Warning
Originally uploaded by Toytown Mafia.
You won't find a sign like this at home, that's for sure!
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Adventure Tours day four - on to Juno Farm
On the 27th, we set off south again down the Stuart Highway, covering much of the same ground we had seen on the Desert Venturer trip days before. Our first stop was at Mataranka, where we went for a swim in the thermal pools, before continuing on to Daly Waters for a barbecue lunch. Our next break after that was at a roadhouse where we got to handle a few snakes and lizards, including a bearded dragon which was quite cool in both senses of the word (they're cold-blooded). Our overnight stay was at Juno horse farm, where Adventure Tours have another private permanent campsite. We slept in 'swags' that night, which are basically canvas sleeping bags with a mattress sewn into them. You sleep under the stars, inside your sleeping bag and swag, hoping not to wake up with a dangerous animal crawling all over you!
Friday, June 23, 2006
Adventure Tours day three - Katherine
On Friday the 26th (of May), I had a now usual early start to join a new three day tour from Darwin to Alice Springs. Although it was a completley new tour, I already knew a couple of girls - Alex and Nina - in the group who had the same national pass as me and who had been on my buses since Mission Beach and would be on all my tours down to Adelaide. You're generally quite lucky if someone's on two of your tours, so getting people who are on half of them is even better. When you're backpacking, you're meeting and leaving people so often that it's nice to have some continuity and not have to start again from scratch every time.
So after meeting our new guide - Ryan - and assistant trainee guide - Travis - at the hostel, we boarded the bus and headed south, stopping first at the Adelaide River roadhouse (where we'd been days before on Desert Venturer) for breakfast. After three hours of driving, we got to Katherine Gorge and then had the oppurtunity to do a helicopter ride, a cruise or a walk. All but two of our group chose to do the free walk, so we set off on the 8km hike after lunch.
After a steep climb up the side of the Gorge, we had a lengthy walk through the bush at the top of it, ending up at a secluded waterfall called Southern Rock Hole. We had a relaxing swim around for about half an hour, then headed back the way we came to the bus. We stayed at an Adventure Tours purpose built permenant campsite that evening, one of several they have through the centre of the country.
So after meeting our new guide - Ryan - and assistant trainee guide - Travis - at the hostel, we boarded the bus and headed south, stopping first at the Adelaide River roadhouse (where we'd been days before on Desert Venturer) for breakfast. After three hours of driving, we got to Katherine Gorge and then had the oppurtunity to do a helicopter ride, a cruise or a walk. All but two of our group chose to do the free walk, so we set off on the 8km hike after lunch.
After a steep climb up the side of the Gorge, we had a lengthy walk through the bush at the top of it, ending up at a secluded waterfall called Southern Rock Hole. We had a relaxing swim around for about half an hour, then headed back the way we came to the bus. We stayed at an Adventure Tours purpose built permenant campsite that evening, one of several they have through the centre of the country.
Gunlom
Gunlom
Originally uploaded by Toytown Mafia.
The view from the top of the Gunlom waterfall, where we went for a swim.
Adventure Tours day two - around Kakadu
On Thursday (May 25th), we drove back into Kakadu and went straight to Gunlom Falls in the south of the park, another backdrop for the film Cocodile Dundee. After walking around the base of the pool at the bottom, we set off to climb up to the top of the waterfall. Once up there the view was fantastic, but even better was that we had the pools to ourselves. Most of us went for a swim around and it was surprisingly warm for 9:30 in the morning!
From there we went to Boulder Creek for another relaxing swim amongst the waterfalls. The water was a bit colder, but then how often do you get to swim in a place like that? After a quick picnic lunch, we had enough time to go and check out another Aboriginal art site and a lookout over some escarpment country before we made our way back into Darwin for the night.
From there we went to Boulder Creek for another relaxing swim amongst the waterfalls. The water was a bit colder, but then how often do you get to swim in a place like that? After a quick picnic lunch, we had enough time to go and check out another Aboriginal art site and a lookout over some escarpment country before we made our way back into Darwin for the night.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Adventure Tours day one - into Kakadu
So just to recap, I booked a bus tour which loops around Australia, starting from Sydney then heading north to Cairns, then across to Darwin and Kakadu, then south to Adelaide through the red centre, then back to Sydney via Melbourne. By this stage (May 24th), I had done the tour to Cairns run by Oz Experience and the tour from there to Darwin by Desert Venturer. The remainder of my trip all the way back to Sydney would be on Adventure Tours and although this second half of my loop wasn't one large continuous tour (more like five), I'll bundle them all together under one heading because they're run by the same company. Still following what I'm saying? Awesome!
After spending the night in Darwin, I departed on a two day tour of Kakadu with Adventure Tours. It was another early start to meet the bus, this time a small 4x4 vehicle and my new driver guide, Celia. Our first stop on the way to Kakadu was in the Mary River Wetlands, where we went on a two hour cruise in a small motorboat. Here you'll find the highest concentration of crocodiles in Australia, if not the world. Although Cyclone Monica had been through not long ago, there was still plenty of wildlife to see including sea eagles, jabirus (a stork-like bird) and of course crocodiles. The cruise was a bit quiet at some points, but it was enjoyable nonetheless and we got to see animals that you're very unlikely to spot on land or on your own.
