Katherine to Darwin, NT

Hi All

Hope this finds you well.  We are all really well and enjoying our time in Darwin.

On the way here from Katherine, we stopped at Edith Falls which was a beautiful, restful place with stunning waterholes for swimming.  We’ve enjoyed a number of water holes and our absolute favourite has been Berry Hot Springs, which, during the week is quite quiet, and we just float in the warm water, down the river, until we reach the lower pool, where the girls have a ball jumping off a tarzan swing they found there!  We’ve been there a few times now and its just magical!

We also went to Litchfield National Park on the way to Darwin and whilst beautiful, we were surprised just how busy it was.  Steve and I are pleased we’ve been there before, in quieter times because some of the waterholes were so packed we could barely get in! 

As well as being the dry season here, its also the Darwin Festival which is probably why its SO busy.  We’ve enjoyed the festival….lots of afternoon/evening entertainment and lovely food!  This week we went to a Vietnamese Water Puppets show in the City which the kids loved and last week there was an Indonesian play which, although none of us followed the plot, we loved the costumes and music!  The girls were mesmerised from start to finish!

Whilst in Darwin, we’ve enjoyed some of the local attractions, Mindil markets, Howard Springs, Charles Darwin National Park (where we got eaten alive by bugs!), Casuarina Coastal Reserve, a Jumping Crocodile Cruise along the Adelaide River and by far the favourite, the 3 water parks they have here, 2 of which are free!  The scenery at the water parks isn’t quite as stunning as the swimming pool at Lake Argyle but they are great all the same! 

We really have fallen in love with Darwin but do realise it’s a short lived affair as its clearly not like this in the wet season, as everyone tells us!  Even now, in the dry, I have bites from mozzies, sandflies and midges….and that’s just on the one leg!!  I don’t think I could stand it in the wet!  Poor Meggie is our “bug beacon”.  If there is a biting insect around, it will find Megan! 

The girls are really enjoying where we are staying….we are camping on someone's land on the banks of a billabong, with just a few other caravans.  There is another family here so the kids have friends to play with and have taken to walking everyone’s dogs in the afternoons.  Rosie has also earned her first “car washing” money from a chap here….so she is now coming up with all manner of ideas to make some money!!  At one point she was going to set up a stall and sell their toys.  Funnily enough, most of the toys selected were Megan’s!  Well at least she is developing a work ethic!

From here, in a week or so, we’ll head into Kakadu National Park and then slowly down to Alice Springs.  Will be in touch again in a few weeks! 

Take care

Xxx

Edith Falls

Uh ooo...croc trap at Edith Falls!

Girls at Litchfield National Park

Wow, thats a big termite mound!

Croc at Adelaide River

Meggie holding childrens python

Rosie holding childrens python

Beautiful Berry Hot Springs

More Berry Springs!

Girls at Vietnamese Puppet show

Vietnamese Puppet show

Another lazy fishing afternoon (total caught since leaving Sydney....zero!)

Oooooh, lovely pool at Argyle Lake!

Broome to Darwin

Hi All

Hope you are keeping well!

So, when did we last chat….ahhh, beautiful Broome!  Yes, we really enjoyed beautiful Broome, in particular we’ll remember it for mango smoothies and fish and chips on the beach!

The journey from Broome has been very interesting…. Often miles and miles of barren landscape and then just when you least expect it, the scenery changes to beautiful red gorges against a backdrop of green trees and scrub, dotted with the bizarrely beautiful boab trees!

We have now crossed into the Northern Territory and have had some real highlights over the past few weeks. One in particular was spending time at the Bungle Bungle National park, with its “bee-hive” shaped domes.  We were very lucky as the grader had been in a couple of days before (I’d like to think its our influence in the area but suspect it was just luck!!).  Anyway, it meant the road in was relatively smooth….best its ever been in fact since the park opened!  I think Rosie must have missed that bit of info as it didn’t stop her being sick in the car on the way in!  The windy roads were just too much for her!  Luckily as we’d had a super early start, it was pre-breakfast vomit!!  Anyway, enough of that.  The day itself was fantastic and we really enjoyed walking though the gorges and domes….they really are so unusual.  There was one particular gorge there, Cathedral Gorge (as its name suggests, shaped like a Cathedral) and we were treated to someone singing there.  It was magical.  The next day we took an early morning helicopter flight over the Bungle Bungles and for Megan, the location could have been anywhere…she was just thrilled that the helicopter didn’t have any doors on it!! 

We’ve also really enjoyed some of the gorges along the way, in particular, Winjana Gorge which was the first time the girls saw fresh water crocodiles on the banks of the river!  That was very exciting for them and now, having seen quite a few, they sound like old locals saying….”that croc is only a freshie” ….as if to say, that’s OK, its not a saltwater croc!!

