Our Travels Across and Destinations
in Northern Territory
Table of Contents
WA/NT Border, Katherine, Jabiru,
etc in Kakadu
Batchelor and Litchfield National Park
Daly Waters, Three Ways, Barkley
Homestead & Out of N.T.
WA/NT Border, Katherine, Jabiru, etc
in Kakadu
Tuesday June 5th and we
are off at 8:00AM from Kununurra to Katherine. The roads are all good and the
trip although long was quite pleasant. On arrival at Katherine we are surprised
to find our chosen caravan park is full. This it turned out was our luck as we
turned back to stay at the Low Level caravan park which was much nicer than our
original choice. We booked in for two nights but as it was so nice and as
Katherine was a pleasant town we decided to stay for an extra day. We left
Katherine for Kakadu on the 8th of June and decided to stay at a
“Park Managed Camp Ground” “Mardugal”. These campgrounds are very nice with the
only thing missing being electricity, which is no problem for us as we are so
self-contained. The thing that first hits you is that the facilities (showers
etc) that are better than a lot of those that we have experienced in earlier
visited caravan parks (it has now become obviously apparent that the caravan
parks etc are getting progressively better as we proceed through our trip).
Once settled into our park we confirmed what we had first thought as we had
driven into “Kakadu” that yes the bush here looks a lot like a cross between
Darlington and Wanneroo bush. Off to see “Yellow Water” an insect ridden swamp
like river so full of weed that a sign asks you to ensure your boat is clean of
it before taking it to any other waterway and then a look at the “Warradjan
Aboriginal Cultural Center. Cooinda Lodge just up the road looks nice and is
worthy of further 
investigation at a later stage for
say a lunch. The next morning we went to look at some native rock art which was
on display at “Nourlangie Rock Art Sites” (accessible on a bitumen road and
masterfully displayed via boardwalks for tourist consumption) and then we moved
to the “Nangulur Art Site (which is a 1.7km walk off a gravel road) where the
rock paintings looked to be much the “better ones”. Next we drove to Jabiru to
look at the town and on the way back we stopped at a couple of other camp sites
to confirm that we had the best and finally we stopped at the “Mirrai” Lookout
which did afford us an excellent view after climbing some 1.7 kilometres to see
it – This is probably one of the most enjoyable parts of the day after the
“Nangular Art Site”. On the 10th we go back to Mirrai lookout as we
have phone coverage there and we take care of some important phone calls (rang
the mums and Pauline). Another important phone call was to book into a caravan
park at Jabiru for the 11th so the girls could blow-dry their hair
(as we had apparently forgotten about the important things in life). On the way
back to base we took a side trip into Jim Jim Billabong, where we all got a
scare whilst crossing some water, as the water seemed to get a lot deeper than
we had estimated. The next day and on
arrival at Jabiru we set up the caravans and I took a tour of the “Ranger
Uranium Mine” followed by booking two seats in the “Penthouse Suite” at “Hidden
Valley” for the V8 races in June (23rd & 24th). Mary,
Merrilyn & David went on an Aboriginal Cultural Cruise and then to view a
sunset. “Sadly I will be missing all that!!! Cheers! KAKADU You Probably Never Go if you Actually
Ever Know”. First thing tomorrow we are off to Darwin and we will be
meeting Anna Jaskolski who rang us today to say she has arrived in Darwin (no
doubt to gamble the Jaskolski fortunes away in the Casino that is sponsoring
the car races)!
Darwin
Yay Civilisation. Checking into our
resort style caravan park “Free Spirit” we are all very pleased to be here
although it is a little squishy. The afternoon is used to set up and take a
quick look around.
