To view the photos of this leg of our trip, click here.
Day Seventeen, Saturday 10th July 2004: As we were leaving Alice Springs at 8.41am, we were called on the UHF radio asking us if we were the people who wrote on the Caravanners Forum as a reader had spotted the back of our caravan. It was ideal travelling conditions as we headed for the Devils Marbles. After passing through the Tropic of Capricorn, it was a short stop at Ti Tree to refuel. Lunched at Barrow Creek and finally pulled into the Devils Marbles at 2.05pm.
After setting ourselves up in the campground at the back of the Marbles, it was a constant flow of caravans and campers to the campground before it was dusk. There were plenty of photo opportunities as the light faded away to end another perfect holiday day for us. We met a retired couple from Bendigo Victoria, who were also camping there and doing a similar trip down the west coast as we are.
Day Eighteen, Sunday 11th July 2004: It was an early start to the day so that we could catch some nice photos of the sunrise over the Devils Marbles. Something we were not disappointed with. After our photo shoot, we were heading north again by 8.10pm. Like the day before, travelling conditions were perfect, but the weather was now starting to warm up with some bite to the sun.
When we arrived at Three Ways, we had to stop and take a photo of the road train on the outside wall of the service Station with it's metal bull bar mounted on the wall. Arriving at the Hi Way Inn Caravan park at Daly Waters at 2.49pm, we unhitched the caravan and drove into Daly Waters to check out the pub that we had heard so much about. The campground at the back of the pub looked full and we did see one caravan drive away, possibly having been told that there were no powered sites available. The remainder of the afternoon was spent back at the caravan to cook a roast for tea.
Day Nineteen, Monday 12th July 2004: After a lazy start to the day as we didn't want to arrive at Mataranka too early, we were still on the road too early by 8.20am. As we only had 162kms to travel for the day, we were soon there and set up ready to have a look around. The first thing that hit us was the awful smell of the bats. Nine years ago when we were here, all of the trees had only just been burnt to rid the bats from the area. We even saw a couple walk down to the thermal pool with an umbrella above their head to stop the bat sh*t landing on them as they walked.
After lunch we decided to go for a swim in the thermal pool as that was our reason for stopping here. With the water temperature a warm 36 degrees, the swim was well worth the effort to enjoy. Then for a quick shower in the amenities block before relaxing before going out to tea at the local Garden Bristo. On our way back to the caravan at dusk, all of the bats were on the move preparing to roost in the trees of the Caravan Park. Had we know this was going to happen, we wouldn't have stopped in this park.
Happy 50th birthday Patrick Gray.
Day Twenty, Tuesday 13th July 2004: After checking out the deposits left behind from the local bats overnight, we packed up and headed for Edith Falls leaving behind possibly our worst night of the trip so far. It was a quick stop at Katherine to collect some minor groceries that we will need before we arrive at Darwin on Friday. Back on the road and we were soon turning off of the main highway and heading out to the Edith Falls.
It was 11.30am and we were all set up at our very own patch of lawn within the Campground. Each site had their own area of lawn to use with larger lawns being available in the centre of the campground area for picnics. It was time to wash the 4WD and caravan to get rid of some of the bat sh*t that we had collected for free. Soon we were walking down to have a look at the Edith Falls. This is an area which has been set up very well to cater for the tourist offering three entry points to the water for those who want to swim. We managed to get some nice photos of the Falls and nearby rocks at sunset.
After a bbq tea, it was off to the main lawn area for a free slide show which was put on by the National Parks and Wildlife Services. Here a Ranger spoke on the formation of the Nitmiluk National Park which is the Park that contains Edith Falls. The slide show ran from 7.30pm until 8.30pm and was very informative.
Day Twenty One, Wednesday 14th July 2004: Once again, we were on the road by 8.30am this time heading for Cooinda in the Kakadu National Park. As we had purchased a yearly National Parks Pass when we were at Ayers Rock, it didn't cost us anything to pass through the Rangers Station as we we entered the national Park.
As soon as we arrived at Cooinda, we booked for two nights and our Yellow Waters cruise for that afternoon at 4.30pm as when we were here nine years ago, we had done an early morning cruise so we wanted to do a late one this time. It was 6.30pm when the Yellow Waters cruise finished after two hours of birds, wild pigs, crocodiles, wild lilies and lots of scenery that we would like to be able to take home with us. Perhaps some of our 160 odd photos and video film will remind us of what is here.
