11/4/15

Day 13

Today we went on the pound walk at the Macdonnell range national park which has been rated the best walk in Australia. On the walk we went through A nice gorge and up to a look out on a hill, We also walked in a dry river bed. In the afternoon we went to another water hole 11Kms away for a swim which was good and there were many little fish in the water to see. After that we went home and relaxed and went for a little 30 minute walk.

12/4/15

Day 14

The first thing we did today was go to the Ochre pits which was a ten minute drive out from our camp. Ochre is what aboriginal people used and still use in traditional daces to paint there bodies and also for painting. The Ochre pits we visited were where they would extract the Ochre for these proposes and the aboriginal men also used to go there to tell dreamtime stories that only they were allowed to hear. After the Ochre pits we went back to the van and had had lunch. After lunch we went to Elly big hole water hole for a swim. It was a little drive to get there and once we arrived it was a 2 minute walk to the water hole. The water was very cold maybe 15 degrees but it was so hot outside that I still went in. The water hole was a big gorge stretching away about 150 meters where there was a bank and more little pools of water. We all swam to the other end of the gorge but couldn’t go in the little pools because the water was all green and smelt disgusting. Then we went to another little water hole but we couldn’t swim there but I wouldn’t of swam there anyway because it was very dirty. That was the day.

13/4/15

Day 15

Today we hit the road again but this time heading for Alice springs! On the way we stopped at Stanley chasm and Simpsons gap which where both very disappointing and cost $25 each which was a complete rip off. We ate lunch at Simpsons gap and then got to Alice springs at 2 O’clock. First entering Alice was very confronting see such a mass of people on the street just siting down and drinking. After we enter the town centre it got better and there were less drunk people around and I felt safer. We checked into our caravan park and found our camp site which was near the jumping cushion and pool. In the afternoon we went shopping for food in town and had a look at some shops which were very interesting especially some of the Aboriginal art galleries.

14/4/15

Day 16

In Alice Springs today we went to town to look around and do some other small shopping, we also bought a Didgeridoo and had a reason which was really good and I would highly recommend. We ate lunch at a nice little café, Emilie and I had toasted ham and cheese sandwiches. In the afternoon we went to the School of the air which is a school for children who live in remote communities. It is basically an online school with a video from the teacher and the students can see what the teacher is doing and saying. It was quite amazing that kids as far away as 2000Km where in the same virtual classroom. While we where there the Roulettes where there which is a group of fighter pilots who fly planes for shows. The kids where asking them questions over a video call which was pretty astonishing. After the School of the air we visited the old overland telegraph station which was excellent. I learnt how a telegraph works and even learnt a bit of mores code.

15/4/15

Day 17

Today we went to the flying doctors in Alice Springs. We saw a 3D presentation and got to go in a replica of the real plane they use. The museum was good and there were models of all the old planes and new ones too, they even had all the old medicines and needles which look very scary. For the rest of the day we just relaxed and went on the jumping cushion and swam in the pool.

16/4/15

Day 18

Today was another driving day and a long one. over 700km but at least it was sealed road. we made a stop at Tennant creak for lunch. After Tennant creek we drove al the way to our camping spot which was Banka Banka station. When we arrived we where greeted by a friendly guy who was working on the station and he gave Emilie and I free icy poles and showed us to our camp site. Once we where set up a guy came over and said we could run under the sprinklers and that they would have a camp fire, live music and a bar open tonight. After dinner we went down to the camp fire and listened to the county music for a long while and then went back to the van and went to bed.

17/4/15

Day 19

Today we got to Mataranka at 12:00 and had a quick dip in the hot spring that was just a short walk away from our camp site. We had lunch and then went for another swim in the spring near us where there were lots of little fish. We relaxed for the rest of the afternoon and then went to listen to the live music before dinner, the guy playing the live music was very good he was doing Australian songs and playing the Didgeridoo and the Guitar and also singing.

18/4/15

Day 20

In the morning we went to bitter springs which was in Mataranka, It was very hot but very pretty too. Under the water it was amazing because you could see all the palm leaves that had built up over years and years and all the fallen logs in the water. At the spring there was a current so we floated down on noodles. In the afternoon we went to the spring at the caravan park again and did a tiny walk to the river but didn’t see any crocs.

