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Published: January 3rd 2008
I was feeling creative of sorts and summarised (?!?) our trip into verse. Photos are all over the shop as to order but again a brief synopsis. Iy might not always mean a lot to any one but else but it covers most of the events of our trip.
Around the Block - in a Tojo and in verse!
The decision was made - it was time it was done
The lap ‘round the block, our family as one
Clockwise we went, despite all advice
Up the west coast, although we’d been once or twice.
Three months we did take, a bit long fair to say
But cyclones played havoc with our progress each day.
It was fifty at Nanga - and that’s in the shade
The highest temperature recorded, in the pools where we stayed.
Too early for whale sharks, the viewings better in May
So we spent limited time, in that town Coral Bay.
Ningaloo was just magic, decided to stay for a while
We fished and we swam and beach walked many mile.
Cape Range National Park, where snorkelings the best
As Euro’s in Britz vans, would surely attest
The Pilbara was verdant, with the late season falls
And the catfish were huge as Brayden recalls
Via 80 mile beach, where they catch fish off the shore
By the time we had got there the fish were no more!
Thence onto Broome, destination mecca for most
Original character lost, a veritable ghost.
Drove up the Cape, Cape Leveque that would be
The track it was rough, bad corrugations you see.
Our bike rack fatigued, it catastrophically failed
To Broome we returned - with all that entailed.
The township of Derby, a base for some time
We splurged for a trip, see a feature sublime
The horizontal falls, via seaplane and boat
If you’ve yet to see it, we’ve reason to gloat!
The interminable wait for the Gibb River Road
It would open tomorrow, forever we are told.
Tomorrow never came, Windjana as far as we went
All the access was closed, from rains heaven sent.
We crossed to Purnululu, not a bad consolation
And marveled again at mother Nature’s creation.
A good time to see it, before the great southern horde
With water abundant, seventeen creeks we did forde.
Kununurra and Wyndham,
our penultimate stops
The Ord River gives life, to many irrigated crops.
With produce aplenty, the salad bowl they say
A palatable reminder, the last of W.A.
Just over the border, Northern Territory beckoned
A campfire at night, not bad we all reckoned.
Old stations now gazetted as Gregory National Park
Reduce cattle grazing, increase conservations mark.
Limestone Creek on Bullita was a fabulous spot
With crystal clear water, we were a content lot!
4WD opportunities are there for the taking
Preparation and time and some plans I’ll be making.
The Victoria Highway, an old Aboriginal route
Originally created by ol’ Bill Harney to boot.
Our focus was Katherine, a crossroads of sorts
Where we returned several times from our jaunts to all ports.
“We of the Never Never” is what everyone knows
But what of the springs with warm filtered flows?
Mataranka's the place - impossible to rhyme
In its warm crystal waters spent considerable time.
The Norstock rodeo was Katherine's social event
We’d spoken to many and it was there we were sent
Bucking horses and campdrafts were all part of the deal
A bucking bull for 8 seconds - that’s just unreal!
Nitmiluk its now named, many gorges through rocks
Still closed though to paddlers, as there were a few crocs!
A cultural cruise we did take, on a whim I confess
A journey through time, retold by Jawoyn no less.
Edith Falls is fantastic, we swam all around
Barramundi and cherubin, there to be found.
We hike to some falls, well above the main one
Grand vistas aplenty, as you bask in the sun.
As you now tour around Darwin with consummate ease
If things had been different, we’d all speak Japanese!
Many bombing raids happened, it was kept pretty hush
Civilians were moved, the great southern rush!
We applied for a permit, with conditions and rules
To travel through country, full of natural jewels.
Onwards to Gove, on the Central Arnhem Road
Its different this land, still unspoilt by cane-toad!
Communities abound, where dreamtime stories are told
A return to their culture, tribal values of old.
With no written language, in elders memories of the past
So cherish their knowledge, its disappearing fast.
“Kaka - do, Kaka - don’t” said since park fees inception
With intent to misguide, its a view that’s deception.
It’s
a magical land for the aboriginal race
With artworks divine, its an amazing place.
Jim Jim Falls is inspiring, albeit water so cold
To stand under those falls, a story unfolds.
We’ll remember it always, in our minds forever
Earths forces at work, so incredibly clever.
We head to the centre, to “The Alice” its known
Ruby Gap on the “Macs”, where many dreams had been sown.
In search of some gems - many blokes traveled there
But the ruby’s were garnets - men in utter despair.
Chambers Pillar a beacon, to explorers before
The Ghan Track done slowly, or your derriere she gets sore!
Onwards to Dalhousie, where thermal pools are present
Bathe in the warm waters, its all very pleasant.
Oodnadatta we passed, Pink Roadhouse its fame
To Cobber Pedy it was, subdivided by claim.
