Alice Springs to Kings Canyon

Another pretty big day of driving, arriving at Kings Canyon in the hot hot heat of the day.  After checking in and cooling off we walked along the Kings Creek in the bottom of the canyon. Beautiful. 

Kings Canyon to Uluru!

Arrived at Uluru around 11am. Totally amazed by how developed the town by Uluru is. I did not expect it at all in my naiveity. It has everything you could possibly need. Although it is very well set up for tourists, it is tastefully done and far enough away from the rock to not make it ridiculous. 

After getting some lunch in the town square and some more didgeridoo playing we took our first drive closer to the rock. Absolutely incredibly amazing. Just love it. It really does feel like you are at the heart of our awesome country. Love it.

Visited the cultural centre and took a short walk to begin to understand the traditional stories that explain how Uluru came to be.  Signed the not climbing book. Hope to learn more over the next few days as we walk around the rock and visit kata tjuta. 

Not Uluru! Fooluru!  Also known as mount Conner. Also pretty impressive. 

Kings Canyon and Cameron's birthday.

An early start to the day to walk the rim of Kings Canyon and beat the heat. First thing though we wished Cameron a happy 14 th birthday and presented him with his very own didjeridoo. Very happy boy. 

Kings Canyon is spectacular with surprises at every turn. Amazing domes and cliff faces. Fabulous walk. 

With the walk completed by 10am we spent the rest of the day just keeping cool and listening to Cameron practice his new instrument. As the sun went down we enjoyed a stroll around the resort, a yummy dinner, a few games of cards, birthday cake and bed. 

Alice Springs

Spent the day exploring Alice Springs and surrounds. Started out early as the temperature was forecast to reach 39 degrees and it did.

A nice little stroll along a dry river bed to reach Simpsons Gap. 

Headed into the town of Alice Springs to get a lesson in playing didgeridoo. The trumpet player had the most success with that. 

Wandered around the shops and took a drive up to Anzac Hill for a nice view over the town and surrounding Macdonald Ranges. 

At sunset we headed out on some camels. So much fun. 

Todd River

Tennant Creek to Alice Springs

On the road after breakfast heading south towards Alice Springs. 

On the way we stopped off at Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu). Amazing sight with great photo opportunities!  We had fun. 

Arrived at Alice Springs to find our lovely accommodation. Pretty luxurious compared to some other places we have stayed. Got some washing done and time to chill out and watch the NRL grand final. 

Katherine to Tennant Creek

Before leaving Katherine this morning we visited the Topdidj Cultural Centre. We are so glad we made the time to do this. Manuel is the guide who was born in the bush near Katherine and did not see a white fella until he was about 7 years old. He had so many stories to share and taught us about the aboriginal culture. We were taught how to do traditional cross hatch paintings, how to light fires using fire sticks ands how to throw a spear using a woomera. 

We learnt that Lilly and Ann would able to survive - Ann had success lighting the fire with fire sticks and Lilly proved to be successful with a spear. 

All up a great experience. 

The remainder of the day was spent driving to Tennant Creek close to 700 km.  

A nice cooling off dip in Mataranka Springs on the way. 

Kakadu to Katherine

Left Kakadu National Park this morning. 😞

Made our way to Katherine where we had time for a cool off in the motel pool before cruising up to Katherine Gorge. Very pretty. 

Dinner out for more Barra. Cameron now has a taste for it. 

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that I (Ann) am participating in Ocsober right now. It is definitely a challenge on holidays!!  

Chris is not doing Ocsober. 

4WD tour in Kakadu

Another early start to go out into Kakadu via 4 WD. Our guide picked us up in a very comfortable land cruiser and we were the only people in the group. Private tour. Awesome. 

We drove through Jim Jim creek to take a boat to Twin Falls. Being the dry season there is no water flowing over the falls but the scenery is still spectacular. 

Stopped for morning tea on the river beach.  

After a 45 min 4WD track and a hot and difficult 1 km walk over boulders we made it to Jim Jim Falls. Again no water flowing but an incredible sight of the cliffs. Our guide made us lunch while we took a dip in the gorgeous rock pool. The crocodiles are managed in this area so they can almost guarantee it is saltwater croc free. 

A fabulous day. Great to explore areas of the park we would never have been able to do on our own. 

Yellow River Kakadu

Up before sunrise to go on a sunrise cruise of the wetlands. 

Wow - an abundance of life at every turn. Jabiru, sea eagles, brolgas, cute little birds that walk on water, dragonflies, lotus Lillies - amazing. 

Three days before the national parks had shot 5 buffalo in the water. All the crocodiles in the area had gathered around them to feed slowly from the carcasses. It was amazing and a bit freaky being surrounded by at least 50 hungry crocodiles. 

After the cruise we made our way slowly back to jabiru via nourlaingie rocks to see some more amazing rock paintings. 

We also did a short but exhausting walk to a lookout. It is hot here. Very very hot. 

Managed to find somewhere to swim and eat dinner so that is where we will stay till bedtime!

Darwin to Kakadu

Travelled from Darwin to Kakadu today. On the way we went on a spectacular jumping crocodile cruise. Amazing to see the scary creatures up so close. 

After the crocs we travelled on to Jabiru stopping for a barra burger on the way. 

After arriving we visited the beautiful Ubirr rocks, an amazing art gallery of aboriginal rock art. We watched the sunset over Kakadu - pretty spectacular day all round.