove onto Wonarah Bore where we camped for the night. Got the satellite TV working so watched some TV we had recorded back home.

12/6/12 Left after breakfast knowing we had a biggish day of driving ahead. Was thinking of re-fuelling at Barkly Homestead but their price of $2.01.9 per litre changed my mind. drove through fairly unhospitable country to the Three Ways where once again I looked at filling up but the price once again deterred me Drove onto Tennant Creek where we filled up at $1.73.5 which we considered cheap even though it is 25 cents dearer than Carmila. On our way south we looked in on the Devils's Marbles - Marion didn't think they were any better than the granite stones on Girraween National Park. Drove onto the Taylor Creek rest area for he night. Must have been 15/20 other vehicles there, mainly caravans.

13/6/12 Left early as we had another big day ahead. Called in and looked at Ryan's Well and Maggie's Homestead over the road.Drove onto Alice Springs after passing the Tropic of Capricorn Rest Area, arriving around noon. A quick visit to the local IGA and then a visit to the Information Centre to find out where a couple of businesses were. After lunch and business transactions we hit the road again. Had afternoon tea at
the Mt Polhill Rest Area and then onto the Finke River Rest Area for the night. Again there were about 15/18 vehicles there. Freedom camping seems the way to go.

7/6/12 Drove to Normanton and then onto Karumba where we lunched by the river. The Barramundi Farm seemed to be closed so we motored back to Normanton. I was last there in 1949 and nothing much seems to have changed. Did an historic walk of the town and then camped for the night on the banks of the Norman River. Chatted to a couple of the grey nomads who were heading in the opposite direction.


8/6/12 Left Normanton and headed down towards the Burke and Wills Roadhouse where we filled up with diesel. On on way there we came across a caraven stopped on the road and a motorbike on the opposite side. On the ground was another biker who had fallen off his bike and was awaiting an ambulance. Luckily the woman who had stopped was a retired doctor. At Burke and Wills an unfortunate grey nomad had filled his car with petrol and it had been to wed over the road to have the tank emptied out. His wife seemed upset but said he had done it before. Phoned Uncle Lionel and got directions to his property which was 70 kms down the highway and then 40 km of very poor dirt.

9/6/12 Spent the morning driving around the property and checking out the stock which were in beautiful condition. After lunch we hit the road again over the same 40 km of dirt and then 100 plus km of highway to Cloncurry where we are spending the night at a poorman's caravan park.

6/6/12 Left Atherton early morning and headed west via the Savannah Way. Passed through Ravenshoe, Mt Garnet and onto Mt Surprise. Didn't visit the Undara Lava Tubes as we had seen them many years before when they were relatively undeveloped. The road between there and Georgetown is a mixture of single and double lane highway (?) and just as we were to leave the single lane and use the double lane, a vehicle coming towards us off the double land threw up a spray of rocks and about 6 hit the screen leaving one big star and other scratches, About an hour later we noticed a crack which has grown to about 8/10 inches long. Left Georgetown and motored onto the Gilbert River free camp where we spent the night along with 6 other campers. Have seen some beautiful country and quite a few grey nomads.
 

31/5/12 Left Rockhampton at 1pm and motored to Clairview where we camped for the night. Met Bill and Jen from Kent in England who were in an Apollo Motorhome and parked next door to us. Thy were on their way to see their son in Mackay and then hopefully onto Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands

1/6/12 Had a leisurely drive to Home Hill where we camped at the Comfort Stop which is a free camp adjacent to the Home Hill Railway Station. It is run by the local council and provides toilets and showers as well as a camp kitchen and all at no cost. Went for walk into the town centre and made a couple of small purcases

2/6/12 Drove to Townsville where we ran into a couple (David and Janet Scolyer) we met when touring Canada and Alaska in 2008. They are building a new home in North Shore a new suburb on the north side of Townsvlle which they took us to, to inspect. Drove onto Innisfail where Marion's sister Jean lives and spent some time with her prior to camping at a freedom site in Innisfail on the Millaa Millaa turnoff.

3/6/12 Another leisurely drive up the Palmerston Highway to Millaa Millaa where we visited te Millaa Falls and took some photos in the town centre. Then drove onto Atherton to spend a couple of days with Marion's sister Gladys and her husband Don. As we have both spent many years in this part of the country, not much sight seeing will be done.