11 - 13 May 2016 - Days 39 - 41 - Katherine

Katherine is a really green town compared to what we have seen elsewhere and the town has a nice feel to it.  There are still alot of local people hanging around everywhere but they don't bother you.

We visited Katherine Gorge and went on a boat cruise that gave you a great view of all the cliffs and how high the water rises in the wet season, it is amazing.

We also visited the Museum, Knotts Crossing and the Katherine hot springs were Mitch and Cooper met a little local boy and they all had a great time together.

There was a notice at the hot springs that said there was a crocodile spotted in the area in the last few days.  There was a few other people swimming and it looked safe.  We had to take a photo of the notice.

Stan, Michael, Cooper and Mitch saw another snake, which takes there tally up to 4.  We are yet to spot a crocodile yet, but I'm sure we are getting close.  The boys are all fishing at the moment in the river behind the camp ground which apparently has crocs in it. I hope they come back!!!

9-10 May 2016 - Days 37 and 38 - Mataranka/Bitter Springs

It was only a short drive today to reach Mataranka.

We dropped the van off and headed straight for the hot springs called Bitter Springs.

It was a little scary and I only went down once as Mitch talked me into it.  Along the way on the 10 minute float along the river I hit 2 logs that were under the water and I almost jumped out of my skin thinking that it was a crocodile.  The water is beautiful at 32' and crystal clear but a little mossy on the sides.  A crocodile wouldn't look out of place sitting on the bank!!! I couldn't get this out of my head, but the boys loved it.  They saw heaps of turtles and fish.  They loved it so much they visited this waterhole 3 times in the 2 days that we were there.  On the last visit they saw a snake slither along the path and eat a frog, they were very impressed.

The next day we visited the Mataranka hot springs this was more my style as the banks were a little cleaner and you could see the entire waterhole.  We then headed to the Territory Manor caravan park for Barramundi Feeding.  Stan, Michael, Cooper and Mitch all fed the barramundi.

There was a wild wallaby that walks around the camp ground and tries to come into everyones caravans.  We didn't let him in but gave him a good feed of apples and biscuits!!!

That night the kids were dying to walk down to the river with their torches that backs onto the caravan park as we where told that freshwater crocodile live in it.  Apart from freaking each other out, we saw nothing but Robyn and I had a good laugh along the way!!

8 May 2016 - Day 36 - Daly Waters

It was Mother's Day and Robyn and I were treated to some yummy pancakes in the camp kitchen cooked by Michael as it had started to rain.  The boys had bought me some lovely presents for Mother's Day at Ayers Rock, I got spoilt!!!

We said goodbye to Alan, Sophie, Scarlett and Arwen hopefully we will see them again on our trip and headed to Daly Waters.

This is the start of our adventures with Robyn and Stan.

After leaving the caravans we all headed to the Daly Waters Pub.  Mitch posted back his first fortnight of homework from the Pub, as you do..

We met an old man at the Pub and he offered the boys to have a ride on his grandpa scooter.  The kids loved it and we couldn't stop laughing it was hilarious!!!

It was back to the Hi Way Inn for a lovely Mother's Day dinner.

7 May 2016 - Tennant Creek - Day 35

After a really hot night we took the kids for another walk thru The Marbles.  The kids would be happy to stay here for a week and explore but we couldn't so we all headed to Tennant Creek.

The drive into the town was very depressing.  It was Saturday afternoon and all the shops were closed with roller shutters, it was like a ghost town.  The kids said that there was nothing around except the Aboriginies!!

After a stop at the local information centre we found out that Tennant Creek really has nothing to offer.

We headed to the caravan park for the kids to have a swim in the pool, which they loved.

Not long after that Robyn and Stan arrived which was a lovely surprise because we weren't meant to meet up until the next day.  Just in time for Mother's Day the next day.

It was a funny old day as it was Mum's 4 year anniversay and she wasn't far from our thoughts.  Not that she ever is xxx

6 May 2016 - Day 34 - Devils Marbles

As Alice Spings had really heavy rain perdicted it was time to leave before we got trapped.  Everyone was a little sad as it would be the last time we would see The Southwells on our trip.

Our first stop for the day was a little pub/roadhouse on the highway called Barrow Creek.  It was interesting and the resident Aboriginal people were out the front drinking their days worth of VB's which is 6 beers between 11.00am and 1.00pm.

In the carpark we met the family that was on Sunday Night last year that are travelling around Australia in a bus with 11 kids, 2 dogs, 1 cockatoo and a few budgies.  It was really interesting to talk to them and watch all the kids and animals pile out of the bus.

We stopped at the Tropic of Capricorn on the way and took some photos of some people going troppo!!!

There is a place called Wycliffe Well on the way to Devils Marbles that advertises a UFO centre.  Michael was keen to have a look so we pulled it.  It was a roadhouse with the UFO centre on the side.  When we stopped we found some other friends of ours getting petrol.  Alan, Sophie, Scarlett and Arwen. We had met them prior at Kings Canyon and again at Alice Springs. It was such a funny place to run into them.  This was definately the most intimidated that I had felt since travelling as the local Aboriginal people were drunk and screaming at each other.  I couldn't wait to get out of there.

We got on the CB radios and decided to head to Devils Marbles together.  After arriving at the Marbles, the kids were all having a great time together exploring so we decided to stay there the night.

Somehow we always attract the freaks and a man in a tent that was camping behind us called Ian, spent the night with us all.  Ian had no chair and was happy to use one of our!!! He is going to write a book about spending 100 days at The Marbles, he had spend 84 days over a period of a few years!!!!
He did give us a good lesson on the stars and planets which were all out and amazing that night.