Tunnel Creek was also a great day out, a cave that runs for a kilometre, then leads to a spectacular lush green opening and swimming hole. The girls particularly enjoyed scrambling over rocks to get into the tunnel and then wading through knee high deep water with the head torches on!

We also had a lovely relaxing day at El Questro (sadly not the super posh part) but a day out there all the same!  Another early start and a soak in the hot water at Zebedee Springs before a picnic lunch at the El Questro Homestead and then a walk to Emma Gorge and a dip in chilly water there.  It was a long but fun day!

We have just arrived in Darwin today having spent a lovely week in remote Edith Falls and Lichfield Park (more of that in the next blog!).  The girls have been so excited about reaching Darwin....when I asked Rosie why, I thought she would say something about the wildlife or scenery, but no….she had been reading a Kmart catalogue and realised there was a Kmart in Darwin!!  They have run out of Loom Bands and need to restock!!  We have a Loom Band sheltered workshop going on in the back of the car…..I won’t be sad when we move on from this phase….but it keeps them happy!!! 

Till next time!

xxx 

Bungle Bungle National Park

More Bungles!

Cathedral Gorge, Bungle Bungles

Echidna Chasm, Bungle Bungles

Up, up and away....flight over the Bungles

You get it....I LOVED the Bungles!

Tunnel Creek, WA

Tunnel Creek

and at the end of Tunnel Creek is this beautiful swimming hole!

Winjana Gorge, WA

Its only a freshie!!

Girls and friends at Zebedee Hot Springs, El Questro...ooooh lovely!

Ningaloo Reef to Broome

Hi All

We are now in beautiful Broome, having spent a number of weeks in some spectacular National Parks in WA.  We had hoped that by the time we reached Ningaloo Reef the water would be warmer and sun shining, but we were greeted by 3 meter swell on the outer reef and rain, rain, rain!!  It didn’t dampen the beauty of the reef though and the water itself was warm.  Snorkelling at Turquoise Bay was spectacular and we were lucky enough to see a white tipped reef shark (fortunately it was perched under a ledge rather than coming for us!!), a turtle, and most of the colourful fish who starred in “Nemo”!  I did realise I was a bit rusty at snorkelling when at first I went out with Rosie and as I bobbed my head up to check she was ok, she told me  “Mum, you need to go out further if you want to see the reef”!.  Snorkelling advice from a 7 year old….hmm….clearly I needed more practice which we did get during our time there!!  Megan has become very good at snorkelling although I’m surprised she can see anything as she just keeps her head down even when her mask is completely fogged up!  She is such a happy little thing it doesn’t seem to phase her!

After a week at Cape Range National Park at Ningaloo, we then headed onto Karajini National Park via Tom Price and enjoyed some fantastic walks along the gorges to stunning (but freezing) swimming holes.  Our favourites were Hammersley Gorge with its amazing rock formations and Fern Pool, which, whilst the rest of the family thought was refreshing after a long walk, I still maintain it was freezing!  We enjoyed a week in Karijini, meeting up with some other families we’ve met on the way, so the kids had a ball, having friends to play with!  We have now slowly made our way to Broome, stopping at a couple of cattle stations on the way.

We are all enjoying Broome and having a bit of civilisation!  Just having a shower every day is a treat, not having to watch how much water we have left in the tanks!  

Today, we went for a camel ride along Cable beach - it was great fun and a great way to see Cable beach from a higher vantage point!  Last night we went to watch the “Staircase to the Moon”.  For 3 nights a month when the full moon rises over the exposed mudflats at low tide, it gives the illusion of a staircase leading to the moon….it was just amazing.  We’ve also learnt about the pearling industry here which is fascinating. 

We’ll stay here a while longer and then slowly make our way to Darwin.  Again we are looking forward to spending time in some of the national parks, in particular Kakadu and Lichfield.  Will keep you posted!

Take care

xxx  

Beautiful start of Ningaloo Reef

Blustery day at Ningaloo Reef !

Walk along Yardie Creek, Cape Range, Ningaloo

Picnic time at Hammersley Gorge Karijini NP

Weano Gorge, Karijini National park

Walking through Dales Gorge to Fern Pool

Steve and Rosie at Fern Pool (chilly!)

Staircase to the Moon - Broome

Camel ride at Cable Beach, Broome - great fun!

Leaving Perth and heading north...

Hi All

Well we’ve had a gorgeous few weeks seeing the gorges (forgive the pun…!!) in Kalbarri National Park and the breathtaking scenery along this WA coastline.

Our journey from Perth took us to Yanchep National Park which is a stunning park, pretty close to Perth and with the mandatory wildlife and scenery.  It was a great first base out of the City.