It’s a moonscape all right, mullock heaps in the distance
We bought an opalised fossil, with credit assistance.
Trekked back to NT, Uluru and the Olgas
Off in the distance, large flocks of grey Brolgas.
Rangers take tours around this giant rock
An insight to meaning, geological time clock.
Meereenie loops bumpy, corrugated right through
‘West
Macs’ seen on sunset, full moon in prime view
Painful jolting fades quickly, a thing of the past
Our journey through landscapes, memories to last.
Rainbow Valley was special, in light of Ranger Garth’s talk
About dreamtime stories, where his ancestors did walk
Afternoon sun just ignited, the colours in stone
White, red, brown and orange, of hues the earth’s own
We fossiked at Gemtree, struck a good patch
Found a few zircons, gem quality to match
‘Picnic Day’ saw us travel, east along the Plenty
To historic Harts Range, rodeo for the gentry.
The territory was done, it was time for new clover
We exit to Queensland, northeast along the Sandover.
Two days on good gravel road, with just enough fuel
Just made it to Camooweal, so that was all cool.
Sandover was great, a track real remote
Nobody to see, only three cars I would note.
Camooweal lays claim, to the longest main street
A marketing ploy, the Barkly Highway’s no feat!
Lawn Hill a great gorge of sheer red rocks
Finally…..we can swim, just a few freshwater crocs.
Indigenous occupation not always so hidden
Tens of thousands of years, evidenced by their
midden.
Gulf country was next, areas explorers would cherish
Camp 119, where Burke and Wills did perish.
Normanton a town, a place usually hot
Purple pub, the Gulflander, the largest croc ever shot.
Karumba’s a must do, for all grey nomad
A quasi retirement village, but there’s fish to be had.
They all head back south, with the temperature rise
Wax lyrical they do, grandiose fishing lies!
Across the base of the cape, pass through Dunbar Station
Raining through here, many pastoralists elation.
Its quickly to Cairns, there’s some people to greet
Nana and Pop fly across, its where we will meet.
Atherton Tablelands, we cruise the Waterfall Way
Lake Eacham, Barrine - They’re all A-OK
A unanimous decision, I could say without fear
Favourite stop on the tour - the chocolatier!
We drove to ‘Cape Trib’, in amongst the Daintree
A dangerous encounter - with a cassowary!
Not an end to adventure as beyond light of lamp
It creaked and it groaned, huge branch just missed camp!
Grassy Hill is a high point, from whence you can look
1770 saw it climbed by Joseph Banks and James Cook!
First sighting of ‘roos, caused
much consternation
A large mammal that hopped, a profound revelation!
Cooktown is the start of the Development Road
Corrugations so bad, worst ever we’re told.
Our aim was to drive the Overland Telegraph Track
We were keen to complete it, up there and back.
It was a dream to accomplish, that’s no deception
We did it all - with Gunshot the exception
Nolan’s Brook was a problem, we were stuck good and fast
Hard yakka with hand winch - so that didn’t last.
We stood on the tip, most latitude north
Completed our trek, on which we’d set forth
Went out on a charter on the northernmost sea
Both father and son caught Giant Trevally.!
A brief visit to Weipa, then the tough Frenchman’s track
Palm fringed Chilli Beach, coconuts falling did crack
Late start to the day, as our battery failed
With help from some friends, southward progress prevailed.
To Mareeba and Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef
To finally see such an icon, enormous relief.
Lava tubes at Undara, from eruptions of old
Charters Towers is steeped with the history of gold.
Townsville renowned for its aquarium of note
Marina real grand,
boats in the harbour afloat.
Friends let us stay in their Airlie abode
Real beds, pool, a spa - a flushing commode!
Enough of the coast, out west we did head
Lark Hill it is called, where many dinosaurs dead.
Longreach the birthplace of QANTAS’ red tailed jets
It was started, you know, by two Gallipoli vets.
Transit through Emerald, Blair Athol Coal mine
Carnarvon Gorge rock art, with art galleries divine.
Its a 20 ‘K’ walk, and that’s from go to whoa
Worth the hike up this valley, to view a brilliant show.
Via Childers to ‘Bundy’, to rest for only one night
Made famous by rum, Queenslander's think its alright.
It’s cane juice I reckon, but they brew something more
Its naturally fermented, ginger beer is the score.
There’s a place you can go, where the dingoes roam free
Worlds largest sand island, turquoise lakes that you see.
Blackbutt and Satinay - where large trees used to stand
The main drag is the beach, where you drive on the sand.
Pacific Highway we brave - but turn off real quick
Kenilworth to Meneenie, country roads are the pick.
We’d promised ‘By crikey’, to
visit the Croc Hunter too
We spent a day at his place - at Australia Zoo!
We visit some friends, in Brisbane surrounds
Thence onto Surfers, where the theme parks are found.
