Ka-ka-du-du-du push pineapple shake a tree!

We arrived at our first campsite in Kakadu National Park at a place called Gunlom Falls. After setting up in the late afternoon heat (36 degrees) we strolled to the falls for a swim.

The next day we travelled to set up camp near Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls and were greeted by a dingo. Later that evening he attacked our garbage bag – I got the kids to run decoy while I cleaned up the mess.

The view from our campsite in the morning.

From a distance you can see the escarpment that shadowed our campsite to the East.

Travelling to Twin Falls we had to float the Prado through Jim Jim Creek. J walked the croc infested water first as it is good practice to check to depth of water before submitting your vehicle to any unfamiliar crossings.

Twin Falls

We got to see heaps of Aboriginal rock art. Depiction of dance.

Killing a kangaroo?

Various images including ‘lightening man’ (top right).

Breath taking sunset at Ubir (top left corner of Kakadu bordering Ahnam Land).

Just before leaving Kakadu we stopped at this wetland area (Alligator River?)  to do some bird watching – we weren’t disappointed.

Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls

Not much to do in the town of Katherine but visit the famous Katherine Gorge. You can explore up to 13 sections of gorge by foot, canoe or get on board a tourer boat.

There are rocky cascades in sections of the Katherine River that prevent the boats passing through so you disembark one boat, walk a few hundred metres via aboriginal rock art and get on another.

The river has carved its way along the grid like faults and fractures in the rock. Each 90 degree turn in the river is met with more spectacular views.

Leaving Katherine we took a small detour and J, K and Z had a refreshing swim at Edith Falls.

‘The Bush Mechanics’ on the ABC

Lucky we watched reruns of ‘The Bush Mechanics’ as part of trip prep cause we experienced a couple of issue in quick succession.

As we were running low on fuel and 200km from the nearest town we stopped at Roper Bar General store and bought 20 litres of fuel @ $2.40/L? Then the car would not start – yikes.  15 minutes of stuffing around determined that the battery terminal had come lose and it was only corrugations that kept us going until this point! As I was packing up Tommo (someone who stopped to help), said “There’s you’re next problem” and pointed at the cracked weld on our trailer hitch - great. Nothing major but not really something you want when travelling 60-80km/h along dirty roads with dips and causeways. This was solved by a boiler maker at Katherine with a big hammer and a couple of sparklers ;-)

Limmen National Park (French for ‘Men’)

We travelled North along the Nathan River Road to the Southern Lost City, columns of rock 30 metres high clustered tightly together. 

We walked/climbed a 2.5km circuit through the city and each turn displayed a different architectural style.

Has anyone seen where I put the keys?

We camped the night at Butterfly Springs.

As the name suggest there were thousands of butterflies in the gorge – specifically against the cool rock surfaces.

Our final night in this area was at Towns River where we saw resident freshwater and saltwater crocs that cohabite the river.

Lorella Springs

A million acre property with rock escarpments and natural thermal springs including one called Nudie Springs at a hot 50 degrees – no excuses re shrinkage boys! It is also a popular park for fishing some remote creeks and rivers teaming with Barra, King and Queenies.

So about those fish - I didn’t catch any ;-(

Is dad finished fishing yet?

B took K and Z for a paddle in the swamp – free canoes and boats available to take out at various places around the property – just leave them as you find them.

Wildfire gorge – a cold water spring with a water snake as the concierge.

As we left there was a send-off parade.

Northern Territory - but you must pass Hells Gate

We left Lawn Hill on one of the most pleasant and scenic drives yet. The valley road was boarded by rocky cliffs, flowering grevilleas and some interesting creeks that swamped the roads lengthways.

Ironically of this pleasantry was met by a place called Hell’s Gate – not much here but they do lay claim to an international airstrip complete with grazing cattle.

Fact – the name Hells Gate - so named as there was no law enforcement west of here and travellers were left to face the locals alone.  And 50 km up the road, a present day reflection of lawlessness on the vandalised boarder sign.

Ahh the NT ruthless in all aspects ;-) Limited authority and yippy, 110km/h dirt roads with unsigned  90 degree corners and road trains - if only the Prado could get over 80 ;-(        (130km/h on sealed roads)

Our first NT riverside camp.

Lawn Hill – you’d want a good rock munching mower for this one.

At Lawn Hill National Park we hired a canoe and paddled the gorges.

There were some waterfalls to negotiate.

It was all very peaceful at the head of the creek.

Following the setting Sun

We left Karumba and with a general heading of west south west passing the Burke and Wills Camp 119 (they’re most northerly camp during their expeditions). I don’t understand why they didn’t push on through the endless mangrove swamps?

The ever repetitive termite mounds patches resemble tombstones in graveyards and you can see why.

Finally the view from our free campsite across at Leichhardt falls.

Random big thing - Krys the Croc (Normanton)

A model replica (1:1) of the world’s biggest croc shot in the 1950’s in the area - at 8.6 metres dwarfs most tinnies.

Random big thing – Big Barra (Normanton)

 Thats a lot of fish fingers kids.

Random big thing – 4 real life brolgas

Having taken a wrong turn for lunch we drove alongside the Savannah Rail line and encountered 4 Brolgas for the first time – bizarre looking birds, they looked like ‘big bird’ at the mardi gras.

And flew like a paper aeroplane made from a tattered beer carton with some half drunk stubbies inside it.

Aye Karumba!

Where the outback meets the sea. The Savannah land is endless as you drive towards the coast.

But when you arrive the views of the sun setting over the long sandbanks at low tide are amazing.

And the fishing…. Day 1 I caught a 45cm (1.6 kg) bream off the mouth of the Norman River and then made an acquaintance (let’s call him John) with someone who owns a tinnie. In all, I caught Grunter, Blue Salmon and a million catfish.

Worth noting – Not having seen a croc at this stage I didn’t hesitate in leaning over the side of John's boat to clean the anchor. Minutes later I was reminded of how real they are seeing a 12ft sunbaking only a few hundred metres downstream. Aye Karumba!!

Croydon – trapped by a little town

We had no expectation of staying in Croydon however the rodeo was in town and they needed another clown so we stayed for 4 nights! The event was called the Poddy Dodgers Festival.

After the small parade the night before, Saturday morning saw us check out the restored legal precinct historical buildings. There were voice recordings running of prisoners in the jail and a court case which spooked the kids.

Oldest continuously operating general store in Queensland.

Off to the poddy dodgers to watch the mutton busting, slippery pig, wild cow milking, poddy dodging and other 'everyday' events. Crazy stuff.

Whilst there I bumped into an Officer I’d recently worked with and the kids were quickly caught up in a pursuit. (no this officer was not the slippery pig – another officer drew the short straw and ran a decoy in the arena-  it was hilarious).

We also found not 1 but 2 bower bird nests.

Also squeezed in a few hours fishing in the dam and the closest I came to catching anything was a kite that swooped down and grabbed my lure. Thank fully it let go as I wouldn't know where to begin filleting it!