http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , Australia , Western Australia , Kununurra en-us Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:58:36 +0000 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:58:36 +0000 Before heading to Kununurra we had one last day in Darwin. Hillary and I made sure to get as much done as we could while still in the city. I deposited all the pocket change I had been collecting over the past few months we sent home a box of extras we wouldnrsquot be needing during our travels but couldnrsquot part with did some laundry and enjoyed some very rare rainfall. We were in http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-443128.html Day 154 KununurraWe woke early again this morning after a much cooler night so wersquore both quite refreshed at last Today was going to be the day that we headed towards the Bungle Bungles but wersquove not really prepared ourselves so talked last night about staying put for another day. We were up real late what with the Rodeo and catching up with Mum and Dad Howells on Skype. Well don http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-441218.html Congratulations to The Dogs Bollocks who won the event and are this year's Wild Bunch 1 with Ramraider. Nice going Ed Gos Ray Em Ben James and Lisa what an excellent effort what a terrific team to be a part ofHeart felt commiserations to Chris Claire and Mark with Backdraft who had it all sewn up only for it to be taken away with a shot valve out the front of the engine on the Bye run i http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-440275.html Day 153 KununurraTherersquos a young lad in Tewkesbury who is celebrating his 7th birthday today can you guess who it is Itrsquos Charlie Brown Happy Birthday Charlie and we hope you have a lovely dayWe were wide awake this morning at 0530 That hasnrsquot happened since we were doing shifts at the old Bristol depot We jest of course but itrsquos been a little while since the s http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-439894.html Day 152 Saddle Creek Rest Area NT to Kununurra WAWe wake up to a brilliantly sunny morning and the happy chatter of Zali and Lochy at their camp site. There was a lovely breeze through the night and we could hear the thudding of animal visitors outside although when Darryl got up in the wee hours he didnrsquot manage to spot anyEveryone regroups for a quick chat over breakfast and then http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-439893.html 5909 Tried to sleep in another late night but up at it another hot day I sorted through the photos of the Bungle Bungles only 200 so took a while . We were going to go to El Questro but I was too tired did not get up early enough so we will go tomorrow. No probs we donrsquot have a set programme. Den was talking to our neighbour he said they were going to go out to a ldquosec http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-434652.html 29809 Happy Birthday Warwick. On the road again the girls are getting to know the signs that we are packing up they wait patiently at the door till we are ready to put them in the car then they trot out wait to be lifted in they are not getting left behind. We are awake early again this time change is a pain. Off to Kununurra only 80 kmrsquos today a piece of cake. We arrive about http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-433295.html At the crack of dawn we drive into Kununurra...well we arrive at the visitors centre at 9am and John had even had time to have a shower using our portable solar showerreally not worth it but it came with the van so yes it was an early start for us The town sits on Lake Kununurra on the River Ord and is a relatively new town. It was developed in the 1960rsquos to service where the river had b http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-433201.html 27809 Left Timber creek about 9am as going into WA we have to put our clocks back 1.5 hours so that means we are 2 hours behind the eastern states. The scenery is still amazing me. Lots of mountains rocky outcrops land that has been burnt for fire control which is a good idea. We saw lots of Boab trees on the way to the border as well. We stopped at saddle Creek Rest stop for morning tea http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-432142.html We stayed at a caravan park for 2 nights to plug in and charge and get supplies went and had lunch and a look at Argyle Dam not impressed at all and that was about it for Kununurra.When we did our shop we did pretty good cause when we spoke to some fellow travellers they said the shelves were empty when they went the day after.From here we drive to Katherine in Northern Territory to have a look http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-427243.html We had to be outside the caravan park at 8.30am today to be picked up and taken to the airport. There was a crowd and once more five were chosen to board each small aircraft. It was a bit of a worry when the engine wouldnrsquot kick over first time but after a little wait it finally did.We flew over Kununurra great views of all the agricultural growth below mangoes sandlewood etc. Where http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-421396.html Hi allWe moved to a much nicer caravan park a few k's out of town at Lake Kununurra on Friday. This was our 1st choice but we couldn't get in to then and had to take 5 days. It's really busy here now so many caravans lots with nowhere to go Our site is about 50 meters from the lake with water views. Lovely we take chairs down to the lakefront at sunset with our drinks and watch the sun go http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-418006.html Hi allTerrible computer coverage here but will try to send a reportWe crossed to Western Australia on the 6th July going through a quarintine checkpoint. I'd sliced some lemons and frozen them for my drinks used all our fruit and veges but we weren't allowed lemons even frozen ons with peel on so had then taken off usWe will spend 9 days here as there is lots to see and do around here http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-416417.html KUNUNURRA.Moving on from Broome we traveled over 900km heading towards Kununurra. We once again referred to our trusty travel companion the Camps 5 book. All free overnight camping areas are listed in this book and there are details of the facilities provided on each site. Our main concern is that we can take our dogs there and that the camp site is away from the main road as the huge 4 sect http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-412722.html Before heading into the NT we spent a few days in Kununurra getting undusted resupplying and checking out the surrounds. We discovered the ldquoHoocheryrdquo a cane farm distillery with some delightful products if you like Rum do yourself a favour and mail order yourself the 40 proof bottle itrsquos well worth it . We also discovered a delightful new vegetable at the Kununurra ma http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-412085.html DAY 222Itrsquos my Dadrsquos birthday today I feel a bit sad today that I am not back in England to see him especially as it is his 70th birthday oops sorry Dad I think I let the cat out of the bag Happy BirthdayWe were out of bed later than usual I think it was 6.30 and everyone was packing up going somewhere we were doing the same and heading off towards Victoria River about 200K http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-409697.html DAY 221Today is a date I never forget today 29 Years ago I started my electrical apprenticeship with N.G.Bailey and company Ltd in Birmingham England and I can remember being taken by my Mum and Dads next door neighbour Don in his MGB roadster to the Landrover plant in Solihull and the company was working on the new Range Rover assembly plant and never in my wildest dreams would I have thou http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-409664.html Well we finally started our big trip on Sunday the 17th of May and our first stop was at Gin Gin where we found a lovely parking area next to a park with lots of trees and black cockatoos in the trees.We thought that this was so lovely until we got up the next morning to find that the birds had all roosted in the trees above the car.I don't think I have to elaborate on that one.Had an early start http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-407427.html Distance traveled 3216km4060km79.Leaving Fitzroy River Lodge early meant that we were once again on the road just after sunrise and as good as the sunsets aretherersquos plenty to enthuse about the sun slowly lifting on a distant horizon and then gradually filtering itrsquos life givinggolden rays across the flat plains.The mystical and majestic boabs standing tall add their own special http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-406019.html hellipLakeside Caravan Park in Kununurra. Why many of you might ask did we decide to stop in Kununurra of all places a little middle of nowhere town near the border with the Northern Territory Well as they say necessity is the mother of invention and in this case the need to replenish the coffers resulted in a couple of jobs with Tropical Forestry Services. I had the good job a researc http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-375991.html