19/4/15

Day 21

We headed off to Katherine gorge were we were hoping to see our first croc. When we got to Katherine we stopped to do some shopping and go the the information bureau where we found out about walks and what to do in Darwin. After that we kept driving to the gorge. Once we were at the gorge we got a camp site and we to the shop there where they had 2 pet pythons in a tank. We walked down to the river at sunset and saw some wallabies. after dinner Emilie and I had a swim in the pool there and then went to bed.

20/4/15

Day 22

Today we went on a walk in the gorge to a waterhole. On the walk we saw lots of wallabies and other interesting things. When we got to the water hole we were the only ones there and that was good because we were told by the people at the information Bureau that It was a very popular water hole because it is only open at this time of year. First we had morning tea then I was the first to get in and the fish stated nibbling on me cuts! I almost jumped out of the water because I thought it was a crocodile. After swimming to the water fall which was a 50m swim I climbed up the rocks and jumped off. The highest rock I jumped off was 5 meters. After a little while more people came and started jumping off even higher rocks that I wouldn’t have even dreamed of. I didn’t go up to the high rocks because they were about 8 meters and I wasn’t really sure I could do it and once you were up there you couldn’t climb down. We caught the ferry back from the water hole which was one of the boat tour boats so we got a really short tour. Once we were back we went in the pool and concluded the day.

21/4/15

Day 23

Today we left Katherine gorge and went into Katherine to go to the museum Which had things about all about the WWII and how Katherine became a military town and that Katherine was bombed. In the museum there was a huge time line some WWII things like guns bombs and many other interesting things like a tiger moth plane which is an old bi-plane. after the museum we went and had lunch in a café in Katherine and then hit the road again. We where heading to Edith falls Which was a hour away. When we arrived at the falls we went up to the hut that was reception and got 2 nights there. After we set up we went to the bottom water fall which wasn’t very big but still good. It was about a 150-200 meter swim to the fall which we swam to and back which was tiring but worth it. Sadly we didn’t see any crocs when we went at night but we did see a big barramundi in the water about 60cm long. On the way back from the water Emilie and I killed 14 cane toads all together.

22/4/15

Day 24

Today we went on the loop walk which took us up to the top fall. The first half of the walk took us 30 minutes. When we reached the pool we were treated by the beautiful view and the nice flowing water fall. This fall was bigger than the bottom one, It was about 8 meters high. Emilie and I were the first to get in and we swam out to a little island in the middle of the pool. I stayed on the island to have a better look at the water fall while Emilie swam back. When Emilie had almost reached the bank where we got in I herd a splash just near the rock where I got up, so I spun around to see a snake like shape slithering through the water. I couldn’t walk out what it was because there where no eels in the water there and there where no sea snakes ether, and it didn’t look like a fresh water croc. Everyone dismissed my claims and said it was nothing. Mum, Dad and Emilie swam to the island and then around it to the water fall. I walked around on the rocks to the fall and we climbed up it and walked over to another pool but didn’t swim. We all went back down and I jumped in and swam over to the little island trying not to think about what I saw Emilie reached the island first and said “SNAKE!” I swam over quickly and saw that it wasn’t a snake but a water monitor, and it look exactly like what I had seen before. after looking and taking photos of the water monitor for a while we had morning tea and walked back down to the park. We had lunch and didn’t do much else for the rest of the day.

23/4/15

Day 25

Today was an exiting day because we were going to our first big city, Darwin! I didn’t really mind but everyone else was ecstatic because we had only had general store up until now and very limited food options. It was a short hour drive to our caravan park which was called hidden valley ten minuets south of Darwin. once in the caravan park we set up and went straight into the pool, it was VERY nice especially since it was so humid. We were thinking about going into the city but we had five full day here so for the afternoon we just read around the pool and swam.

