Keep River National Park

After driving a short distance we reached Timber Creek, we got a post card and had lunch. Then we drove to our campsite and went on a walk to find some Aboriginal rock art but the path to get there was closed. The next day we packed up and went on the Ginger Hill walk and we saw a structure that the Aboriginals  used to catch birds of prey by twirling a stick with feathers on the top. Then we drove for the Quarantine Station.

Gregory National Park

We finally got to our campsite in Gregory National Park. The next day we drove to a walk to go on. When we got to the top I had a stitch but we also saw some calcite which only grows 2 millimetres per decade. When I could walk again we went back to the car and drove to the cattle yards and we played with an old working sawmill. Then we drove to the Homestead and I swung on a hook that was hanging from a tree. Then I climbed a Boab tree which is a tree that stores water in its trunk. Then we drove back to our campsite. The next day we packed up and drove out of Gregory National Park.

Mataranka

We drove to Mataranka but on the way we stopped at Katherine to get supplies including the new spare tyre that we needed to get but first we headed to lunch. After lunch we went to a Laundromat to clean our clothes. Then we went food shopping and last of all we went to Stuart Highway Tyres and had a look but after checking the tyre size we found out that they didn’t have the size that we needed. Then we went to Mataranka and set up. The next day we went to the museum. I found it very very boring. There were some interesting parts like the old telegraph poles. Then we went to the homestead replica that was made for the movie “We of the Never Never”. Then we went to the thermal springs and I played with a boy called Jayden for the day. Then we drove home and went to bed.

The next day we went on a walk that was 8.2km!! Along the walk we encountered a Bower Bird nest which had shells next to it.  Then we continued. When we finally got there we found the swimming area but Dad said that the current was to strong for me to swim so we walked all that way for nothing, but we did have a bag of salt and vinegar chips. Then we had to walk all the3 way back again. When we got back we decided that it was bed time so we went to sleep. The next day we went to Bitter Springs which was a spring that had a current so strong that you just had to float and you could get to the end. Some people also gave me a noodle to float with. Then we drove to the bar at the Mataranka Homestead to watch a video of “We of the Never Never’, which is played there every lunch time to attract customers. Da also bought me a Ginger Beer to go with our chips. Then we went to the Thermal Pool because the bar is right next to the Thermal Springs. The next day we left Mataranka which was a good campsite I think.

First we drove through Katherine and did some food shopping and received the spare tyre. Then we went to a cafe and Dad bought me  and him a milkshake but I also wanted some chips so I bought some. I really liked the chips because they used chicken salt. Then we drove off to Gregory National Park.

Gunlom

After leaving Maguk we camped at Gunlom. After putting up camp I had a read next to the fire. The next day we went to the waterfall walk and accidentally went to the dunk pool. Then we went to the lookout and when we got  to the top we got a big surprise. There was a swimming pool up there!!! We spent about 5 hours there . I think it was my favourite swimming destination in the Kakadu National Park. The next day we drove towards Mataranka.

Tyre Splitting

Today we packed up and drove to Maguk swimming area and saw that we had a split tyre but we decided that we would worry about that after we had the swim. after swimming we went back to the car to get the spare tyre on because no one can fix a split tyre. First we put the jack on but it collapsed (Ed. actually just didn’t lift the car high enough!) so Dad had to dig a hole underneath the tyre. Then while Dad was digging the hole under the car I started reading the car fridges owners manual. When Dad finished digging the hole Dad wound down the spare tyre and I got the chain off so we could replace it. When we finished we found out that the Nissan cap that went on the wheel to make it look good was missing. Then we drove to our campsite which was only 1 1/2 km away. It was a nice camp except for a lot of March flies buzzing around. Then I fell asleep almost immediately.

Our Little Trip

At 4.30am we got up and drove to the Airport to drop Mum and Harry off at the Airport. When we got there Mum and Harry got a plane to Bunbury. Then Dad and I drove to McDonald’s for breakfast. Then we said goodbye and started driving. After driving for at least an hour we got in to the Kakadu National Park and drove to a $5 a night camp and set up camp. The next day we drove to Twin Falls and got on the boat. When we got there I played in the sand. Then we got to a $10 a night camp site and had a shower before going to bed. The next day we went to Jim Jim Falls which was a swimming area that's water course was a water fall. The water then flowed underground and spread out in to a beach pool. We spent the whole day there swimming and I even made a little house out of sticks wedged between rocks. Then we went back to the car and had a yoghurt for lunch and drove back to our campsite and went to sleep.

The Water Park Again

The next day we went to the water park with Mum and had a great time. We got to go on the water slide with Dad and we spent hours playing there, even after mum left we kept playing. That night we went to the markets and watched a man who was doing a display with fire. We also had dinner and I tried Pho and didn’t like it, then I went on a walk with Mum and got an ice cream. Then we drove home and went to bed.

Litchfield National Park

Today we went to Litchfield National Park. It was amazing because of all the pools it had and we swam in them for hours. My favourite would probably have been the Dunk Pool which had a large waterfall dunking into it. We also went to the homestead and read the book about how they worked every day all day mining for tin and at night cooking for themselves.Then we went to the magnetic termite mounds which the termites build in a south-northerly orientation so that they catch the sunlight in the morning so that in the evening they were still warm . Then we drove back to Tam and Dee’s house.

