Leaving WA- Entering NT- and Queensland

7500 Klms Travelled to date!

 OK..... so 2 weeks work turned into 3 and ½ weeks work, we were also offered to stay on as assistant managers for a year....which we declined sadly! Kununurra is very remote and is a long way from nowhere especially NZ.

It wasn’t all work and no play at the Lake Kununurra Camping Ground, we had a couple of fun nights where we helped out with hamburger night on Saturdays at 5.30 people could come and bring their chairs and drink while we cooked their hamburgers for dinner. What a great way for all the camp to mill around and chat to other likeminded people and here all the different stories about their travels. Its amazing just how many people are doing the same as us, travelling around the country for months on end. Lots of people from South Australia and Melbourne come up to the top end to get away from the cold of the south.

Nepalese Ghurkhas

One group of 30 Nepalese men came and camped beside us. They were Ghurkhas – Singapore recruits these men from Nepal and trains them into Policemen. This is a kind of holiday for them. They were dropped into the outback and given supplies for 8 days, they had to make their way back in 3 different groups to a checkpoint at Lake Argyle. Here they had to canoe 55kms up the Ord River back to the camp. These guys were great fun. We joined them twice for a meal, drinks, songs and dancing. Most spoke good English.      

The Bungle Bungles

Lake Argyle



We had a good look around the district including a flight into the Bungle Bungles, via Lake Argyle, The Argyle Diamond Mine, the Ord River and Kununurra. The flight left Kununurra and flew into the Purnululu National Park home of the Bungle Bungles. There we landed and jumped into a 4WD bus that took us into the ranges where these beehive dome-shaped sandstone towers and breathtaking gorges hide. Here we walked 3kms in through these amazing shaped towers in 35° temperatures with our lunch and plenty of water until we came to an amazing place called Cathedral Gorge. This is a huge cave that had the acoustics of the Sydney Opera House (supposedly) which Kerry tried out with a loud scream. Had our lovely lunch there and then walked back to the bus. On the way back our tour guide assisted a stranded snake that was down a hole. He lowered a branch down for it to climb out when ready. We also came across another snake on the track but was a small thin tree snake. Spied a water monitor (lizard) sunning himself on the banks of a billabong. Back in the bus to drop others off at different parts of the park and had afternoon tea at one of the parks kitchens (yum cheese cake, which Kerry took 2 pieces of).

Argyle Diamond Mine

The flight back was amazing over the top of the deep gorges. Because we didn’t do the helicopter flight as well the pilot took us on a longer journey back over the bungles. We circled over the Diamond Mine which is the worlds largest supplier of diamonds. The company’s production accounts for approximately ¼ of the world’s natural diamond production. The huts for the workers were situated beside the airport for the mine and were all facing away from the mine so when they weren’t working they didn’t have to look at the mine every minute of the day. The runway for the mine was capable of landing a 747 plane. Heading north back over Lake Argyle the lake was like a mirror and the colours of the rocks were so vivid, orange rock and blue lake, beautiful. Landing back in Kununurra where our pilot tells us that we were his first passenger flight but he had done it many many times before.....pleased he told us that when we had finished the flight. This is where new pilots come to learn and get their flying hours up so they can go on to fly bigger planes and better opportunities. This is our last day here in Kununurra and what a way to finish our stay. We thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Lake Kununurra Camp Ground Crew.

Today is 22^nd August and we leave our lovely Kununurra and drive to Lake Argyle to stay the night. The camp is situated above the dam for the lake. Nice spot! The camp has a pool which we headed straight to for a dip to cool off. The pool is called “The Infinity Pool” because the edge of the pool overlooks the lake and it looks like you will swim off the edge. We had another swim before we left the next day. This place is a must to go to and stay. Just up the road from the turnoff to the lake is the boarder checkpoint to Northern Territory. We have no problem coming from Western Australia but if your coming from the other way your vehicle will be searched for honey, seeds, fruit and vegetables. You cannot take these into WA. As soon as we hit the other side NT the speed limit changes to 130kms. Wish we could go that fast lol lol. The time also changes to 90mins forward in time. We really notice the heat rising, definitely hotter and more humid. After parking up at a free site we discovered that the flies actually bite....they are like blowflies (big) and when they land they bite you. They are slow though and easy to splat and kill.