24/4/15

Day 26

Our first day in the city was very enjoy able. We got there around lunchtime and had lunch at a crêpe place which wasn’t bad for the price. After lunch we walked around the swimming area (which is need off from the sea because of crocodiles) and looked at the wave pool too. We walked to the WWII storage tunnels but they where closed because it was past one so we decided to go have a look in the main street and information centre. At the information centre we looked and at fishing carters but the barra ones where to far out of darwin and to expensive so we planed on doing one a Ex-mouth. In the main street we went into Michel centre which was a little shopping centre. At the centre we went to a sport shop and I got some walking shoes and Emilie got some goggles. We went back home and fished the day with a nice swim in the pool.

25/4/15

Day 27

Today we went to the WWII oil storage tunnels in the morning, we learnt that they where never used because they where finished just before the war ended. It seemed like a huge wastage of time and labour. after the tunnels we went to the WWII museum which was very interesting to learn about the bombing of Darwin and all about how the war begun. In the museum they had all the artillery, weapons, vehicles and other cool thing, they even had a exhibition on the Vietnam war which was really good because I knew nothing about it and they had all pictures and other things. After the museum we went to a restaurant for lunch and I had creamy pasta. In the afternoon I read my book on WWI and then we went to the wave pool in Darwin city which was very good.

26/4/15

Day 28

Today Mum, Dad and I went to the aviation heritage centre where they had all sorts of planes on exhibition. The first thing we did there was watch a short movie on the bombing of Darwin and then we were free the rome the hanger. In the hanger there where planes from WWII era all the way to todays planes. There were many displays of uniforms and other item which where interesting but I just really wanted to have a look at the planes. The planes they had on display were Spitfire (replica), B-52 bomber, Mirage III jet fighter (french plane bought by Australia), Ca-27 Sabre (very successful american jet fighter), F-111 jet fighter (flys 2 times the speed of sound), Zero (Japanese fighter used to bomb Darwin in WWII), AH-1 (American helicopter used in Vietnam). After that we went home and had lunch. In the afternoon I built my model planes I bought from the heritage centre (spitfire and bf-109 which is a german fighter from WWII) and went in the pool. We went out for dinner at a Thai restaurant which was on a little canal with yachts and catamarans, I ate masimun beef curry with rice.

27/4/15

Day 29

Today we left Darwin heading to Litchfield but first we had to pick up the car that was getting some electrical work done. Once we got the car we drove to Litchfield national park which was about a 2 hour drive and once we where set up went to the water hole near our camp. In the water hole there were lots of fish and we could jump off rocks because it was so deep. After the water hole we had a fire, our first of the trip and then had dinner.

28/29/4/15

Day 30/31

Today was our first and only day in Litchfield. We did a walk at Wangi falls which had a spectacular view at the top then we did another walk to the top of a fall where we swam and saw a water monitor and after that we went and looked at a swamp. In the afternoon we went to bulley rock hole which was a very small fall with about 10 pools at each flat of the falls which you could swim in. One of the pools was about 5 meters deep at one point. After that we went home and just relaxed because we were all tired from the long day.

30/4/15

Day 32

Today we went to timber creak where I was hoping to do some fishing. When we got there we walked down to the bout ramp and there was a croc sign so I couldn’t go fishing sadly. We had dinner and then went to bed but the night was far from over. I could keep hearing boat trailers coming in. I got to sleep but every one else was kept up by the boats.

31/4/15

Day 33

Today We were woken by three guys setting up there boat right next to us at 5;30 in the morning. Once we were awake we went down to the boat ramp to find out why all the boats were hear. At the boat ramp we found people cooking bacon and eggs and many people lunching boats, we were told by on of the cooks that the annual timber creak Barra bash was on and that some 300 people had entered. The prize was 3 grand for the biggest Barra. We bought breakfast from the cooks and talked to a lady who was the local principal of the school. After that we got in the car and set our for lake Argyle which was only 2 hours away. Once there we went to the caravan park and booked in for 3 nights. We had a swim in there famous infinity pool and noticed people coming up a small track from the lake. We asked one of the people at the pool what was happening and they told us that the annual lake Argyle 10km and 20km swim was on and the swimmers where driving now and that tonight there was a huge dinner for 650 people with live music. We where thrown into the thick of it once again as that night we had live music booming in our ears. And that was our first day at lake Argyle.