2 - 5 May 2016 - Days 30 to 33 - Alice Springs

Arrived in Alice Springs in time to meet back up with The Southwell family and have a great day at the XXXX Alice Springs Race Day.

It was a great day.  Everyone had a bet and the parents even had a dance at the end of the races to a band much to the kids surprise.

The next day we visited the Alice Springs School of the Air it was really interesting and gave the kids a real insight into life outside the big smoke!!!  Next was a visit to Anzac Hill and then the Todd Mall.

We also visited the Dessert Park which had a great bird show and aboriginal cultural talk.  That night we visited the Kangaroo Sanctuary run by Brolga that is on Nat Geo.  As soon as we arrived Brolga started asking the kids some questions and they told him that they watch his show.  After that he really gave the boys special treatment and they were allowed to carry the food bucket around the sanctuary and bottle feed some young kangaroos.  It was such a great experience, we all loved it!!

It was time to do some school work as he hadn't had any phone or internet reception for a few days.  The boys were rewarded with a trip to the skatepark which is always a favourite.

Just by chance we arrived back to the caravan park to find Glen and Wendy some friends from home camping opposite us, what are the chances!!!  A few drinks were had to celebrate!!!

1 May 2016 - Day 29 - Ellery Big Hole

Today we went to Ellery Big Hole which is another nice swimming hole/gorge in the West McDonald ranges.

We left the van and were a little worried as we are sure that someone tried stealing our caravan at Cobar as the tow ball lock had been bent and cracked.  We are always very cautious of leaving it in quiet or remote areas. Touch wood nothing happens again.

We then headed to Stanley Chasm for a look.  They say the best time to get there is between 11am-1pm as the sun is right above and lights up the chasm.  It was good to see but not as spectacular as we expected.

When we got back we were relieved to find the caravan still there.  It was time for another swim so we walked to the swimming hole to find that what we thought was a dragon fly flying on the surface of the water to be a king brown or molga snake.  At this point we didn't know that it was a very dangerous snake and the boys had a quick swim.

The camping area had central fire pits so we started a fire and had a damper for afternoon tea, it was delicious!!

That night we had grey nomads sorrounding us around the campfire but it was fun and we met some lovely people.

29 - 30 April 2016 - Days 27 and 28 - Ormiston Gorge

Up early and on the road by 7am as we had a massive drive to reach the West McDonald Ranges which is next to Alice Springs.

On the way we stopped at a Camel Farm and the kids had a ride, it was very bumpy!!!

We arrived at Ormiston Gorge at 2.30pm and we were amazed at how beautiful it was.  The swimming hole was awesome and Michael and the boys couldn't wait to jump in.

After a swim we headed back to the van to find our friends The Southwells were setting up camp next to us.  It was a great surprise as we hadn't seen them seen them since Ayers Rock.

After a few drink the night before we got up and walked to the lookout along the way Michael found the perfect spot for everyone to jump off into the waterhole.  It was great!! 

We then went for a drive to check out the other gorges in the area. First was Redbank Gorge where Michael, Ryan, Cooper and Mitch all went for a swim and explored up the gorge to find a Stimpson Python on a rock ledge.  They were all very excited, it was the first snake in the wild that they had seen.

The wild Eagle and Kangaroo even popped up to scare The Southwells as they drove out of Redbank Gorge.

 

We then went onto to Gosse Bluff and Glenhellen.  It was another great day!!!!

27 - 28 April 2016 - Days 25 and 26 - Kings Canyon

We headed to Kings Canyon and decided to stay at the Resort rather than the station.  The resort was great with a nice pool just what we needed in the heat.

There were dingo's walking thru the campground at all hours and I have never seen Cooper so scared. A dingo crept around a table and popped out to give Cooper a heartattack, I think he thought he was going to get eaten!!! A dingo stole my Son!!!

We got up early to do the Kings Canyon Rim Walk.  After having to climb over 200 rock stairs to start with the climb was amazing.  It is the best walk that we have done so far.  Over the last week we have completed 3 awesome walks totally over 25 Klms.  The kids have really impressed Michael and I.

After our big walk we went to the Karraka Cultral experience and learnt about bush medicine, aboriginal weapons and bush tucker.  Cooper and Michael were very brave and ate a witchedy grub.  Mitch and I were happy to watch!!!

23 - 26 April 2016 - Days 21 to 24 - Ayers Rock

The drive into Ayers Rock was great as the boys were so excited to see Ayers Rock in the distance for the first time.

That day we drove around the rock and visited the cultural centre.

Cooper and Mitchell were having a great time watching the sunset from the roof of the car.

The next morning we got up super early and watched the sunrise, it was amazing.  The boys really wanted to climb the rock but it was closed due to the wind so we walked around the base which was 10.6 Kms.

While we were staying at Yulara they are holding a aboriginal festival with lots of activities.  That afternoon we watched an AFL match between two local tribes, it was interesting.

The next day was Anzac Day, it was another early start so we could be picked up by a bus to be taken to a secret location in the sand dunes for the Anzac Day ceremony.  It was a lovely ceremony and didn't realise that we could see Ayers Rock until the sun came up.

After the ceremony it was straight into two up which was fun.  The we had a helicopter ride around the rock which gave you a real perspective of just how big the rock is.

The next day we headed out to the Olgas and did the Valley of the winds walk which was 8 kms.  This was an awesome walk with some great scenery.

That night we went to the Field of Lights show which is millions of light bulb run by solar power in the desert, it was really amazing.