From there we headed up the coast and stopped to walk round the strange rock formations, The Pinnacles, which go on for as far as the eye can see.  They are formed by soil erosion over many years and are very odd looking rocks!  Whilst on our way north, we also went to Stockyard Gully Caves, which is a 300m tunnel (which is actually a sinkhole).  As expected, inside, it was pitch black and eerie but luckily, we saw no bats !!  It really is in the middle of nowhere and we were surprised to see another family there, and even more surprised when we found out the wife works with Sarah Collier in Frenchs Forest!!  Small world hey?!!

Anyway, we then headed to the lovely town of Geraldton for a few days, using it as a base to explore the area and catch up on caravan tinkering and schoolwork!  A highlight of our stay there was our first ever Rodeo, 100km east in Mulwerra.  It really is a different way of life which was brought home to me when there were various contests, including bull-riding, for the "junior" category.  I could tell I was a Sydney softy as all I could think of was “they will hurt themselves” and “why aren’t they wearing helmets!”.  Clearly, they are bred to be tough out here!!  Anyway, after the excitement of the Rodeo, we continued north to the beautiful Kalbarri National Park.  We camped on the banks of the Murchison River on a Goat Station of some 350,000 acres!  That in itself was lovely.  Campfires at night and walking in the national park during the day made for a great time.  We’ve met some lovely people on the way and the kids just love it when we meet other kids….doesn’t matter if they are different ages ….just having kids around is the greatest excitement for them….throw in a campfire with marshmallows on sticks and they really are happy little campers! 

From Kalbarri we continued our journey to Monkey Mia, and had an amazing day, just watching the dolphins and playing in the swimming pool (the girls that is….still WAY too cold for us grown ups!).  Meggie wasn’t keen, but Rosie was SO excited to be picked to feed the dolphins….afterwards, she told me that she’d put on her lucky pants that morning, hoping she’d be picked!!!  How funny….that was the first I knew she has lucky pants!  Must try that myself with Lotto.  Anyway, the dolphins came in so close to shore that it felt like they’d beach themselves but they are so agile they just dart away.  Just by staying around the beach for the day we saw them come in and go out….it was a really magical day.

We are now staying at a lovely spot at Shark Bay (more schoolwork to catch up on!!) and will head to Carnarvon in the next few days to restock supplies and then upto Ningaloo Reef where we’ll camp in Cape Range National Park and hopefully enjoy a bit of snorkelling.

Well, hope you are all keeping well and will be in touch again after Ningaloo and Exmouth.

Take care

Xxx

PS  The photo of Steve is just to show its not all “rainbows and lollipops”!!  Once a mechanic always a mechanic!  

Cute Koala in Yanchep National Park

Bizarre Pinnacles, WA !

Stockyard Gully Cave

Stockyard Gully Cave

Yee Ha - Gals at Rodeo, Mulwerra, WA

Rodeo - ouch!

Beautiful sunset at Kalbarri WA

Nature's Window, Kalbarri National Park

Another lovely lunch spot ! Kalbarri

Having a sing-along in Kalbarri, WA

WA Coastline...beautiful!

Yet another campfire!

Campfire day or night!

Rosie & Steve Monkey Mia

Cute dolphin Monkey Mia!

Its not all "sunshine and lollipops"!!

Relaxing Farmstay in Keysbrook, Perth!

Hi All

Hope you are all keeping well….we are particularly well, feeling like we are having a holiday within the big holiday!!

Since our last update we have spent most of our time doing a fabulous housesit in an amazing house on 125 acres in Keysbrook, Perth with 2 gorgeous Labradors.  Its been such a relaxing time….Steve has turned into the Lord of the Manor and enjoyed surveying his property on the quad bike, fixing fences, chopping down the odd fallen tree and of course walking the dogs.  Amazingly enough, I’ve enjoyed tinkering in the kitchen (yes, VERY unlike me!!) and so we feel we’ve all put on a few extra kilos with non-caravan eating for a few weeks!

The only downside is that the girls are completely besotted with the boys, Daji and Sambo (who are very loveable and adorable) and so whilst I keep telling the girls to “enjoy the moment”, we have quite a lot of …..”Mummy, I AM enjoying the moment, but when we get home, can we have a dog”!!!  Every day the pet changes, a dog, pony, wombat, pig, you name it, we get the request!!  So far, we’ve conceded with goldfish!!!

Whilst this wonderful housesit has completely tainted our view, we do love Perth.  We’ve had some great day trips, a day to Cottesloe beach, a day to Kings Park overlooking the City, a swimming day at Rockingham on the coast and some great days out to local National Parks.  Its truly beautiful. 

On Friday we leave this wonderful haven and start heading up the coast.  We are looking forward to some warmer weather and great snorkelling as we head towards Ningaloo Reef.

Thinking of you

Take care

xxx 

A fun day at Cottesloe Beach

Playing with The Boys!

A 

Checking out the farm on the quad!

The gorgeous House at Keysbrook

Girls at Port Pirie, Perth

Oooh, we could live here!

The Boys!

The Boys!