3/5/15

Day 34

Today we went to a heritage homestead where we watched a hour long video on the building of the dam and why lake argyle was build. Some interesting thing I found out was that the homestead we where standing in was actually in the middle of lake argyle before it was damed and that it was moved and rebuilt exactly the same just at the edge of the lake. To put it back together they had to mark a number of every brick and put it together 1 by 1. After the homestead we went back to the park for lunch. In the afternoon we went fishing at the bottom of the dam and I caught 14 fish 12 yellow finned bream and 2 catfish. after fishing we went home and had a swim i the freezing pool and went down to the “beer garden” for a drink and watched some live music to finish the day.

4/5/15

Day 35

Today in the morning we went to the spill way to fish! A spill way is an over flow point for the lake if it ever got to high instead of going over the dam wall and destroying every thing along the ord river it would go over the spill way and in to another river. At the spill way we were greeted by a sigh saying “danger estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles have been seen to inhabit this area” but nothing was going to stop us. we walked down about one hundred meters from the bridge and found a big pool of calm water so we began to fish. The water was crystal clear and I could see the fish following in the lure but not taking it so I walked around the bank and saw a huge school of catfish of about 30 so I couched the line in and called Emilie and Dad over. The biggest catfish I saw was about 80cm long and was not taking prawns plastic or lures even if I landed the lure on it’s head. We were about to leave when suddenly im on! It took a bit of force but I got it in but it was only small about 35 so I put it back in the drink. Seconds after I realise the fish Emilies on and a bigger one than mine. She gets it in and It was Actually the same size as mine but a bit fatter. After that Emilie caught 2 more and I wasn’t getting any thing until I changed to bait and caught 2 more and one keeper. We returned to the caravan with the days catch and big grins on our faces. We didn’t eat the fish for lunch and saved them for dinner. In the afternoon we went on the “sunset cruz” Which was great. First we got on a bus and drove over the dam wall and back down to the boat ramp where we hopped off the bus and got onto the boat. On the boat we were given a quick safety talk and then we were off. The 2 tour guides told us about the lake and some animal like freshwater crocodiles up the 3 meters long and wallaroos on islands. We tided up to a boy and they told us this was a swimming spot and said first one in gets first drink. I was first in with a flip and they threw me a soft drink which went under and popped back up. Emilie and I got to jump off the roof of the boat and while all this was happening the driver of the boat was fishing 25 meters down with a hand line. I went up to the front of the boat just as he gets 1 and the 2 because had to plastics on. he pulled the line up ten meters almost falling in and lost one but still had 1 on there. He pulled the huge eight Kg catfish into the boat over a meter long and he was say that this was only small and he had a 14Kg one the night before. he pulled up another one the same size and then every one got back on the boat some people had drunk a bit to much wine and beer wisest in the water. we headed back looking at different things on the way and we got in the perfect spot for sunset. After sun set the driver turned the boat around and just as the sun went sown the full moon rose. we went back to the boat ramp and hopped of the boat and got on the bus for the sort drive back to the resort. We got off the bus and thanked our guides and went back to the caravan for dinner of catfish. I was the first to try the catfish and disliked it very much the texture was horrible and it tasted like mush. The only one who liked the catfish was Emilie. Then I remembered the guy on the cruz telling me that one type of cat fish is bad and the other is good ours being the bad type and the other being good. And thats how we finished our day with the taste of yucky catfish in our mouth.

5/5/15

Day 36

Today we left lake Argyle and went to Kunnanara an hour away. Once at Kunnanara we found the caravan park and booked in. After setting up we had a walk around the park and then drove into town to have a look. In town we went to a camping shop and got some new line and lures for Barra. While Dad was having his hair cut Mum and I did the shopping. After looking at some shops and Emilie buying some shorts we went to the “Zebra rock café” for lunch and had a look at the Zebra rock and some talking birds who could dance and were very funny. We also fed the catfish there which were disgusting and saw some barramundi in the water. after the café we went down to Ivanhoe crossing which was apparently a top fishing spot. At the crossing we fished off the bank and didn’t catch anything but no one was anyway so it wan’t that bad. We went back home and looked for crocodiles along the lagoon edge but we found nothing.