Day Twenty Two, Thursday 15th July 2004: Today was our lazy day to take things easy. In the morning we took a drive to the Nourlangie Area of Kakadu National Park. Here we went on the walks of the area which took us up above the tree line to the Gunwarddehwardde Lookout which gave us impressive views of Kakadu's Escarpment and Nourlangie Rock. From here it was back to the Jim Jim highway crossing between Cooinda and Pine Creek for a few photos of the river and it's waterway.
After lunch we rang some Darwin caravan parks to see if there was a site available only to be told to ring tomorrow as some of them we booked out. We also booked our Jumping Crocodile cruise for tomorrow at 1.00pm at Adelaide River. Back to the caravan, turn the air conditioner on and watched a DVD for the afternoon before going to the Yellow Waters car park for some sunset photos.
Day Twenty Three, Friday 16th July 2004:We decided to be on the road by 8.00am to make sure that we were at the Adelaide River in plenty of time for our 1.00pm Jumping Crocodile cruise that we had booked yesterday. Like so many of our travelling days so far, the weather was perfect to be sitting in the car travelling along. We were soon in Jabiru filling up with gas and then onto the Adelaide River.
With nearly two hours to spare, we had coffee and snacks in the cafe at the cruise boarding area. There was a gentle breeze blowing making it very pleasant sitting in the shade waiting for our cruise. 1.00pm and we were soon on our cruise with much excitement. There were many crocodiles to be found including one baby crocodile. The cruise boat operator seems to know all of the crocodiles by individual names which is interesting on it's own. I think our cruise today exceeded the one that we had nine years ago. We finally arrived in Darwin at the Palm Village Resort at 3.30pm where we booked our site for four nights.
Day Twenty Four, Saturday 17th July 2004: It was 1.30am when we were woken by water being sprayed onto the side of the caravan. After getting out of bed to see what was going on, it was noted that the park pop up sprinklers were going. Back to bed and after an hour and a half, I think we were asleep again.
After breakfast, we headed off to the Casuarina shopping centre to have my two medical prescriptions filled. We thought that if we tackled it on the first day, should there be a problem with either tablets, it would give them as much time as possible to source them before we were due to leave Darwin. After being successful with both my prescriptions, we had a quick look around the shopping centre before it was off into the city centre to check it out and to have lunch.
Not much has changed since our last visit although we were impressed with the development at Cullen Bay area. After a drive along Fannie bay, it was out to the new bulk fuel development area at the back of Berrimah. It is in this area that the new train passenger terminal was built. At the moment this is a building set out on it's own alongside of a railway line. Time and progress development will soon change this. With a quick drive through Palmerston on the way back to the caravan, the remainder of the afternoon was spent reading and relaxing under the air conditioner.
Day Twenty Five, Sunday 18th July 2004: Today was set aside for the Territory Wildlife Park with us entering the park by 9.10am and not leaving until 1.00pm. The park is a must for anyone who is visiting the top end, although it should not be compared with the one at Alice Springs as they both depict their respective geographical location within Australia which uniquely different from the other. As always, the best part of our visit was the Birds of Prey demonstration.
After leaving the Territory Wildlife Park, we stopped for a look at the Berry Springs Nature Park which was very popular with tourist and the locals. The swimming pool areas were very nice for those who wanted to swim or just appreciate the beauty of the area. Back to the caravan to relax for a couple of hours before going out to Sally's sister for an evening meal and to say our goodbyes as we will be leaving Darwin Tuesday morning. Our latest night for the trip so far with us arriving back at the caravan at 11.40pm.
Day Twenty Six, Monday 19th July 2004:Today was set aside to be a bludge day. If we didn't have some of them, then it wouldn't be a holiday. Once we were mobile, it was into Palmerston to top up on those grocery items that had been consumed since our last shop and to drop off a photo film to be developed. It was then back to the caravan park to wash the Patrol and caravan.
After a quick bbq for lunch, it was back to Palmerston at 2.30pm to collect the photos that had been developed. A quick trip to the library to spend a half an hour on the internet checking on family and friends before refuelling ready for our departure tomorrow for Bachelor to explore Litchfield National Park for two days.
For Diary notes of the entire trip, click here . To view all of our photos from our trip, click here .