Day 2 (13th of June) is
used to pick up our tickets for the car races (Life just gets tougher), check
out the city, visit some of the monuments (did you know Darwin was bombed 64
times in WWII), purchased our wireless Big Pond, and purchased our tickets to
the Dockers Game etc. It will be fun to go to a game where we can represent
young William (Pauline’s son) in support of his team. Day 3 is Jaskolski day –
We spent the morning looking around Darwin again and then met Anna &
Elizabeth Jaskolski at the Mindil Beach Markets. As any mate would, I first
treated the girls to a tattoo and then informed Zig. He was fine with it as
long as it was dedicated to him and not normally visible – photos at
right. Of course after walking around
the markets for several hours we were off to the casino so Anna could have her
last shot at depleting the Darwin economy. The night ended around midnight when
we dropped the girls back to their hotel. The 15th of June is
David’s birthday so everything will hinge around he who is the oldest amongst
us. The day is spent, sightseeing, purchasing a printer so I could send my
financial year documents back o Perth for Peter Martin to do what he does to
them and then off to dinner with our hosts the Pecks who treated us to a meal
at the Casino. David made an aboriginal friend in a gentleman in the Casino who
exclaimed that he (David) wasn’t bald – he just had a long forehead. The way
the many communities in Darwin live together is a pleasure to know. Saturday
was another day to sight see in Darwin. With there being so much to see, we
visited the “Charles Darwin National Park” (a WWII munitions site) went into
town, etc. etc.! Saturday night is Dockers night as 
they are playing an AFL game between
them and the Bulldogs. Mary wants to go to the game, so we go and the good
thing is that as we don’t much care who wins (and it was just as well as the
Dockers performed to their usual standard) it will be just entertainment value.
It certainly was - At left is a photograph where if you look closely you can
see Mary captured the streaker heading across the field during the game (he
escaped with crowd help on the other side). Sunday morning and it is wash the
car & caravan day as we have worked out that water will not be as available
after we leave Darwin so our opportunity must be taken. Monday is “girls go
shopping day” so David and I went to lunch at “Tim’s Surf & Turf Restaurant” (where all meals are $10.00), the
“Aviation Museum” (great value with lots to see and informative video etc), and
we purchased some computer bits. The girls arrived home after the shops closed
and Dave became a little stressed as they unloaded the car. Tuesday we went out
together taking the girls to lunch at Tim’s (they’re worth it) and exchanged my
dodgy printer at Australia Post. Australia Post were terrific but the printer
people were aware that their printers had the problem so I have written asking
that my time be reimbursed. On the advice of a stranger we took the ferry
across a bay to “Mandorah Beach” where we were told you could enjoy a drink at
the hotel and then come back after a couple of hours on the ferry and enjoy the
sunset on the bay all for $20.00 each. The trip was great but we should have
just come back on the same 
ferry as the hotel looked as if it
was built 40 years ago and had never had any maintenance done on it since then.
In fact it is probably a great opportunity for an entrepreneur to buy it and do
it up, as its location is excellent. Wednesday comes and Mary has gone shopping
while I stay home to do some accounts in preparation for the 30th of
June on my new Canon M.F.C. which works just great. Thursday is a day when
David received his TV antenna and we spent most of the day installing it. Of
course Mary & Merrilyn went shopping again (One has to wonder why shopping
is so appealing when you can not really buy anything due to our size &
weight limitations or is it a “girl thing”). Friday – David is sick (diseased
not self inflicted) so the three of us go to see the WWII Oil Storage Tunnels,
The Darwin Wharf Precinct, to pick up some mail, shop for the races (table 
decorations) and to the Kakadu
winery (in Darwin making Mango 
wines). Satur
day YAY off to the V8 races at
Hidden Valley where we have tickets to the “Penthouse Suite”. They feed you
there and make you drink fine wines to try to ensure that you get value for
your tickets, which are very well priced when compared with other racing events
we have frequented in other states. Pictured at left are two gentlemen we met
at the suite who are putting sun screen on their feet as they were determined
to stay in he sun whilst watching the races and drinking lots of beer. A great
day was had by all! I felt a bit squeamish overnight, probably too much sun but
Mary was well. Sunday and we are off again to the V8’s and yes back to our
suite where the food is getting finer by the day. We took the corporate shuttle
bus (it is a tram which leaves from next to our suite whereas the general
public also have free shuttle busses to
take them to the many areas around the track stopping at designated points) to
take a look at the pits (access is part of our ticket) and then made our way
back to the box. The races are so well run here and even many of the general
public areas (one mound pictured above) have covering supplied so they can set
up their own tables etc for a great family outing at a family price. We both
are having a ball in Darwin, which is probably the highlight of our trip so
far. Monday and as David is unwell we are staying another day – Nobody minds so
off to town. Visited the WWII 
oil storage tunnels (which were not
completed until after the 
war ended), the wharf precinct where
you can 
drive onto the wharf to park and
then into Darwin City - general 
shopping for the girls. Tuesday
takes us to the “Adelaide River Experience Jumping Croc Cruise” (which is the
one done from a big open passenger dingy) – Spectacular! Next we visited “Fogg
Dam Conservation Reserve” which is much more impressive than the brochures
indicate and is where we saw what we expected to see in Kakadu (bush wise) and
enjoyed a 1 km boardwalk. Lastly for the day off to “Window on the wetlands”
which is a most impressive building but is probably more for educating school
children.