6/5/15

Day 37

Today was our only full day and Kunnanara, we planed on going to Wyndham but while Emilie was having her hair cut in the morning the hair dresser said that Wyndham was a waste of time and the Elquestro was the place to go so we did. Elquestro is on the Gibb river road about 50 km in. On the way to Elquestro we stopped at Emma gorge which was a 2 hour walk return with a swimming hole at the top which was refreshing but before getting in we saw a Taipan which is australis most feared snake. After Emma gorge we had lunch at a restaurant and then went to Elquestro station where we went on a short walk and looked around the station. after that we drove back to Kunnannura and did some shopping.

7/5/15

Day 38

Today we left Kunnanura and went to the Bungle Bungles! On the way we stopped at the sandal wood factory where we watched a short film on what sandal wood is and why it is grown. I lernt that Indian sandal wood is the most expensive hard wood in the world, It’s heart wood (centre) sells for $100,000 Australian dollars a ton because it is highly prized incense sticks in the buddhist religion. After the film we had a look in the shop where they had all different products made from the wood. We bought some sandal wood scented shampoo and soap and Dad got some after shave. We had morning tea at the café there where I had a yo-yo biscuit which was awfully salty, so I went to the counter and told them and they couldn’t believe it so they tried it and found out that it really was salty. They offered me some cake and I took it and went back to eat it. When we were about to go they told us that the cook had used baking soda instead of sugar because the packs were the same. We then drove the Bungles along a 4X4 track with creak crossing and other obstacles. We went to the information centre and then went to our camp site where we quickly set up and went to watch the sunset from a look out near our campsite. after sunset we had dinner and looked at the stars before hitting the sack.

8/5/15

Day 39

Today we did 3 walks in the morning which were all apart from one. The first walk we did was very short up to a look out where we met 2 people who told us all about where we should go and the guy said he would take me fishing if he saw me at Ex-mouth. After that short walk we did a walk threw echidna gorge where we walked through a gorge only a metre wide at times. The walk was great and very interesting because you could see all the layers rock and sand which had been made over millions of years. After that walk we di the homestead valley walk which started from backwoods, the walk was very difficult because we were walking through a dry creek bed full of stones that shifted with every step. At the end of the walk was a look out which wasn’t very good and I deemed the walk s a waste of time. After that we went home had lunch and went to a lookout to watch the sun set which was good apart from all the mosquitos.

9/5/15

Day 40

Today we went to the other and of the Bungles national park and did another 3 walks which were great walk. The first walk was to picaninny look out over the dome (The famous rock formation at the Bungles), I thought it was pretty amazing seeing it because I had seen them on post cards and other things but none of them do it justice. The second walk was to Cathedral gorge properly the Bungle Bungles most famous walk and place and I can understand why. The walk there was relatively easy and only about 20 minutes from the look out. Once we got there we saw a huge amphitheatre shape which bounced back all the noise you made from under it into the gorge and when Emilie and I clapped and stomped at the same time it sounded like thunder. There was also a pound there but it was full of algae and green weed which was not how it was depicted in photos at an information bureau. After that we did a small loop walk back to the car park which told us what Aboriginal people use certain plants for. We went home and had lunch and then in the afternoon we relaxed and I improved my tomahawk throwing into a dead tree.

10/5/15

Day 41

Today we left the Bungles and drove to Fitzroy crossing on the way we stopped at halls creak for fuel and morning smoko which was a chocolate bar. After the stop we drove all the way there and had lunch the full drive took about 5 hours. In Fitzroy crossing we went straight to our camp site and after setting up went kangaroo spotting. We had dinner at the pub there Which was very nice I had a parma.

11/5/15

Day 42

Today we went on a cruz at 8:30 in the morning on the Fitzroy river which was really good and informative. We went though a lime stone gorge and learnt all about the plants and how such intricate shapes were made from the stone over millions of years. After the cruz we went fishing of a sandbank and caught nothing so we left. We went to the information centre and bought a movie about a local aboriginal tribe who rebelled against white people using there land for cows and sheep, we also bought a carved Boab nut. After that we went home and just relaxed.

