http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , Australia , Western Australia , Kununurra en-us Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:21:15 UTC Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:21:15 UTC Oh my daysI have NEVER worked so hard in my life. Day 2 in Kununurra and I've got my first farm job chipping melon and pumpkin fields. Walking up and down long field rows pulling out shit loads of weeds for 11 hours a day in 38 degrees heat jeese louise Everything hurts. My hands are blistered. I have dripped with sweat in the boiling sun and dripped with being soaked through in heavy heav http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-334485.html We've spent the last couple of days in Kununurra which is in the eastern part of the Kimberley region. The rest of the Kimberley isn't as accessible without a car and tours are expensive.On Monday morning we started to walk down to the celebrity tree park by the lagoon where celebrities have planted trees. It's only about a kilometre to the park but it's so hot here we had to stop before we got http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-327340.html Sep 21Howard Springs Big4. Good caravan park and has Net4 Big4 internet access.Spent in Darwin CBD. Took in the Smith Mall and all its souvenir shops. Very nice area for shopping if one was so inclined.Had a bit of a walk along the Esplanade. Really nice well kept area for walking near the ocean. Low tide so the water was out pretty far. We had planned on dipping our toes in the ocean bu http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-327270.html We were to leave Kununurra today but with the car needing to be repaired and a few other jobs needing to be attended as some shops were not open yesterday we are now staying one more night. We have also decided not to drive into the Bungle Bungles tomorrow. We would love to see this area but the horror stories of what is happening to cars that are driving in due to the bad road conditions it is http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-326119.html We were all up early 5.30am this morning as Guy had heard during the week while listening to the ABC Radio that Macca was in town and would be doing his Sunday morning radio in the front yard of the Rural reporter Matt. We loaded the kids into the car and drove around the suburbs to find the house in question. There he and a few locals were getting ready for the morning. Last night there had b http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-325753.html We have been debating whether to stay out at El Questro for a night or two or just go out for the day. We decided that a day trip might be enough in this warm weather. We tried to set off early and we faced the eastern end of the Gibb River Road with excitement as to what we would see. Our first stop was at Emma Gorge which is part of the El Questro Wilderness area. We paid our entry permit of 30 http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-325578.html We crossed the NTWA border this morning. Felt like we got up really early because we had to wind our clocks back 2 hours compared to the east coast. We arrived in Kununurra and spent the first day laying around the pool and getting use to the heat. We met the local hairdresser Kylie is from Grafton and owns her own salon so us girls decided to spend the next morning in the Salon.The next afterno http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-325456.html It looked like we were going to have some more rain this morning but the wind quickly blew that idea away. The kids next door are always up early all 5 of them and were over at the front of the van wanting to play in the sand with the kids. We all went into imagination mode and had a great game going together. That was all fine but how do I start school work when this is happening. The parents http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-325096.html Guy was off to work again this morning. He is now wearing jeans to protect his legs from the sharp stone when it splits. His clothes are stained red and we wash then each night and they are dry by morning.The kids and I did very well at school today. We are always surrounded by the glossy ibis's while we are working. The kids have had some little plays with the children next door and they are play http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-324473.html Guy headed off to work early again and the kids were up with him. He thinks that he is drinking around 8L of water plus beer a day. He is enjoying the work but of course the days are getting hotter and hotter. The kids and I had a grat day doing their school work done. Bryce received a phonecall from his teacher Mr Bruce Corbett. He had a chat to Bryce about where he had travelled to recently http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-324269.html Guy was up early to go out to Uncle Steve's quarry to work for the day. He took lots of water and sunsafe clothing although he admitted that there were a few beers offered at lunch time and after work. He said that it was quite warm up to 1pm and then it was hot. We are having 40 degree days so I can only image what temperature it would be around the rock. All in all he said that it was ok and he http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-324047.html Happy 9th Birthday Joseph. We were all feeling a little bit lazy today after our big drive yesterday but we wanted to go back and see Ivanhoe Crossing in the daylight. It looks like a great fishing spot even though there was a croc in the water when Guy crossed the second time while I watched. We then went for a drive around Kununurra and stopped at the Fruit Bowl to buy some frest fruit and veg http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-323618.html We all had a slow start to the day except Guy who went for an early morning run. After the morning jobs were done we decided to go for a drive to Wyndham. We stopped at the Diversion dam wall just outside of Kununurra. We then continued onto Wyndham and had a look at the Grotto. It is 140 steps down to the pool which didn't look that inviting in the dry.We drove into Wyndham and stopped at the la http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-323078.html We all a bit confused when we woke as it was very sunny but it was very early. We had showers and then headed off into Kununurra. We phoned around to check prices and the Big4 was then same price as the others so we decided a little bit of luxury was in order 36. We had a lovely spot in the park with alot of space which we were very pleased about. After setting up we headed into their shopping http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-322740.html After leaving Perth for Kununurra I was glad to see that the weather on my arrival was nice and hot as Perth was starting to get a little chilly. I was met by the guys