And on towards Sydney (First Week)

Tuesday 29th November

Left the Darwin Camp site to spend some time in Darwin centre.

We then drove to the Kakadu National Park for a Forest walk and a look at an Aboriginal art sites.
We then walked to Ubirr viewpoint to view the usually good sunset – unfortunately today it was not an impressive site!! Camped overnight at Malabanjbanjdju.






 Wednesday 30th November
Left the campsite at 07:00 and drove to Nourlangie for a 1 km walk to see the outdoor Aboriginal art site. Afterwards we visited the Aboriginal cultural centre at Warradjan. Stopped for lunch (and swim, shower etc) at Yellow River where there was an optional river trip which a few of the group went on and really enjoyed (inc. Kieran, Glen, Peggy & John). After lunch we set off towards the town of Katherine and we left the Kakadu National Park.


Thursday 1st December

After breaking bush camp at 07:00 we all enjoyed a 1 hr walk viewing the Katherine Gorge before spending about 90 minutes in Katherine itself. I

n the afternoon we stopped at Mataranka Hot Thermal Springs where most of the group enjoyed a short swim in the hot thermal pools. The Hot springs are part of the Elsey National Park and then we left for an overnight bush camp at the old Gorrei airfield (which was used extensively in the 2nd World War). The land surrounding the old airstrip was full of termite hills so we had to be careful where we pitched our tents!!




Friday 2nd December

Left for Larrimah after enjoying pancakes for breakfast at the Gorrei airfield bush camp. Stopped in Larrimah to view the small museum and zoo. There were 2 Road trains parked behind the zoo and these can be up to 53m long and can comprise of a tractor unit and 3 linked trailer units.

 We then called into Daly Waters to see the original site of Australia’s first international airstrip and the remains of the Stuart Tree which the explorer engraved his initials in 1862 during his successful journey from Adelaide to Darwin (the first crossing across Australia).
We spent some time in the small town of Daly Waters including admiring the decorations in the pub/restaurant. We stopped off to see the Junction Hotel Hotel at Newcastle Waters which was an important drovers hotel from the early 1930’s to the 1950’s. We then made alunch stop at Elliott and a short stop at Renner Spring before moving onto a bush camp near Kunjarra.

Saturday 3rd December

Left Kunjarra (The Pebbles) at 07:30 towards Tennant Creek stopping off at Mary Ann Dam for showers and washing at 09:00. Stopped for lunch shopping at Tennant Creek before moving onto see the Devils Marbles (including lunch). In the afternoon we briefly visited Barrow Creek Telegraph Station before we set up a bush camp at Connors Well.

Sunday 4th December

Briefly stopped at the marker for the Tropic of Capricorn before we visited Alice Springs for most of the day. We viewed the town from the Anzac Hill viewpoint and war memorial before exploring the small desert town. Most of us visited the Flying Doctor museum in the town before leaving at 16:30 and we set up our bush camp ay the Finke River.