Back in Sunny QLD

MT ISA After several days of driving through flat arid land we arrived at Mt Isa which has the largest underground mine in the world. About 20kms before the city you see hills which makes a change. Today we did an underground mine tour, due to 'health and safety' they spent five years building an underground mine to demonstrate what is done and the machinery used.

Do hope that QLD lives up to it's name of being 'sunny' as we have enjoyed not having any rain, reckon the last time we experienced any was at the end of May - long may it continue.

MT ISA BACKDROP

Nearly at the Queensland Border

BARKLY HIGHWAY Yesterday we put in a big day of driving 515 kms, or should I say Paul did, we left Katherine got to Daly Waters, had a bite to eat and decided to keep on going down the Stuart Highway. Stopped the night at Renner Springs, a roadhouse with bar, restaurant and caravan park, as we were not in until about 4pm we ended up with an unpowered site.

The wind came up during the night and this morning it was quite cool, they reckon the weather changes at Renner Springs, a border for the Top End and the Red Centre, seemed to be so judging by the temperature, soil colour and the vegetation.

Today we have continued down the Stuart Highway to Three Ways and turned east onto the Barkly Highway, the scenery has changed in that the bush is more scarce. We are parked up tonight at Barkly Homestead, similar set up to Renner Springs, except we have power, but alas for Paul no TV reception.
ARMY CONVOY We have seen a lot of army vehicles including tanks being transported on the road today, apparently there has been a big exercise in Queensland and they are now heading back to Darwin.

Edith Falls

EDITH FALLS Yesterday we left Kakadu National Park and headed to the caravan park at the falls. In the afternoon we had a swim in the rock pool; beautiful clear water. After dinner we sat out under the stars, it was a really clear night and we saw two shooting stars. Up early this morning and walking at 8.30am to the top of the escarpment where there is another waterfall and rock pools, very pretty. I had a swim while Paul watched. We beat the crowds that's for sure as a few people heading up as we were walking down. Tonight we are at Katherine where we have stocked up on groceries and fuel before we head off south down the centre tomorrow, not sure where we will end up at this stage. WATERFALL AT TOP POOL
CREEK AT BOTTOM OF LOWER POOL

HEALTH AND SAFETY AT EDITH FALLS

More of the Great Outdoors

UBIRR Today we headed out to the East Alligator section of Kakadu and climbed up to the Ubirr lookout, here is part of the view over the wetlands towards Arnhem Land, it was quite spectacular. Lot's of sandstone rock formations, very similar to what we saw at Kings Canyon and Litchfield National Park which also formed part of the inland sea.
US WITH THE UBIRR WETLANDS IN THE BACK GROUND

EAST ALLIGATOR RIVER, CAHILLS CROSSING Wow, this place was like crocodile city. We were there about 11am and obviously the tide was part way out as this crocodile was on the opposite bank sun baking, another crocodile had drifted near it, hence the open mouth. There were several people fishing on the concrete road which has a rock wall which obviously serves as a guide when the water is flowing.

CAHILLS CROSSING Check out the vehicle making it's way across with the crocodile to the right of it. We were back here about 1pm and it was high tide, the current was very strong and the water marker peaked at .6. The crocodiles were lurking in the swirling water and catching the barramundi as they got caught in the tidal water flow - very clever. The crossing takes you across to Arnehm Land which you need a permit to enter.

GREVILLEA check out the bees having a feed.

Cruising at Sunrise

SUNRISE AT YELLOW RIVER What a great cruise we had, it sure was worth getting up at 4.45 am to be at Cooinda at 6.45 am. To see the sun rising was incredible with the mist over the billabong and river. Within minutes of being out on the water we encountered our first of many crocodiles making their way across the water to lap up the the sunshine and bask on the banks of the wetlands. We saw a lot of bird life so a fabulous morning, after our buffet breakfast back at the lodge, we headed back towards Jabiru and did some walks.
CROCODILE MAKING HIS WAY ACROSS THE WATER TO THE WETLANDS

CROCODILE SUNBAKING

AZURE KINGFISHER

Farewell Darwin, Hello Kakadu

KAKADU NATIONAL PARK Monday we left Darwin and headed out here to the park which was about 300kms, got settled into the caravan park and then visited the Bowali Information Centre to suss out what to see and do the next few days.

Today we did a one hour scenic flight, it was great, the park is vast so a great way to see some of the escarpments, wetlands and Alligator river. Tomorrow we are doing a dawn cruise so bound to see a few crocodiles in their natural habitat.
RANGER URANIUM MINE This mine will be operating through to 2021 and provides 10% of the countries uranium for export. The tour was great and we got to see around the site and the buildings/equipment that make up the various stages from rock to powder for export. The bottom of this open cut mine where the water is, is 170 metres below sea level and the top of the mine is 15 metres above sea level.

Sunset

DARWIN YACHT CLUB We are enjoying our last few days here in Darwin. Tonight we went back down to the beach and took a bottle of wine and some nibbles and took a few more photos. The sunsets here are really stunning and we chatted to a local who likes to come down and take some photos. Looking forward to heading to Kakadu on Monday.

Just Relaxing

VESTEYS BEACH We had a lovely time with Dad here, out and about most days then when we could we spent the afternoon at the pool here reading and swimming. Dad's nine days flew by all too quickly. We have another nine days here before we head off to Kakadu, don't think we will have any trouble filling in our days.
LOTUS FLOWERS - Territory Wildlife Park

Territory Wildlife Park

STANDING GROUND Just in front of the pelicans and to the left of the vegetation is the head of a freshwater crocodile. The pelicans all sailed towards him as if to show force and then about two feet away turned around and went to the other side of the lake. The park was great and is run by the Northern Territory Government. They have some great bird life and a wonderful aquarium.SALTWATER CROCODILE For ages we thought this crocodile was purely an exhibit and not alive, after what seemed like forever he floated to the top and took in air with just his eyes visible and then gradually came back down into the water. We reckon he was a good advertisement for Colgate toothpaste.
LOTUS FLOWERS - Territory wildlife park. After spending a few hours at the park we went and had a picnic lunch at Berry Springs and then a lovely swim in the tepid water, a great way to finish off another day together.

Darwin Sunset

SUNSET This evening we went to the Mindil markets, after having a wander around we then went around to another viewing point and watched the sunset, it was really pretty and the sun disappeared very fast. We have had a good couple of days, yesterday we went to the casino for lunch and caught up with Don and Barbara a couple we met way back at Wilpena Pound in South Australia, up until now we have been travelling together or just a day or two apart, but they are now heading back down to Three Ways and across to Queensland and home to the Sunshine Coast. We look forward to meeting up again when we get there.

Last night Deidre who lives in Katherine spent a night with us, she used to work with Dad back in New Zealand and made the 300km trip up here to catch up which was much appreciated. Today Dad and I visited the aviation museum which was very interesing.

SKY CITY CASINO DARWIN This is the lovely view out from one of the dining areas, sure it would be very easy to have a week here lapping up that view.

Family Time

WAR MUSEUM Dad arrived safe and sound on Wednesday afternoon so had a quiet evening. Yesterday we went to East Point and visited the Museum and then had a picnic lunch at Lake Alexander where we had a couple of swims. The lake is a really nice salt water swimming spot next to the ocean which is not safe to swim in with the box jellyfish and crocodiles.
DARWIN WHARF Today we went into the city and had a wander along The Esplanade and checked out the various plaques in regards to the bombing of Darwin then had a wander around Parliament house. After that we visited the World War 2 oil tunnels so an interesting morning. Lovely spending the afternoon around the pool swimming and reading after another day in the low 30's.