‘300 days of sunshine’ - a slogan they say
Coincide it did not - it rained every day!
Surfers to Byron, the old hippie club
Seachange for many, where ‘Hoges’ owned the pub.
The fourth state we’ve been; its now New South Wales
More exploits to have, more stories and tales!
At Barrington Tops it was high country we sought
Our 17th anniversary - but no presents were bought.
A black stallion we saw, a magnificent beast
Thundering hooves in the night, brumbies at least.
We drive down the ridge, the suns out today
Head through the Hunter, Bushranger Thunderbolts Way.
Stayed with the Welhams, in their purpose built place
Hospitality extended, it was our Sydney base.
The Great North Road, built by early convicts
Before steam ship service, finished in 1836.
Sea transport was favoured, before it was done
A legacy left, from virgin bush it was won.
In old Sydney town, a whole day that was spent
The Rocks, Harbour
Bridge, to the Opera House we went.
A cruise on the water, see more illustrious sights
A giant Xmas tree, adorned with baubles and lights.
The Blue Mountains were shrouded, obscured by cloud
Three sisters were hiding, shied away from the crowd.
Low clouds in the mist, perhaps an ominous sign
Election day voting, Kevin Rudd looking fine!
Toured the ‘Temple of Baal’, in Jenolan Cave
Sculpted by nature, exquisite beauty to save.
Stalactites, stalagmites, columns and shawls
False floors, pools of crystal, flowstone and straws.
To Canberra the capital, of Australia country
Parliament House, War Memorial, Questacon we did see.
National Art Gallery - packed with “creative” display
Numerous things you could visit, a week you could stay.
Grand ideas and concepts, some say the birth of our nation
Harness high country rivers - f or electricity creation.
It was then called ‘The Snowy’, of that you will know
Its incorporated now, renamed SnowyHydro.
The alpine high country, birthplace of legends and lies
Locals real friendly - I refer to the flies!
They came in their droves, fair dinkum they’re bad
Swarms of them everywhere, driving you mad.
A chairlift from Thedbo, you
ascend part of the way
Snowdrifts we still find, in the snow the kids play.
The first time they’ve seen it, and it’s a wondrous thing
Soft, cold and freezing, snowballs they did fling!
Its not particularly steep, its not overly high
But its our highest point - 360 view of the sky.
You ascend Rawsons Pass, past an old glacial flow
To arrive at the peak, Mount Kosciuszko!
We cut to an area on the Lower South coast
To a town known as Eden, with an unusual boast.
Killer whales worked with humans, in unlikely toil
Orcas reward was the tongue, the whalers the oil.
Overnight stop at Lakes Entrance as we camp on the shore
Luxury of time - something we have no more.
As we pass through the Gippsland, with its beauty serene
They say its in drought, but its still all so green!
Briefly stop at ‘The Prom’ - the most south we can drive
We finally see a wombat…and luckily this one’s alive!
The winds at 40 odd knots and blowing a gale
We head into Melbourne, with the wind on our tail.
The Great Ocean Road - we
hear its call
Built by the ‘vets’ - employed one and all.
It was built under duress, with blood, sweat and tears
With its twists and its turns - its not without fears.
.
We travel its length and appreciate the view
The scenery’s majestic, with some forestry too.
Point Fairy and Nelson are the stops we do last
So long Victoria, its been brief and too fast.
Volcanic lakes at Mt Gambier, used to slake the towns thirst.
Adelaide’s on the horizon, with other sights to see first.
Beachport, Robe and Kingston, Coorong, the south east
An influx of people to prepare Xmas feast.
Adelaide the last capital before our journey complete
The last piece in the puzzle, an extraordinary feat.
Our tour of South Oz will be at a fast rate
Another trip, another time, perhaps bound to our fate.
From Adelaide we head on a route heading west
Too many places of beauty - which one was the best?
You can ask all you like but you’ll only ever be told,
Its too hard to consider, they’re all ‘Good as Gold’!
Its an Australian icon, the Nullabor Plain
It’s flat and dead straight,
and often journeyed by train.
We drive it by car, with detours to the ‘Bight’,
Some memorable scenery - a fantastic sight.
It’s the final leg home, from Kalgoorlie to Perth
Our trip comes to an end, from whence we set forth.
We’ll see family and friends, Grandma, Nana and Pop
Inglewood’s in our past, so its at Floreat we’ll stop.
So ends our life, our time on the road.
A new adventure will begin, at our new abode.
As you’ve read of our travels, its but a glimpse and a view
Australia our country - you should see it too!
Russell Panting
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Emily
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Thanks for the journey!
Congratulations on a big achievement - its been great to follow you online! Hoping to do the same thing ourselves with a caravan in April - your experience has been very valuable! I wonder if you will ever get over being a gypsy!!