Darwin Continued

on Saturday we went to the museum and we split up with Dad and me looking for the Cyclone Tracy section while Mum and Harry went looking for the kids section. When we found the Cyclone Tracy section and heard the wind (it sounded like an ocean) and also saw a lot of information of what happened. Then we went to find Mum and Harry. When we got in there I immediately started reading. Then we drove home. The next day we went to the water park which had a giant water slide that had plastic so thick that when you go inside it you can’t see anything at all. They also have two other slides and a swimming pool and we spent several hours playing in the pool or on the water slide. Then we had lunch and drove home. The next day I had to work for 2 hours but as my reward I got an ice cream. Then we drove back home and had a good sleep preparing for the next day.

The next day we went to the General Store to get me and Dad swags. Dad got one that had a built in mosquito net where as I had to get an insect dome and a swag. Then we went to a food court and got lunch. Then we went for a wander around Darwin and when home.

Darwin

When we got to Tam and Dee’s house they provided u with beds to sleep in. The next day Mum, Harry and I explored the Darwin waterfront and got an ice cream while dad was on the phone for almost the whole day. Then we went tot he Aboriginal Art Gallery which had art done by Aboriginal artists. Then we went to the visitor centre because our parking ticket had expired. Then we drove to the old town hall and visitor centre and got some brochures and drove home.

The Broken Caravan

After a long drive we got to Normanton and Dad went to set up the caravan but one corner didn’t go up so he wound it down.Then he wound it up again but this time two corners didn’t go up so we had to stay in a cabin for the night. The next day we drove through Borroloola and Mum, Harry and I got an ice cream. Then we got to Hells Gate and slept in the car. The day after that we drove through river crossings and had dinner at a restaurant. Then we drove to a free camp at Mataranka. The next day we drove to the Stuart Highway to go to Darwin so we could fix the caravan. When we got to Darwin we dropped it off and headed towards Tam’s place.

O’Brien’s Creek

After leaving Undara we turned off at Mt Surprise and went to O’Briens Creek. The day after that Harry and I played with a boy at the Elizabeth Creek. After a while I went out fossicking (for Topaz) with Dad. After a while I got bored, we hardly found anything, abd when we went to a different spot I just played in a rock pool. The next day we left and drove off towards Normanton.

The Lava Tubes

The next day we went to Undara Lava Tubes and got a tour. In the tour we went to a collapsed section and got inside. When we got about half way we couldn’t go any further  because the rest was covered with water because of the floods caused by cyclones. The next one we went to was about the same, it had flooding affect it too. The last one we went to was not affected by the floods and we wouldn’t have gone there normally on this tour but due to the floods we had enough time to go there. There was an exit at the end and the guide told us about how in the olden days people crawled through the exit and came out covered with mud and bat droppings. When we got back Harry and I bought an Australian Wildlife book. Then we hopped back in the car and drove to Mt Surprise.

The Atherton Tablelands

After driving out of Cairns we went on the mountain towards Atherton. When we got to Atherton we stopped and saw a sign for The Empress of Uruguay but drove through. Then we went to our campsite in Ravenshoe and played with some kids from Busselton. The next day we went back to the Crystal Caves and paid to get inside and I had a great time. I think my favourite display would have been the Magic Spheres, which had ultra-violet light shining on a special rock collection that they had collected over a seven year period. When we left we drove to the Curtain Fig Tree which was a tree that had been taken over by a fig. Then we drove back to Ravenshoe and picked up the caravan and drove to the 40 Mile Scrub which was a dry rain forest.

Cairns Continued

After I finished snorkelling we went inside the boat for lunch. It was a very yummy lunch and I had two helpings. Then I got on the glass bottom boat and sped out to a little island of sand and then I saw a bigger island of sand that other people were swimming to. So I decided to swim there too. There were a lot of sharp rocks at the bottom but I soon got over that problem by floating over the rocks. When I got to the other island I made a sand castle and Dad and Robyn went looking for shells. They came back with some shells that looked like fossils. For example Robyn found one that was hollow and had an imprint of a starfish. Then we swam back to the boat and got to go inside the cockpit. and rode home. The next day went to get the car fridge battery fixed. After waiting almost two hours they had fixed it. It cost $112.50 and it was amazing because the cost was $112 labour and 50c for the job. Then for afternoon tea we went to Di and Terry’s who had been reading our blog and Harry started watching Youtube and I watched with him. Then for tea we went to Rob’s house and Harry and I watched movies on his media centre. Then we drove back to Robyn’s house. The next day was a leaving day and Harry and I went to the frog hospital and saw heaps of frogs, Barbara even let us touch some frogs she had. When we got back Dad had finished packing down the caravan so we said goodbye to Robyn and drove off.

Cairns

Today we left Black River Stadium and drove to Robyn’s house. After we set up Harry and I started watching TV. The next day we went to Muddy’s playground and the markets. Then we got an all you can eat Chinese shop and I got the kids plate which was a small plate with a free ice cream. After we played on the playground and then drove home. Then after that we had a barbecue for tea. The next day we went to Port Douglas markets and I pedalled on a bike to make sugar cane juice. I did want some and then Robyn who had come with us bought one cup for three dollars and shared it with all of us. After walking and looking at a lot of shops we got to a shop that let us hold a pigs skull (it was the piggy that went to market). By that time we were all very hungry so we went to a restaurant and I had fish and chips. From there we drove back to Robyn's house and went to bed. The next day we went out to the Great Barrier Reef on a boat that was driven by James who is Dad’s cousin and we went snorkelling and I also went in the glass bottom boat. I saw a lot of coral and fish and fish that were hanging around. Our guide also showed  us some Clown Fish and Spaghetti Coral that was red on the top but white on the sides so that when you rubbed it you could see white.