DARWIN - WE LOVED IT!
Batchelor & Litchfield National
Park?
David is feeling better so we are
off to Batchelor where we stay at the Batchelor Caravan Park. It is a very
pretty caravan park and everyone wants to stay longer just to enjoy the
location. The caravan park is a short drive from Litchfield so first thing in
the next morning (around 10:00AM) we set off for “Wangi Falls” (deep in
Litchfield) with a plan to work our way back throughout the day. Litchfield
National Park is a joy as the sights, which are all worth seeing, are not too
far apart and are easily accessible. At “Greenant Creek” we take a walk into
“Tjaetaba Falls” where we find lunatics standing on top looking over the cliff
side (pictured at left). Next it is on to “Tolmer Falls” – specki!, then to
“Bulyey Rockhole” where Mary had a swim. Lastly we went to “Florence Falls” and
by stopping at the picnic spot just before the falls car park we found a walk
through a natural garden that was the best one I have experienced to date. The
pathway is paved to look natural but it is one that you would be pleased to
have in your back yard. The walk came out at the “Florence Falls” where there
was once again a spectacular swimming hole. We left the falls using the
alternative route up the 135 stairs, which nearly killed some of us so it is
probably best to walk back through the garden. Litchfield National Park
is Spectacular and is a NOT TO MISS!
Daly Waters, Three Ways, Barkley
Homestead & out of N.T.
On leaving Litchfield it was decided
to try for Daly Waters, which is quite a drive, but we are told the
entertainment at the end of it is worth the effort. On rounding the corner into
Daly Waters you come across the pub that looks like it is out of a comic book.
We booked into the caravan park attached to the pub, where we are told that we
are too late for a powered site. Who cares – we have everything we need anyway
and with the very cold nights we are getting, it is nice to open our door in
the morning and let the warm air out of the van just to see the looks on the
other caravaners faces. Yep – Our European gas heating systems are coming in
very handy now. The Pub serves a Steak & Barra barbecue for $19.95 and you
enjoy it whilst watching an entertainer perform with two Wedge Tail Eagles
sitting on his head (they looked like chooks to me) Great entertainment and good fun.
On the 30th
of June we left Daly Waters and headed for Barkley Homestead via Three Ways.
Barkley Homestead is just that and is very noisy at night because they use
their own diesel generator to supply power. If you don’t like the free stops on
the road go there but if we had it to do again we would probably have stopped
at a “freebie”.
Northern
Territory celebrates their “Independence Day” on the 1st of July
with fireworks so we were going to buy some but we were told that it is illegal
to let them off in Queensland and as we intended to cross the border tomorrow
there was no point in purchasing any. Guess we didn’t buy any!
On the 1st
of July we crossed the border out of Northern Territory – Goodbye – We All
Loved N.T.
Last
revised: Date Wednesday, July 04, 2007