 


Florence Falls

Katherine is a pretty town, we walked around the markets today and visited the information centre. We decided to grab our supplies for a few days and head towards Darwin as we will come back through Katherine after the Kakadu National Park and we can have a better look around when we come back in a week or so. About 200kms up from Katherine is Litchfield National Park. No cost to enter the park but if you stay its $6.60 per person/night. This park is well worth going into. First stop at the Buley Rockholes for a swim. These rockholes are deep and about 4 metres across, fresh water cascades down into each hole. Plenty of rockholes for everyone to enjoy a cool dip. The Florence Falls were abit more of a challenge, a good walk down 175 stairs to the bottom of the gorge where the falls cascaded into a big waterhole. Lots of people here swimming. There were even big fish swimming around that kind of nibbled at your legs if you kept them still. Some young ones here that were climbing the cliffs and jumping off into the water. A bit dangerous really as there was hidden rocks under the surface and signs warning against this activity. We stayed at the Wangi Falls Camp that had nice separate camp sites, showers, toilets and BBQ’s to use. The Wangi Falls themselves were beautiful. Easily accessible for everyone to see, an easy walk. The back drop to this waterhole had 2 waterfalls that filled it. The water was deep in some places but mostly you didn’t have to swim far to a nice sandy bottom to stand on. This was our 3^rd  swim today, great for cooling off in the 35° temp. Decided that we would stay another night here as it was so beautiful and we wanted to have another swim in this lovely place.

Government Building Darwin

Olive Python

 

Off to Darwin only 115kms away. Driving downtown we came across the Government Buildings and had a look around the waterfront. A manmade beach had to be built because of the crocs and stingers that are in these waters. To the left of the waterfront is a wave pool for all to enjoy. This is crazy when they set the waves off in the pool. Everyone had a inflatable tube or a boogie board to use. It had a real looking beach and an area where the little kiddies can puddle too. A walk though the mall we came across a guy that had 3 snakes slithering along the ground and lizards. He was charging $5 for a hold of a snake which i decided to do after a bit of pushing by Kerry to do it....I think cause he was too scared to do it. The guy draped an Olive Python around my neck and told me to relax lol lol What an experience! He wrapped himself around me with his tail end wrapped though the top of my legs. He felt cool to touch and I could feel his muscles as he moved down my arms. Had a nice meal out for once at a Chinese Restaurant. Darwin didn’t really appeal to us so decided to move on towards the Kakadu National Park.

 

Just 40kms towards the Kakadu was “The Windows To The Wetlands” information centre. This is well worth calling into just for the displays and the building. Onwards to the park, boring for the next 200+kms. Called into Jabiru township which didn’t have much at all to see or do.  Stayed one night at a camp. Visited 3 different information centres that started to all look the same mostly lacking in a good grounds person, looked uncared for. We walked a few kilometres on tracks looking at Aboriginal Rock Art which we enjoyed. Walked the boardwalk at Yellow Water and spied a crocodile lurking in the weeds checking us out. One move in the water and I’m sure we would of been his meal. Well honestly we feel that the “Kakadu” should be renamed “The Kakadont”. It cost $25 each to enter the park and $5 per person to camp in there! Because we didn’t have 4WD most of the places we wanted to go were inaccessible. A long way to go and not really see that much....disappointing! We feel the Litchfield National Park was accessible for everyone and was tidy and well cared for.

Aboriginal Rock Art

 

Spent another day in Katherine looking around, and bought another Pawpaw from the markets. Yummm.  Decided to move on down the road as it was 1^st September and we have promised Vicki and Peter to meet them in Cairns on the 15^th and stay at their son’s (Kris and Nicoles) place for a week catch up. At Mataranka is a camp ground that has his own pond and has stocked it with Barramundi fish. Anyone can go and watch him feed these huge fish.

