Darwin to Katherine

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Day 31 Darwin 30/07/06

We awoke at around 7.00am and after breakfast drove into Palmerston to the Catholic Church for the Sunday Service. After church, we drove into Darwin and had a look at the Stokes Hill Wharf and the World War 2 Oil Storage Tunnels. From here, after parking the car near the court houses, we walked the Mall and around Bicentennial Park checking out the numerous monuments and memorials. A lot more happened here in World War 2 than we all realized. We then walked back into the city and had lunch. From here we drove to the ‘National Trust’ Burnett style houses and then down along the coast to the Museum and Art Gallery of NT. This had some very interesting exhibitions including the boy’s favorite, ‘Sweetheart’ the huge crocodile which was accidentally killed when an attempt was made to relocate it. After this, we drove back to Mindil Beach and enjoyed the famous Sunday Evening Markets. We bought dinner from one of the 60 or so food stalls, eating it on the beach. The stalls were interesting and the boys managed to talk their mother into buying them a Putt Putt Boat each. These boats are propelled by water when the oil burning fire heats the pump inside them (Leanne had one as a child). The free entertainment was also great. The boys especially enjoyed a puppet show, ‘the Amazing Drumming Monkeys’ and some spray painting artists. At about 8pm we returned to the car and drove back to Howard Springs Caravan Park for an early night after another long, enjoyable day.

Day 32 Darwin 31/07/06

We had a lazy morning catching up with domestics and spent several frustrating hours trying to encourage (threaten) the boy’s to get their diaries up to date. At around 12 pm we drove into Darwin and while Daniel and I went to the Internet Café, Leanne and William went to the Post Office and the Mall. To my disgust, when we went to enter our latest Travelblogs, I found I’d used the wrong photo re-sizer and we had to redo all the photos, before we could publish our blogs. So, one and a half or so hours later, we got out of the Café. From Darwin City we returned to Palmerston Shopping Centre where we stocked up on supplies. We then drove back to Howard Springs to bring in the washing and refrigerate and pack the food we had bought.

After getting ready, we drove back toward Darwin to catch up with the son of a close family friend of Leanne’s, John Greatorex and his wife Linda, in Jingili. After having a quiet cuppa and tour of their property, we were invited to stay for dinner. Linda cooked an impromptu, very tasty, tomato and lamb soup dish for main course and then we had home grown paw paw and mango, as well as dried bananas for desert. As John has lived and worked with the Aboriginal people of Arnhem Land for many years, we had some very interesting and informative discussions. He currently works part time with the N.T. University teaching Aboriginal language and culture, spending his other free time working directly with the Aboriginal people trying to get them the assistance they need from the Government. Linda also works for the University dealing with new immigrants, helping John with his charges when she can. After an enjoyable afternoon and evening, we bid them farewell at around 8.40pm and returned to Howard Springs Caravan Park, refueling on the way.

Day 33 Howard Springs to Wangi Falls 1/08/06

We awoke at about 7.00am and after breakfast and showers we leisurely packed up. At around 10.30am we departed Howard Springs for Wangi Falls Camp Ground via Batchelor. We decided to travel straight to Wangi Falls and not stop at the various attractions on the way, as we wanted to ensure a good camp spot at this reportedly busy spot. On arrival at the National Park Camp ground around 12.30pm, we set up the trailer and had lunch. As it was very hot we walked to the kiosk to check it and the swimming hole out. The water looked so cool and inviting, we immediately returned to the trailer, put on our bathers, grabbed our snorkeling gear and headed back. We spent most the afternoon at the water hole returning to the camp at around 5.15pm. As Leanne commented, “this was such an enjoyable and relaxing time swimming as a family”. The boys and I got the fire going and then we cooked up spaghetti bolognaise for dinner. After the dishes were done, we sat around the fire for a few enjoyable hours before retiring to bed.

