24 May - 1 June 2016 - Days 52-60 - Howard Springs Darwin

We quickly got off the houseboat after all the croc excitement and when to the airport to collect Poppy Col from the airport.  It was great to see him and catch up.  Over the next 8 days in Darwin we had a great/busy time.

We went to the fish feeding in the ocean on hightide at Aquascene.  They give you bread to feed to the fish and the fish swim around your feet while you feed them, it was really cool.

Poppy Col was told by one of his friends to visit the Fanny Bay Yacht Club for a drink so we had  dinner and watched the sunset from there.

We hadn't seen enough crocs yet so we drove down to the Adelaide River and went on the Croc Jumping Cruise.  We saw alot of crocs and the guide got a really large 5.5m male to come up onto the bank so we could see his whole body, he was massive.  It was the guide's first trip on his own so he didn't have too much luck on getting the crocs to jump, we only saw 1, but it was a good cruise anyway.  We then visited the Window to the Wetlands Visitor centre which was really information for all of us.

The Mindil Markets was a favourite of ours and we went on both Thursday night and Sunday.  The kids spotted the Mick's Whips store and they were hooked.  They got to try out the whips and that was the end of them, I think we sat there for over an hour with the kids watching and having turns.  We eventually decided to buy them one.  It only took them a day or two of practicing and they can crack it continually.

Howards Springs was right near our caravan park so we got all excited, even though we had swam in that many hot springs and natural rock pools lately we still had to go.  We got there and we couldn't swim as it had a bacteria in it, not happy as it was so hot.  It was back to the caravan park pool.

I made Mitch a ham and cheese croissant for breakfast and he told me that I was on fire.  He comes out with the funniest things sometimes!!

The wave pool at the waterfront was another favourite and we ended up staying in there all day.

We took Poppy Col to Litchfield National Park for the day and he loved it.  We swam in Florence Falls and the kids had to show him how they jump off the cliffs.  They just can't help themselves, boys will be boys.  Then it was onto Buley rock hole and back to Darwin to go out for Dinner.  We went to the Harmony Festival at the Waterfront and went to Chows for dinner, we had been recommended it by someone we had met along the way.  It was really nice.

The boys couldn't visit Darwin without a few visits to the skatepark.

Michael and Robyn went in the cage of death at Crocosaurus Cove.  It was great to watch as they got to go in 2 different croc cages and the crocs were both 5m long.
 

Mitchell hung off the Mitchell Street sign and was hoping that the Territory Cops would come along so he could get on the show.  We then went to the pub Shananigans  for a drink and then onto the Darwin Pub for another.  We then topped of a great day and Poppy Col's last day with a nice dinner at Duck's Nut's.

After a relaxing morning swimming in the pool we took Poppy Col to the airport, it was sad to see him go home.  We then headed to the movies to watched Hunt For The Wilder People.  It was a great movie. Then  we went to Fanny Bay Pizza for dinner and did some more food shopping by the time we got home we were all exhausted.  We went to bed and we woke up in the middle of the night and Michael said to me I don't think you had your alcoholic drink yesterday.  I was devastated and asked him what time it was, I was going to get up and skull a vodka if it was before midnight but it was 3am.  I wasn't happy as we are trying to drink everyday for the trip. We are turing into alcoholics but it's been enjoyable.  So I had broken the challange and was thinking of throwing the towel in but have come to my senses and am back on the wagon!!!!

The caravan park had a squash court so Michael took the boys down for a game.  In the beginning  the kids couldn't hit the ball at all but by the end of the hour they were having great rally's together.  

We decided to stay in Darwin for another night so that we could watch the State of Origin and had a great night even though we lost.

23 May 2016 - Day 51 - Corroboree Billabong - Mary River

We got up early and headed to Berry Springs as it was so busy yesterday.  There was only a few people there.  It was lovely but I always had in the back of my mind the croc situation!!

It was then to Woolies for a quick shop and to Howard Springs in Darwin to drop the van at the Big 4 before heading off to Mary River to go on a houseboat for the night.

When we arrived at the houseboat the owner told us that we probably wouldn't see any crocodiles because the water is still abit hot for them to be out in the middle of the day.  We were a little disappointed.  We had been to told that the Marry River had the largest amount of crocodiles in the area.

The scenery was amazing with water lillies and birds everywhere.  I said to everyone do you reckon if I was to swim to the shore which was approx. 30 meters would I make it before getting eaten by crocodile.  I was convinced that I would make it as there were no crocodiles around.   Wasn't I completely wrong as soon as we stopped for the night and the sun was going down the crocodiles came out of nowhere.  At one point we could see 8 crocodiles and a 5m croc was lying in the water with its nose to the back of the boat, they are that quiet that you have no idea that they are there.

We had eagles swooping down into the water to pickup bread that the kids had thrown in.  Then we saw a snake swimming thru the water and it was heading our way.  We thought it had gone but then Cooper felt something on his foot while he was fishing and it was the snake, he quickly kicked it off and it wound itself thru the bars of the rail and Michael had to get a broom and flick it away.  It was alot of excitement but I'm just glad that no one got hurt.

The bugs were bad if you put any lights on so we only had a small lantern and we lathered ourselves in that much bushman that when I put my legs together they would stick together, it was very funny but felt really disgusting.

We didn't sleep much that night I think we were all to excited with the possibilities of what was around.  We got up during the night a few times and spotted crocs and then woke up early and watched an amazing sunrise.  The birds that were flying in their flocks was unbelievable, some consisted of hundreds and hundreds of birds.

