KAKADU – 27th July

We visited Edith Falls and kept going to spend the night at a RA on the Kakadu Highway.

The scenery as you drive through Kakadu is quite ordinary, thin straggly shrubs and small spindly trees. Unfortunately Jim Jim falls road had high water .75metre, over the road and crocodile threat on the walking paths so we didn't get to see them. Jim Jim Billabong and campground was pretty.
We camped overnight at Mardugal one of the NP campgrounds $20 per night, toilets, showers and a nice walk to the waterhole. Ian put a line in but no luck.

This campground is quite near to Yellow waters which is famous for its birdlfe.


We also stopped overnight at South Alligator river which is quite wide and a fast flowing muddy, tidal river. The park here is quite large and well kept with a toilet block and lots of sealed parking complete with a boat ramp. We have seen and photograph quite a lot of different birds here- Whistling Kite, Little Corellas, Yellow bellied flycatchers, Rainbow Bee eaters, magpie larks some form of geese and a couple we haven’t identified.

KATHERINE – 26th July

 

It’s lovely to be back into a reasonable sized town again and have a Woolies to get groceries from after the very high prices we have been getting since leaving Port Augusta, so we did a huge shop. We are camped out at Katherine Gorge and are heading for Edith Falls tomorrow.

The NP here is quite good in fact it has quite a large swimming pool, which we have just got out of, complete with a bistro if you are so inclined. We did a river cruise down the gorge and saw crocodiles and various birdlife. Here at the camp ground the kangaroos are very tame and come and eat out of your hand and there are several different birds I haven’t seen before. The fees are $39 per night for two with power and free washing machines.

Katherine is a nice town very clean but also very busy with a variety of attractions to visit.

TENNANT CREEK TO MATARANKA – July 25th

We shopped and fuelled up at Tennant Creek and then camped just outside of Tennant Creek at The Pebbles a nice quiet camp site a few kms off road.

From there to Attack Creek which was a very nice spot and then on to Newcastle Waters where we stayed a few days to pass away the school holidays as we had heard that everywhere up north was quite cramped.

We had to pick up a few more groceries at Mataranka as we were staying over at Elsey National Park. The prices were terrible eg $6.50 for a frozen white loaf of bread, but I suppose we have to look at freight costs.

Elsey NP is a lovely spot with large campsites, shady or not as you prefer. The Roper river runs alongside with fishing and swimming. The NP provides pontoons for swimming and you can also hire canoes. Although there are Barramundi in the river and we tried our best to catch one for dinner we were unsuccessful and had to have frozen fish for tea.

We walked 4km to the Elsey falls but they were unremarkable. The small waterfalls closer to the campsite are a lot more pleasing.

The NP check for saltwater crocodiles prior to the busy season but there are still freshwater in the river. On our walk to the falls we took a photo of one sunning itself on a log with a turtle sat right behind it on the same log.

Every night we heard the wild donkeys and the first night we were woken with a fight which had broken out amongst them. There were also wallabies and Apostle birds and Bower birds which came down every day to get a feed.

Also at Mataranka are several thermal pools which are lovely. Bitter springs is a natural waterhole where you can swim and drift along with the current and climb out again downstream. The other thermal pool is at the Mataranka homestead and is more manmade with a large concreted area to loll in.

We stayed for 5 nights and all in all had a nice restful time.

ALICE SPRINGS TO TENNANT CREEK- 9th July

Stopped overnight at both Stuart Memorial Rest area and Taylors Creek, both are quite good but Taylors is the largest and has a toilet. Tonight at Taylors, so far,we can boast 27 vans plus a sedan.

This morning as we were due to leave Stuart rest area a young couple in a small campervan couldn’t get their car started, another couple had already tried to charge their battery up but to no avail, we used our jumper leads but still couldn’t start it, it appeared to be a fuel problem. We decided to give them a push and try to jump start the car, having first ascertained that the young lad knew how to do the jump start. Imagine if you will four old farts pushing for all we’re worth racing along behind the van and then giving the yell ‘now’, to find that he just tried to start it with the key, between the puffing we did manage to laugh about it. This time Ian got in and we all started to push again and this time we managed to start it. This apparently, was the third time it had happened and horror of horrors they are going our way, hopefully they out run us, LOL.

DEVILS MARBLES

We called in at the Devils Marbles and had a wander around the base of some and took a few photos. Some of the ‘marbles’ are huge and balanced precariously on top of one another. Where they have split you would think someone had just come along and sliced them with a knife. There is a camp ground there but we didn’t stop.

We are not far from Tennant Creek now and are getting a signal, all is well.

ALICE SPRINGS – 28TH June

The scenery on the drive from Ormiston to Alice Springs was unique it was as if someone had built up walls alongside of the road.

We got the last powered spot in Heavitrees Caravan Park after being told another was already full. They give a good discount for CMCA members, Seniors or Pensioners. They also have lots of  Rock Wallabys which come out in the early evening. 

Alice township is rather odd in my estimation, narrow streets, tiny roundabouts and aggressive drivers. There is a large aboriginal population who seem to mainly sit on the ground at any corner or congregate in the Todd dry river bed. Last night they created a large fire and the police were called.

Our credit card, which we use also as a debit card, was taken over by some online thieves and so had to be cancelled so we will have to wait in Alice until a new card comes through in about a week. Even though it is inconvenient and has wasted quite a bit of time we do consider ourselves fortunate that it happened our first morning here rather than when we might have been unavailable in more remote areas.

We went to the Alice Springs show which was packed out and enjoyed watching the dog trials and looking at the various animal exhibits, pigged out on junk food and after passed the evening in the company of friends at the Tavern.

Since it was “Territory Day’ the evening was filled with firecrackers, fires lit by the indigenous population which were promptly and consistently put out by the long suffering fire brigade and the sound of police sirens. Eventually everyone settled down and we managed to get some sleep, only to be awakened at 5.50am by the vast number (4 large busloads) of teenagers camping out who had been bussed in the day before.

Simpsons Gap was a lovely treat and is a very peaceful spot and a must for any photographer or artist. Even though the day was overcast the colours and shapes of the rocks mirrored in the calm water were a delight.

 

The Desert Park was quite a surprise with lots of interesting walks and bird exhibits. On entering you are given an audio player as you walk around the park various spots are numbered which you key into the audio which gives an outline of that particular point. Plus there are several instructive talks the Park Rangers give throughout the day. We thought the layout was particularly well done and by the time we had a coffee the afternoon was gone.

We walked around the Todd Mall markets,where we had coffee with friends, visited the telegraph station and viewed the original “Alice Spring” which is quite a lovely spot for a picnic and popped into any other things of interest.