from the farm and given a ute so that I could get around and sort out the house that they had supplied me. To my surprise I was given a 5 bedroom house with 2 bathrooms and a kitchen to myself located about 15km outside the main to http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-316618.html We left Saddle creek rest area and headed west to the Western Australia border where there is a checkpoint and on arrival had our van checked for fruit and vegies. The border patrol officer was really nice we had been previously warned about the fruit and vegies and were all clear to proceed. Arrived at Kununurra and went to the visitors centre to see where we could stay. WE ended up at http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-314489.html Before we left Manbulloo homestead we got chatting again with Rodney a fellow traveler camped next to us. The night before he had offered to go through the map with us to point out some good free spots to stop as he was traveling in the opposite direction as us and had traveled roughly where we were going. He went through the Camp Site 4 book wit us and was extremely helpful. After all http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-314486.html Left Darwin around 8.30 am Marg made a comment saying that ldquoBailey Chloe and herself donrsquot really like citiesrdquo. Darwin is nice but very restricting if traveling with dogs as we knew it would be maybe we should have done more sight seeing but it was really hot for us. Up to approx 80 kmrsquos away from Darwin along the main hwy there is old runways from WWII every http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-314480.html Another extreme hot day for us so we stayed at the van in the air con and finished off the washing. Warwick went to Palmerston for last catch up of supplies an fuel as we were leaving the next morning for Katherine. Late in the afternoon on dusk started to pulled the annex down and pack up for the trip the next day. Got a phone called from Dennis and Shelly http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-314479.html Another hot day 33 so we decided to stay at the van for a rest day and to keep the dogs in the cool. While Marg was at the laundry she read a notice for a massage therapyrsquos who claims to relieve sinus problems with ear candling so after talking to her Marg decided to go through with the process and after dinner we went over to see her. As Marg was getting it done started to have http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-314477.html Marg did some washing while I cleaned the van after that we went to Palmerston for some shopping. Another very hot day 34 so after lunch back to the van for some more air con. In the evening we spoke to Karen Nathan Caitlin and brielle on skype which is video and voice chat for several hours that seemed to cheer Marg up http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-314475.html Hello from windy dusty and warm Kununurra. We have just spent our third night here and are just packing up to get on the road again. After leaving Katherine late afternoon we stopped on the side of the road and then got travelling next morning. Notice I didn't say early. We still can't get in and go. We travelled through timber Creek and payed 1.18 per litre for gas. We stopped at Big Hors http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-313709.html Hey AllI have made it to WA First time I have driven to this state and the first time that I have been in this part of the country. I am currently in the town of Kununurra situated in the East Kimberley ranges. Kununurra was ldquobuiltrdquo after Lake Argyle was constructed. It is a relatively small town but is designed to service the agricultural land which has been created in this part http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-305330.html Greetings from Western AustraliaWe crossed the border yesterday and had to give away our fruitveg and honey before doing so.A kind soul gave us some fish in return.We have had a wonderful week in the Kakadu Nat. Park.I now treat big crocs lying on the river bank as commontho still scary.We took a day tour into Arnhemland and visited Aboriginal rock art sites which was quite fascinatingOur Fi http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-305081.html We were getting to the stage of our trip where we weren't too interested in checking out all of the lsquotourist spotsrsquo but enjoyed relaxing by the pool and trying to do as little as possible. We landed the perfect powered site at the caravan park where are van was right next to the pool fence. The little girls are really enjoying all of the swimming that they are able to do and their co http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-299348.html The coach journey from Darwin to Kununurra took about 10 hours including rest stops which was a bit of a drag but i did get to see more of the amazing scenery. Australia is so varied much like New Zealand but wherever I go what really strikes me is the vastness. Not of the country as a whole but simply in each place no matter the climate or terrain you can always see so far its just endles http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-278278.html HelloToday we visited a special place in Kununurra the only one official rum factory in Western Australia the Hoochery. Interesting place to learn how to make rum out of sugarcane.HalloVandaag een speciale plaats bezocht in Kununurra de enige officiele rumfabriek in Western Australia de Hoochery. Een leerrijke ervaring hoe uit suikerriet de rum te maken. http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-263209.html 1009Yehaaaaaaaaaaaaa bus to Broome. Only 1h30 late Believe me it is nothing.Stop in Kununurra very strange place Western Australiarsquos northeastern outpost in the Kimberley.Awful noises of the kangaroos getting run over by the bus.Loads of bush fires. http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-248999.html Up even earlier today 5.50am to be in time for a slightly more hectic breakfast than what we'd been used to with Jim. Makes sense to be up quickly to make the most of the day but we were almost treading on eggshells with Ian to make sure we packed everything away properly My tentmate Chelley had lent me her earplugs for her slight snoring problem I woke up only being able to find one of th http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-222749.html And so it was back to Kununarra again for more supplies with all these early starts and fresh air there was no shortage of healthy appetites. We had a bit of time to put in before heading out to our camping spot on an island in the middle of Lake Argyle and went over for a look at the Ord River. Joel once more displayed his excellent driving skills by manuovering us and the trailer in tow over t http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-209251.html