TUESDAY 3RD JUNE 2014 OUR BIG ADVENTURE

Left Highfields 10.30am for Mitchell.  Arrived at Mitchell 5pm.  Had a good trip started out in rain , fine  when we arrived and most of the way.

 Stayed at the Major Mitchell Caravan Park, very nice park with nice wash rooms.  Met two major Mitchell  cockatoos (in a cage).

Major Mitchell Cockatoo

                   

Set up at Major Mitchell Caravan Park

WEDNESDAY 4TH JUNE 2014 BLACKALL

Traveled to Blackall to-day very flat dry country  Saw The Black Stump anything west was beyond the black stump..hence the saying beyond the black stump.

THURSDAY 5TH JUNE 2014 WINTON

Emu in the main street at Barcaldine

Tree of Knowledge at Barcaldine

Traveled from Blackall to Winton today. Stopped at Barcaldine to see the Tree Of Knowledge , and stopped just out of Longreach for lunch. We saw emus eagles and crows on our way.  We are staying at The Matilda Caravan Park Winton . We went and listen to some bush poets tonight.

Alpaca; at Winton Matilda Caravan Park

Dinasaur at Matilda Caravan Park

FRIDAY 6TH JUNE 2O14 MOUNT ISA

Arrived at Mount Isa today. The caravan park was very crowded.There where a lot of termite mounds on the way, the country changing again to having more hills with interesting rock formations.

Termite mound near Mt Isa

Wedge Tail eagle near Mt Isa

SATURDAY 7TH JUNE 2014 BARKLY

Arrived at Barkly Homestead to-day in NT, a very nice camp ground with individual  bathrooms again!!!!  We are sorting the caravan out and working out which switch works what thing.

 SOME SCENERY ON OUR WAY

SUNDAY 8TH JUNE 2014 DALY WATERS

We traveled  from Barkly Homestead to Daly waters, scenery changing more vegetation white ant hills changing from red to brown. We passed through Newcastle Waters is a large lagoon where the drovers use too water their cattle on their long haul through the region and cross roads for 3 stock routs, also there  was a monument to Stuart.

We are staying at The Daly Waters Caravan Park.  We went to the Pub for  hamburger on damper roll and entertainment.   Carol and I even got up for a few dances even got Ted and Richard up on the floor!! Nice!

Newcastle Waters

Drovers memorial

Daly Waters

Daly Waters

MONDAY 9TH JUNE 2014 MATARANKA

We are camped at Elsey National Park caravan Park.  Had a nice swim at Bitter Waters hot  spring and  Mataranka Spings , both very pretty spots, Bitter Springs the more natural but very deep.

Mataranka Springs

Man made Ant Hill Mataranka

The real Ant Hill

The camp site is very nice set among the trees, we were able to get our washing done and dried, the weather is fine and mild.  We haven't had any internet connection for the last few days getting withdrawal symptoms.  

TUESDAY 10TH JUNE 2014 PINE CREEK

Arrived at Pine Creek from Mataranka . Lots of birds at Pine Creek camp. A Bower bird had his nest there he likes all things white, lots of white things in his nest.
We stopped off at Leliyn Edith Falls on our way very pretty. Did some food shopping at Katherine will be  stopping on our way back from Darwin to have a look around.

Had to stop at the level crossing near Pine Creek to let the Ghan go by.

Leliyn Edith Falls

Kapoc Tree

Bower Bird nest at Pine Creek camp  ground 

Mr Bower Bird at Pine Creek Camp. He liked all things white.

There was a lot of squawking coming from this nest so think mummy was late with breakfast.

WEDNESDAY 11TH JUNE 2014 JABIRU

We travelled to Jabiru to-day, staying at Kakadu Lodge Caravan Park for the next 3 nights very good site.  Nourlangie Look Out and Anbangbang Gallery.

View near Nourlangie

Near Nourlangie

Cave painting at  Anbangbang Gallery

Magpie Geese at Jabiru

THURSDAY 12TH JUNE 2014 JABIRU

Still at Jabiru did the sunset Yellow River cruise...wonderful lots of bird life and beautiful sunset and the moon rising as we were going home, magical I can not find enough adjectives to describe it.

We did a hike up to Mirroi Look Out at Lunch time talk about mad dogs and Australians!!!! So hot, thought I would never make it.  We had dinner to-night at the local sports club lamb shanks ,very nice. 

FRIDAY 13TH JUNE 2014 JABIRU

We went for a guided walk this morning learning about Aboriginal painting and traditions very interesting. We went for another walk at Ubirr after lunch saw some more Aboriginal paintings we went on to Cahill Crossing where a ute had been washed off the cause way that morning. The crossing goes over to Arnhem Land.  

All from our guided tour

Cahill Crossing