Darwin to Kununurra

Spent the next week catching up with Rachael, Scott and the kids and to attend little Toby's first birthday party. Lucky for us Uncle Tobe and Aunty Val were up here as well so it was good to spend time with them. We were also lucky enough to be taken out crabbing in Scott's boat and caught 5 crabs, enough for a meal that night. After a great party it was time for us to head off , bound for Kununurra in Western Australia.
We arrived in Kununurra on Monday settled into our camp before refamiliarising ourselves with the town of Kununurra, as we have been here before.
  Went to see if the Ivanhoe crossing was open , but it was closed due to the volume of water flowing over it. Then we went and visited the sandlewood factory, this was very interesting and we found out some intestering facts about the growing of sandlewood. It is grown using host trees as it is a parasite.
A lot of work and reaserch has gone into the growing of this reasonably new industry here in Kununurra.
It was then up to Kelly's knob, a lookout over the township with great views, then back to camp before embarking on our sunset dinner cruise.

Berry Springs Darwin

Berry Springs

Toby's 1st Birthday

Scott, Rachael and Toby

Victoria River Roadhouse

Victoria River

Boab trees

NT /WA border

Kununurra

Katherine to Darwin

After settling into our camp for the next couple of days , the first thing on our agenda is the car wash then a bit of shopping before embarking on our cruise down Katherine gorge. Spectacular scenery with a very informative guide. Couldn't get over the number of bats that congregate near the wharf when we were getting on the boat. Called into Edith Falls, lovely spot with camping facilities.
There wasn't a great amount of water flowing but it was pretty anyway.
Entered Kakadu National Park and headed out to Gunlom Falls which was down a dirt, corrugated road which meant airing down the tyres to get a smother ride. We then made our way to Cooinda Lodge campground for the night. We then ventured out to Nourlangie rock, where we saw some amazing examples of ancient aboriginal art, then climbed to Gunwarddehwadde lookout which overlooks the Kakadu escarpment and Nourlangie rock.

yellow river

Katherine gorge

bat colony at Katherine gorge

Katherine gorge

dissembarking the boat

jesus bird

Yellow river

Yellow river

Museum at Katherine

entering Kakadu National Park

Edith Falls

edith falls

Lorella to Katherine NT

Left Lorella then tackled the 150k or so of rough dirt road with alot of patches of bulldust and sand before reaching Cape Crawford to fuel up and head off to the Stuart Highway.
 The Carpentaria Highway is a narrow one lane bitumen road called a highway with small sections that were new works with two lanes.  The odd floodway that had suffered from the last flood but were being attempted to be repaired, the rest you battled on with the oncoming traffic, road trains.
Arrived at the hi way Inn on the stuart to find it almost booked out with caravans. Managed to find a spot for the night and then left early in the morning to call in to the Daley Waters Pub for breakfast as it was booked out last night for camping. Had a lovely breaky and a look around before heading to Mataranka and finding camp at Bitter Springs, what a great campsite, it was massive with palms surrounding us we even had little wallabys calling in.
went down to the thermal springs for a swim , was so relaxing floating down the river.
 Next it was off to Katherine.

road from Lorella springs

bull dust

Cape Crawford

Daly Waters

Daly Waters Pub

highway to Stuart highway

Bitter Springs

camp at Bitter Springs

Lorella Springs NT

Our final day at lorella saw us spend the day driving out to Nudie Hot Springs, we first stopped off at Eagles nest where a  tinnie was tied up on the bank for all to use so we loaded in our fishing gear and cameras and  off we went. Spent the next hour or so fishing and taking photos on the peaceful river.
 then it was off to Nudie Hot springs where we got to walk up to the source of the hot water which just was coming out of a rock in the side of the mountain.
  Then back to the pool for a swim , it was quite warm but lovely, we then had lunch and headed off to the cascades to tackle a river crossing. then a few more sites before returning back to Lorella to the bar to sign back in for the day. then a well deserved drink.

Barkley Homestead to Lorella Springs

Packed up camp and headed towards Cape Crawford. The roads are one lane bitumen with dirt each side just enough to pull off to work pass. Cape Crawford is just a roadhouse/hotel . Fuel was $1.79p/l
From Cape Crawford the road was dirt, very rocky with patches of bull dust and sand. Then the road to Lorella was corrugated with creek crossings some wet some dry.
 Arrived in the afternoon and set up camp then went back to the bar for happyhour there was quite a few people here and they were expecting an off road tour bus to arrive. there has been some changes since we were here last, making improvements around the bar area and have a fish pond in which they have 3 baby fresh water crocodiles, had 4 but one escaped down in the creek.

old store Camooweal

 We arganised our day trips in the morning then we set of for the day exploring the many creeks, rivers, gorges, pools and caves that Lorella has to offer, there is even boats tied up on the banks of the river for anyone to use. we really enjoyed our stay.                                                                                 

river near Camooweal

NT border

Barkley Homestead

river crossing on lorella Springs

driving into Lorella springs

cattle and birds at a water hole near Camooweal

Mt Isa Qld to Barkley Homestead NT

Did some washing etc before setting out for the day exploring Mt Isa , we went to the visitors centre "outback at Isa" for some more info . We ran into a guy yesterday arvo in camp that we got an information brochure about short 4WD trips close to town to see aboriginal art work so we set off .
It was a short drive then about 3ks of rocky 4WD driving before arriving at the gorge then a short walk. Amazing that you can find this so close to town.
Nex was a drive the other side of Mt Isa near lake moondarr were we followed another 4WD track out to a lookout, another great spot, then out to the lake for a look around, very well maintained picnic area on a very picturesque lake.
Next morning headed off to Camooweal where we found a camp along the riverbank and set up for the night.
Next day got to Barkley Homestead where we stayed overnight . Very popular with the grey nomads.

Cunnamulla to Mt Isa

Left Cunnamulla and headed for Quilpie, roads are narrow, tar,  just one car width so when oncoming traffic approaches you must go off into the gravel to pass. There is a lot of road kill, mainly kangaroos and emus. Stopped off at the Toompine Hotel for a beer before heading into Quilpie where  we set up camp at the Channel Country caravan park. After a soak in the thermal spa, it was dinner, a chat to neighbours then bed.
From Quilpie we travelled to Windorah, roads turned to dirt not long out of Quilpie, quite sharp rocks but not too many corrugations . Decided to stay at Windorah so we set up camp then did a nature drive along the banks of the Coopers creek then around town.
The road to Bedourie was much the same with the rocks very sharp we got a hole in our rock tamer mud flaps and a guy we spoke to in a van said him and his mate got their pipes under their vans smashed . From Bedourie through Boulia, Dajarra to Mt Isa was tar so no more damage.