Day 34 Wangi Falls & Environs 02/08/06

We awoke around 7.00am and after getting the fire going again, cooked eggs and bacon on the camp fire. The boys liked it but weren’t too impressed with the charcoal from the black plate! Once the domestics were done, we walked the 1.6 k Loop Walk of Wangi Falls. On return to our camp at around 11.00am we got in the car and drove to the various other attractions accessible with 2wd in the area (there’s a few 4wd ones that sound worthwhile). First stop was Tabletop Swamp, which is a swamp on top of the tabletop filled by the monsoonal rains in the wet season. It is a lush haven for all sorts of animals and bird life, a plentiful hunting ground for the Aboriginals. We then drove to the Buley Rockhole for a quick look, before stopping at Florence Falls. After a swim in the Florence pools, we had lunch on the rocks in the sun, before returning to the pools for another hour or two. The boys and I found a rock ledge you could easily climb and we spent a good part of this time doing bombs into the water. The boys thoroughly enjoyed this as well as swimming in under the falls with Leanne and I. After drying off, we walked back up the 135 steps to the car park and drove back to Buley Rockhole, where the boys and I had another swim. Leanne decided to remain dry and took on the photography duties filming the boys sliding down from rock pool to rock pool. After drying off again, we drove back past Wangi Falls to the ‘Monsoon Café’ looking for a cappuccino. Unfortunately, we had to settle for plunger coffee and tea, while the boys had ice creams, which were nice. We returned to our Wangi campsite at around 4.55 and headed straight back down to the Wangi Falls for yet another swim! On return to camp, we cooked dinner on the camp fire (this time on aluminum foil to prevent the charcoal issues). At around 7pm, we walked back to the Wangi Falls Kiosk area for a Ranger Talk on the ‘Top End’. This was informative and both the boys were given ‘Junior Ranger Books’ to read and use on our trip. We returned to the camp at around 8.15, stoked the fire and sat around enjoying it for another hour or so before retiring for the night. Another long, but very enjoyable day.

Day 35 Wangi Falls to Katherine 03/08/06

As the daily park fees at Wangi are 12 noon to 12 noon, we had a leisurely morning and commenced packing after breakfast. As there had been heavy dew overnight, we decided to leave the camper up in the morning sun to dry while we had our final swim in Wangi Falls. Though it was a little cool, even Leanne had a swim, before we returned to the trailer and packed up. At around 11.55 we departed Wangi and drove to the Tolmer Falls, where we walked the 400 metres to the lookout. As we were informed at the Ranger Talk, these falls have been closed to the Public because there are some endangered bats (Orange Horseshoe and Ghost Bats) that live in the caves below the falls. The view from the lookout was worth the walk. On return to the car we drove to Batchelor, stopping at the Termite Mounds, another stop bypassed on our way in, to take photos of both the Magnetic and Cathedral Mounds.

After eating lunch at Batchelor, we drove through to Katherine, stopping at Pine Creek for fuel on the way. We had originally planned to stop at Hayes Creek for the night, after visiting Douglas Daly Hot Springs. But, as it was so hot, we decided that swimming in spring water of around 62 degrees ‘C’ wouldn’t be so refreshing, so we drove straight to Katherine. On arrival, we booked into the Katherine Low Level Caravan Park for two nights. While Leanne and I set up the trailer, the boys checked out the park on their bikes and had a swim in the large swimming pool. After dinner, it was showers all round and after some diary and blog work, off to bed.

Day 36 Katherine 04/08/06

We awoke to another fine day with F18’s flying high above us. There is apparently some sort of military exercise on in Darwin with the Americans at the moment. After Leanne read the boys some more Harry Potter, we all got up and had breakfast. Our plan for today is visiting the ‘School of the Air’ and stocking up on supplies in Katherine. As there is an Internet Café in town we will also try to publish this latest blog. This afternoon we are planning to swim in the Katherine Hot Springs as well as visit Springvale Homestead (as Leanne wants a Devonshire Tea). Then it will be back to the park for more swimming and relaxing. It’s a hard life!

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Photos

Darwin
World War 2 Oil Storage Tunnels

Darwin
Wishing Well Bicentennial Park

Darwin
Government House

Darwin
'Sweetheart' at NT Museum

Darwin
Sunset on Mindil Beach

Darwin
The Amazing Drumming Monkeys

Wangi Falls
The Wangi Falls & Pools

Litchfield Park
The Tabletop Swamp

Litchfield Park
The Florence Falls

Litchfield Park
Bombs at Florence Falls

Litchfield Park
The Boys in the Buley Rockholes

Litchfield Park
The Tolmer Falls

Litchfield Park
A Magnetic Termite Mound

Litchfield Park
A Cathedral Termite Mound

Comments

[Dave Nisbet]

Great time
Hi Guys/Girl, Looks like your having a great time, love the blog/photos etc. Keep it coming....P.S. when do you get back?? Dave..