Michael caught two fish in the morning and put the bucket over the side of the boat to collect some water and a 3m croc that had been watching us all morning got alittle excited and started to swim over.  He put the bucket in again to see what it would do and it swam really quickly on the surface to the back of the boat and was sitting there watching us, next minute Stan thru his line out and the croc took his loure we were all laughing our heads off as we couldn't believe what we were seeing.  The croc took the loure and went under and then resurfaced a few meters away.  It then got free from the loure and it shot up in the air.  It was awesome to see.

This was the most exciting 24 hours that we have had so far!!

21 - 22 May 2016 - Days 49 - 50 - Berry Springs

We left Litchfield and decided to travel along a dirt road that was a shortcut to Berry Springs.  At the start of the dirt road we passed a boat on a trailer that had broken the axel and were a little concerned about the condition of the road.  We survived the dirt road and it wasn't bad at all.

After dropping off the van at the Tumbling Waters Caravan park we headed to Wagait Beach and Mandorah Jetty which had a great view of Darwin City.

The caravan park had 3 freshwater crocodiles that the boys got to feed chicken wings too.

After dinner Michael took the boys to the Tavern to watch Manly play.  They needed a football fix.

The next morning the caravan park had some markets and a keeper from the local zoo came and the kids held a black headed python.  Mitch was abit concerned at first !!!

It was a really hot day so we tried to go for a swim at the Berry Springs,  but I think everyone who lived in the area had the same idea.  So we went to the Tavern instead and watched the woodchopping and listened to some live music.  It was a great afternoon.

19 - 20 May 2016 - Days 47 - 48 - Litchfield National Park

The drive into Litchfield National Park was really nice and green.

We saw a massive buffalo cross the road in front off us in the distance, it looked absolutely massive.

We stayed at the Safari Camp in the National Park and have never seen or felt so many mozzies!!! It was hectic.  As soon as you walked out of the caravan in the morning or the night you would have about 20 mozzies on you.  Robyn had been attacked and had big welts on her legs, the poor thing.

We visited the Tin Mine and then did the Cascades walk to a nice little waterfall and pools.  It also had heaps of mozzies and we saw a massive lizard swimming.

We got up early the next day and did the Green Ant walk to another waterfall and saw a bright yellow snake on the way in.  We had the place to ourselves and the boys enjoyed jumping off the waterfall as I had a sunbake.

Then we visited Florence Falls for a swim which was great and then Buley Rock Holes.  Then we went to the Batchelor Tavern for a light lunch and a drink.

Back to the camp ground for another camp fire amongst the mozzies.

17 - 18 May 2016 - Days 45 - 46 - Adelaide River - Mt Bundy Station

We left Douglas Hot Springs and headed for Daly River.  After the long drive we arrived to find out that the Mango Farm that we were going to stay at hadn't yet opened after the wet season as they were still fixing up all the damage.

There wasn't much going on and all the fishing charter companies were full or not working so we decided to continue onto Adelaide River.

We stayed at Mt Bundy Station under a huge tree, which is a station with kangaroos, horses, cows, ponies, peacocks, buffalo and bulls.  Most of the animals just roam around amongst the travellers.  The kids loved it.

We went to explore the local area and met a girl at the service station with a flat tyre on her bike.  She had travelled from France and was heading to New Zealand, it had taken her 18 months already.  Michael helped her change the tyre.

The locals market were on so we went along and had a look. We bought the book written by Lindy Chamberlain and I had it in my hand when a store holder asked me if I wanted him to sign it for me.  I was abit confused and asked if he was in the book, he went on to tell us that he was a police officer and helped dig for the baby for 2 weeks and he thinks that someone in the family had killed her.

Our fridge was played up so we drove to Darwin to drop it off to get it fixed.  On the way we saw the paddocks used for the cattle to be held before they are exported to Indonesia.  There were 1000's of cattle in the yard.

That night we went to the Adelaide River Inn for dinner and met Charlie to stuffed buffalo out of Crocodile Dundee.

15 - 16 May 2016 - Days 43 - 44 - Douglas Hot Springs

After doing the Edith Falls loop walk we visited the Douglas Hot Springs.

We had our first little river crossing to get into the hot springs.

This is my favourite place so far.  It was absolutely beautiful.

There was no power or water to plug the van into and only 1 basic toilet, so it was roughing it in the heat but it was really getting back to nature.

In the morning the steam rises off the hot water (which is approx. 50' in the hottest section) and it almost looks a little spooky.  We lay around in the water for 2 days and relaxed.  The boys caught up on some school work and rode their bikes.

The area was home to lots of eagles and the boys were throwing pieces of bread into the sky and the eagles were catching it.

We had a bit of luck with our prawn pot and we caught 6 cheruben.

At night we would have a campfire and in the morning we had damper for breakfast.
AWESOME!!!

14 May 2016 - Day 42 - Edith Falls

Today we visited the Katherine markets and then headed to Edith Falls.

The waterfall was beautiful, we all went for a swim as it was so hot.

Apparently there are fresh water crocodiles in the large pool at the bottom, we didn't see any even with walking down to the water at night with our torches.  All we saw was massive cane toads.

We had a hot night as we didn't have any power at the camp ground.

The next morning we went on the loop walk to the top waterfall and it was well worth the effort.

No one else was there and it was amazing.  The boys found a little rapid that ran between some rocks and enjoyed flooding down the stream.  It has become a bit of a tradition at all the springs and waterfalls that we visit that they have to try and jump off the biggest ledge they can get too, safely!!!!