12/5/15

Day 43

Today left Fitzroy crossing heading for Derby where the plan was to have fish and chips on the pier which was ment to be really good. On the way we stopped at marry river station where which was a station on a river 200km inland from the coast where we saw a 2.5 meter saltwater croc lying on a bank which was pretty confronting because we were so far inland. We had lunch by the river and then hit the road again for Derby which was a long boring drive and when we got to Derby we were disappointed by the town because it was quite dirty and not a very nice place. we went to a fish n chip shop and then drove to the pier where we were also disappointed by the coast and the first time I had ever seen the Indian ocean from land. The water was muddy the beach was all muddy it was also low tide so It looked even worse, and worst of all the pier was half blocked for live cattle to get on the boats. We had our fish and chips and then decided to go straight to Broome which was 3 hours away. When we got to Broome we went to our caravan park a set up straight away because it was getting dark and we had dinner and went to bed.

13/5/15

Day 44

Today we went to have a look at the beach and saw a Manta ray swimming in the water next to people, The beach looked pristine.After that we had a quick look at the shopping centre and the town which was very nice. We went home for lunch and then after lunch went to the beach where we played cricket and went swimming and body surfing which was heaps of fun. We watched the sunset over the water which was amazing because the sun was red.

14/5/15

Day 45

Today was my birthday! We caught the bus into town and went into china town and went to a dive and tackle shop where we got snorkel masks and some tackle. After we went to mitre ten and we got some crabbing hooks and then caught the bus home. We had lunch at home and in the afternoon we went to the jetty and went fishing while the girls went shopping. We didn’t catch anything and we went home and got ready for the restaurant. At the restaurant I had a chicken coconut curry and shared it with mum who had Thredfin salmon. The restaurant was very nice and I enjoyed it, we went home and had desert and I got a book on mountain biking and a mini chess game but I got my other presents before I left.

15/5/15

Day 46

Today we went into town again and had a look at the pearl museum and then I had a hair cut. In town we also looked at the old jetty. After lunch we went crabbing on the mud flats a low tide but had nothing to show for it apart from muddy hands and legs. It was a fun experience but we came home empty handed. after crabbing we went to the beach which was fun and watched the sunset again but it wasn’t as spectacular.

16/5/15

Day 47

Today we were going on a camel ride but first we went fishing and caught nothing as usual but other people were catching fish. After that we went home and had a swim in the pool followed by lunch. In the afternoon we went on a camel ride which was really fun and exiting. After the camel ride went went to the beach to watch the sunset and Emilie and I rolled down a huge sand dune.

17/5/15

Day 48

Today we went on a day trip to cape Leveque Which was a 2.5 hour drive one way. On the way there we stopped at a church in a remote community where they had an alter made out of pear shells and some of the walls had pear shells in them. We kept driving and went to one arm point where we did a tour of the pear farm and we were shown how they are grown and how to grade pears. After the tour we drove the the end of one arm point where we had lunch and I had a fish and caught a squid. Then we drove to cape Leveque where we went snorkelling which was supposed to be amazing but wasn’t really that good although we did see a rock cod and some clown fish. After that we drove home in the dark and saw one wallaby, we got home at around 7:30 and had dinner and went to bed.

18/5/15

Day 49

This morning Dad and I went fishing while Emilie and Mum went to fix a necklace and look at shops. We didn’t catch anything but people left and right were pulling up Queenies on the same lures that we had. After our unsuccessful fishing experience we went home and had lunch looking forward to mud crabbing with someone we met at the pier. We went to the beach after lunch for an hour and then got prepared for crabbing in old clothes. Greg picked us up in his ute and we drove for 20 minutes the secret creak. Once there he told us that there could be crocs and that he would walk through pools of muddy water waste deep first. We found our fist crab hole within 5 minutes and greg started poking around in the hole with a metal hook, The crab was weed in to hard so we left it but soon we had another hole and greg managed to extract a crab. The next crab was a hard one and took about 10 minutes to get out but we go it and it was big. The next crab had wedged it self in under some roots and was very easy to get but not the easiest because on the way out of the creek I spotted a big crab just sitting on the bank so Greg grabbed it and put it in the bag. We drove back to the park and said good by and thank you and went back to the van and cooked up the crabs.

11/4/15 Day 13 Today we went on the pound walk at

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