Larrimah Pub

Down the road about 70 kms is Larrimah. The pinkest pub around, all painted pink with a huge big pink pantha outside. We stopped off to have a beer but also next door to the pub is a free wildlife park with crocs, birds, snakes and the odd kangaroo. Awesome place for a break from the road. We have been travelling big km’s here, not really lots to see. Threeways is right on the intersection to either go east or south. Dont stay here at the roadhouse, the water was brown and the toilets and showers needed a good scrub. We weren’t impressed at all especially when we were looking forward to a shower and doing a load of washing. I think the last day or so have been the most boring so far. Not a lot to look at. Met a couple Allan and Beryl at a camp spot that had the same bus as us and had a look though their bus....wow it was lovely inside and has given us a few ideas if we buy a bus when we get back to NZ. Kerry got a few tips on fuel economy and tyre pressure. Though the border now to Queensland....yay! We made it to the other side! We camped beside a river at Camooweal.


Mount Isa

Mount Isa is our next town and we need to get some supplies. This town is incredible, the mine is right in the middle of the town. The lookout is the best place to view this amazing sight. The smell in the air is defiantly coal burning. Looks very dusty too. Not sure i would like to live in this atmosphere. We stayed at a free camp out of town but wished we didn’t. The road was so close and the traffic from the road trains just went all night. At times it sounded like they were coming straight for the bus. The next day we bumped into Allan and Beryl again and they told us to go check out an old town up the road 2kms back towards Mount Isa. Mary Kathlene is an old mining town that was once a thriving community. All that remains are hundreds of concrete slabs where homes and businesses once flourished. Very much a ghost town now. Not far is Cloncurry, this is where we turn left off the highway and head north. Some of this road starts to narrow and end up just one strip down the middle of the road that is seal. A bit hairy at times when on coming traffic doesn’t slow down much as we both pull over to the gravel on the side of the road. And yes, we end up with a broken wing mirror on Kerrys side. Very close to getting another stone on the windscreen.

At Normanton

We stopped off at Normanton where a giant crocodile welcomes people to the town. The information centre is awesome and a must to go in. Lots of history and photos of the area. Now.....Karumba....Queenslands best kept secret. I had to talk Kerry into going up there as its 80kms in and out the same road but so well worth it. Right on the Gulf of Carpentaria. The town is next to the Norm River but the best spot is right on the point of Karumba. We stayed here in the caravan park right by the sea. Went to the pub for a beer and pizza and watch the sun set into the sea once more. Wow wow wow. We could of stayed here for a week. Very much a fishing village for the Barramundi and Prawns. Shame we didn’t have more time to stay longer.

Croydon is home to the oldest shop in Queensland. It looks like “Open All Hours” shop with the groceries on the shelves behind the counter with a ladder to climb to get down for the customer. The other side of the shop had a small museum with old relics from days gone by. Cool old pub too across the road.

Wendy(Carpet Python) and Kerry

Mount Surprise lived up to its name. We had already decided that we wanted to go gem hunting here but to our surprise we found a man called Russell that had a museum and snakes where he puts on a show for tourists. We got talking to him and he gladly pulls out a snake called Kevin (Water Python) and soon drapes it around my neck. Next out of the box is Wendy (Carpet Python) to greet us which gets thrown over Kerrys neck. This man is very interesting and tells us all about the snakes and their habitat. Russell then puts Kevin in a pool of water and talks about the rainbow colours the snake gives off in the sun, this gives it the name of the “Rainbow Serpent”. We thought that this was all but he had one more surprise for us....Clarence a Black Headed Python. Kerry is quick to get this one around his neck. This snake is very scary looking as it has a black head and different looking body. Almost looks like two snakes. This snake actually eats venomous snakes in the wild but is not venomous.