After a couple of months or working at CBA my boss approached me and said I had better take some time off around May. I was shocked as I hadn't been there long. I wasn't going to say no though.
Immediately Mariah and I began looking at options. A cruise? I was all for it, but it was a family holiday. So we discussed international or domestic. We looked at both options and found that the price was about the same.
We were a little concerned about our children's lack of immunisation so decided domestic would be best.
About the time we made the decision there was a HUGE sale on air fares. We were amazed that we could fly to Darwin for the price of a flight to Sydney. So we decided... WHY NOT and booked.
Our flights were sorted. Next on the list was accommodation. WOWZERS accommodation in Darwin is expensive. We had not budgeted for this blow out. We looked for other alternatives and decided that a campervan might be a good idea. So we booked it.
That was about all that we booked in advance. We decided that we would just arrive and see where we ended up.
The day finally arrived and we departed for Melbourne, then finally arriving in Darwin 11 hours later. We had a bit of time between flights to kill..
We had been telling the kids that Darwin was going to be a hot place. When we stepped off the plane on to the tarmac the first thing the kids said was ... "Dad Darwin is Hot isn't it" "Mum Darwin is hot." This became a common phrase with the kids through the trip.
Our first night we stayed in a place called Howard Springs. Our children were awake quite early and said "It's still hot in Darwin." To which Mariah replied... "Mummy found a pool last night, would you like to go for a swim?"
What a silly question. Our kids love the water. Off we set at 7:30 in the morning tip-toeing across the caravan park to where the pool is located.
What we found was amazing. 2 spa pools, a slash pool and a larger pool. We were in heaven. The water was amazing. It was such a relief to our sweaty sticky skin.
We were the only ones crazy enough to be in the pool at that time of the day.. but that was fine with us.
We spent a lot of time at this pool. We found that a lot of the grey nomads visited the pool in the middle of the day, but they never stayed long. I am not sure if it was due to our kids wanting to jump and splash or because their skin was wrinkly enough and they were concerned that it would get worse the longer they stayed in. Ha ha...
The second day we headed to Darwin city for an explore. We had seen that there was a crocodile park right in the heart of the city. Sure enough it was there.
It was great to be able to see the animals up close and see how BIG they really are.
We were able to see crocks of all sizes and shapes.
We were also able to put Chester in front of the HUGE fish tank and let him watch the Barramundi swim around. He loved it.
Towards the middle of the day it was beginning to get a bit hot and we were all still a bit pooped from traveling the day before.
I noticed that Milly had found a nice shady spot under a HUGE tree. Smart kid!
There were a few demonstrations through the day. Crocodile feeding, fish feeding and fishing for Crocs.
Fishing for crocs was an opportunity for the public to dangle a piece of meat from the end of a fishing rod and feed some juvenile crocs. The girls and I jumped at the chance to have a go at that.
Milly and I worked together to make sure the didn't pull the rod in. despite their size they had a lot of strength.
The day ended with a beautiful sunset back at Howard Springs.
We loved our campervan. It was very convenient. If the kids needed to go to the toilet wherever we were... we had one. If we needed to eat... We had the kitchen with us. If we wanted an ice-cream we just went to the freezer and got one.
We had booked our van through Britz and were happy with what we had....... Until we lifted up the mattress at the back of the van and found enough mould to start our own penicillin factory. Errrrrk... It wasn't nice. Mariah was straight on the phone. In their defence they were great about it. They insisted that we do not stay in the van that night but book a cabin at the caravan park at Britz's expense and return the van first thing in the morning for a replacement and upgrade.
This was our new van. The same thing but with more expensive fittings and more modern.
While in the city we decided that we would do what we love to do .. and go for a swim again. This time we went to the wave pool on the edge of Darwin city.
Waiting for the waves.
Being saved by 2 mermaids.
It was a lot of fun.
We decide to treat ourselves to an ice cream from the shop and not the freezer. It was a beautiful setting. The pool, the beach *un-swimmable due to crocs* and a grass area of frangipanis.
After the pool the kids had a sleep in the back of the van while Mariah and I drove around the coast admiring the beautiful views and the enormous houses down at the marina and around
Fannie Bay.
We ended up at the northern tip of the peninsula where the military museum is and a lot of military buildings and history. It was an amazing place to see. We didn't visit the museum because the children were asleep, and we didn't think we could enjoy it if they were a bit rowdy.
This was one building that impressed me. Just because of it's size. Ill let you read about it.
There are many other buildings in the area that you can visit and explore that are not part of the museum. I managed to see a few before it was time to go again.
We have decided that we will visit Darwin again, when the children are older and may appreciate the different activities that could not do this time.
In saying that there was so much that we could do with the children.
Just up the road from where we were staying there was a park. It was called Howard Springs Nature Park. A baker at Banjos had told us about it and said that it was amazing.
He was right.
It was kind of like Punchbowl reserve here in Launceston but much better. There was wildlife everywhere, and the park was AMAZING. flying foxes, rock climbing and a paddle pool and huge water fountain.
For me the highlight was the Barramundi in the spring. They were BIG fish... and happy to feed out of your hands.
This is the water feature that is open for all to play in and cool down.