After lunch, we headed east into the main park. Kakadu National Park has a double World Heritage listing - only Uluru and Kakadu have two in Australia - and covers 19,804 km² which is the same size as Switzerland. It's one of the country's most important habitats for wildlife and we headed straight for its eastermost border.
Our main stop for the day was at Ubirr Rock which we climbed, looking at the Aboriginal art there on the way up. A lot of the art is used for teaching kids about laws, morals and wildlife. Kakadu has a huge variety of wildlife and this is reflected in the art, showing the different types of animals, which can be caught and when (even the Aboriginals regulate hunting to seasons). On top of Ubirr Rock, you're greeted with some of the best views to be found in the park. The sheer diversity is most apparent here, with escarpment, forest and wetlands on display in all their glory. It's here that one of the scenes in Crocodile Dundee was filmed and you can see why; it's the perfect place to show off the wonders of Kakadu.
From there, we headed south west to a hostel where we would stay the night. We were originally meant to camp in Kakadu, but because of Cyclone Monica, the campsites were still closed. We were also meant to go to Jim Jim Falls for a swim, but that was closed as well for good reason; they pulled a 4m crocodile out of it the next day!
After spending the night in Darwin, I departed on a two day tour of Kakadu with Adventure Tours. It was another early start to meet the bus, this time a small 4x4 vehicle and my new driver guide, Celia. Our first stop on the way to Kakadu was in the Mary River Wetlands, where we went on a two hour cruise in a small motorboat. Here you'll find the highest concentration of crocodiles in Australia, if not the world. Although Cyclone Monica had been through not long ago, there was still plenty of wildlife to see including sea eagles, jabirus (a stork-like bird) and of course crocodiles. The cruise was a bit quiet at some points, but it was enjoyable nonetheless and we got to see animals that you're very unlikely to spot on land or on your own.
After lunch, we headed east into the main park. Kakadu National Park has a double World Heritage listing - only Uluru and Kakadu have two in Australia - and covers 19,804 km² which is the same size as Switzerland. It's one of the country's most important habitats for wildlife and we headed straight for its eastermost border.
Our main stop for the day was at Ubirr Rock which we climbed, looking at the Aboriginal art there on the way up. A lot of the art is used for teaching kids about laws, morals and wildlife. Kakadu has a huge variety of wildlife and this is reflected in the art, showing the different types of animals, which can be caught and when (even the Aboriginals regulate hunting to seasons). On top of Ubirr Rock, you're greeted with some of the best views to be found in the park. The sheer diversity is most apparent here, with escarpment, forest and wetlands on display in all their glory. It's here that one of the scenes in Crocodile Dundee was filmed and you can see why; it's the perfect place to show off the wonders of Kakadu.
From there, we headed south west to a hostel where we would stay the night. We were originally meant to camp in Kakadu, but because of Cyclone Monica, the campsites were still closed. We were also meant to go to Jim Jim Falls for a swim, but that was closed as well for good reason; they pulled a 4m crocodile out of it the next day!
Desert Venturer day four - to Darwin
On Tuesday (May 23rd), we set off from the Heartbreak Hotel at Cape Crawford towards Darwin. It was another long day of driving and our first stop was when we reached the Stuart Highway at Daly Waters. The Stuart Highway connects the country through the centre, running from Adelaide in the south to Darwin in the north. Daly Waters is a small roadhouse on the highway famous for well, just being famous. We stopped there for about half an hour, enough time to look around at the insane collection of memorabilia from around the world. I added my name to one of the Union Jacks before we left Daly Waters and headed north.
Our next stop was for lunch at Mataranka, where we there was also a natural hot pool and a walk through the forest. I didn't opt to go for a swim (we'd be coming back in a few days anyway) so went for a walk down to the river instead. Back on the road, our next stop was for a quick break at Katherine, the largest town south of Darwin for a long way.
The final stop of the day before Darwin was at the Adelaide River roadhouse, home to 'Charlie the water buffalo' from the film Crocodile Dundee. Our driver, who's a bit of a joker, made us believe that he was still alive, so we were a bit surpired and got a few weird looks when we rushed in to find him stuffed and standing on the bar!
We got into Darwin at about 6pm, ending the second major section of my trip. We finished the four day trip with a meal at the Vic Hotel to say goodbye and go our seperate ways.
Our next stop was for lunch at Mataranka, where we there was also a natural hot pool and a walk through the forest. I didn't opt to go for a swim (we'd be coming back in a few days anyway) so went for a walk down to the river instead. Back on the road, our next stop was for a quick break at Katherine, the largest town south of Darwin for a long way.
The final stop of the day before Darwin was at the Adelaide River roadhouse, home to 'Charlie the water buffalo' from the film Crocodile Dundee. Our driver, who's a bit of a joker, made us believe that he was still alive, so we were a bit surpired and got a few weird looks when we rushed in to find him stuffed and standing on the bar!
We got into Darwin at about 6pm, ending the second major section of my trip. We finished the four day trip with a meal at the Vic Hotel to say goodbye and go our seperate ways.
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