Sure enough when ever we would return to the caravan park the children all wanted to go swimming.
Our time at Howards Springs was coming to a close and we were heading further south. First to
Litchfield National Park then to Katherine.
On the way to Litchfield National Park we stopped at the Adelaide River to feed some more Crocs.
This is the view from a visitors centre.
Crocodile food.
Too cool to be scared of a big croc
Or a big snake
I'm sure I heard that snake say... "hey ssssss sam.... you have some ssssssss sexy legs"
I think the handler was jealous because she promptly pulled the snake back. Or maybe she was ssssss scared of a ssssssss sexual harassment law sssssss suit. *dad jokes* I can't wait till my kids can read well.
While we were waiting to catch the boat to feed the crocs I found some interesting headlines to read.
On the cruise we were able to see what it was like to see a croc in the wild. We were also able to see what these creatures were capable of.
I thought it was interesting that they made the meat look like a love heart.
One things that amazed me more than the heat and the crocs was the birds that were flying around.
I noticed them on our second day. I said "ohhh look at that bird circling in the sky" "Ohh look there is another one"... "hang on they are everywhere."
They were everywhere. It was while we were on the cruise that I found out that they are called Black Kites. They are the Northern Territory's version of a seagull or a crow. They are scavengers and can be seen everywhere. We conducted an experiment one day and threw a chip out on the grass and sure enough one came down and swooped at the chip. So we threw another and before we knew it there were more birds than chips hovering overhead and swooping every time we threw out a chip. It was very interesting.
Soon we were on our way to Litchfield National Park.
Litchfield National Park, we were told, was a lot like Kakadu, but with a lot less driving which meant you got to see the same amount of things in the same time. we were told was a lot like Kakadu, but with a lot less driving which meant you got to see the same amount of things in the same time.
In the national park we found some amazing things nature had to offer.
HUGE termite mounds.
Fields of termite mounds that only faced north
Beautiful waterfalls and swimming holes.
Strange creepy crawlies
Screeching Fruit Bats.
Beautiful walks.
And the most amazing views.
The photo above was taken on our way to a lookout where I thought it would be nice to have tea as a family and watch the sun set.
Us eating baked beans and spaghetti from a can for dinner.
Looking west from on top of a rock we found to the side of the walking track.
Litchfield National Park was a great place to visit. We would go again.
From here we made our way to Katherine via Adelaide River, home of the WWII war memorial.
I was impressed by this place. There is only one other place on earth that I have experienced the feelings that I felt while I was there.
It was amazing. The grounds were kept perfect, it was quiet and was well worth the visit. The girls were interested in the things that we saw and have re-told some of the stories that I shared with them that day. I hope they grow to have a great respect for the sacrifices that were made.
Before we entered the gardens I had a talk to the girls about being reverent and respectful while we visited. They were good while we were there and listened. We read out some of the names of the people who had died, and their ages. I would say 90% of those who were laid to rest there were younger than I am today (31). The youngest that we could find was just 19.
While the girls were quiet and not running around I made the most of it and got these to pose for some photos.
Milly looks like she would adapt to islander life quite well. You know what now that I think of Milly and her attributes I think she would be a perfect little islander girl.
I love this photo of them both. They are such beautiful girls. I don't know how I was blessed to have such beautiful children.
Once we had finished at the WWII War memorial we went across the road to a park land and had an ice cream (from the freezer) and went to explore. While exploring I found a pile of coconuts. I was in heaven.
I brought 2 back to the van for us to try.
This is me trying to take the husk from the coconut. My Fijian friends would be laughing at me... because this looks too hard the way I am doing it... All I had was star picket that was attached to a Telstra sign... so I thought I did a good job.
I got there in the end and we were able to try...... a fermented coconut... Ohhhh no... This meant that I had to persevere and try and open another one.
I DID IT...
The girls were not too fussed in trying it.... Just like there mum. But Chester was all for it... He and I loved it.
Next stop Katherine Gorge.
We decided to walk to the lookout at the Gorge as the cruise and the helicopter ride were just far too expensive. $440 for an 8 min ride for the family was just a bit out of our reach.
So we walked up... After all we were now experienced at walking up great heights after our visit to Litchfield National Park.
The girls were fantastic. They did a great job considering the heat and the condition of the track.
The view at the top was worth it.
After a rest and rehydrate... we made the slow trek back to the bottom for yet another ice cream. *From the shop this time*
My last entry for the trip, but not our last stop is Mataranka Hot Springs. This is the place where, if you are quiet, you can hear all the old bones of the grey nomads giving off a sigh of relief. I must admit my back loved the water too..... especially after carrying 2 young girls down a mountain. One on the shoulders one holding on the front.
Yes the water is that amazing. It is not a pool, it is not treated in any way... it is just as clear as water can be and Oh so warm. To give you an idea of what it was like... It would have been 30-32 degrees outside of the water, and when you got out of the water, all you wanted to do was wrap yourself in a towel and sit in direct sunlight.
We spent a lot of time here.
We have since heard that there are springs in the area that are much nicer.
We loved Darwin. It was great to be warm and comfortable. We acclimatised over the two weeks we were there. On our last day we went swimming at a local pool. After about 2 hours or running and playing, the girls asked if they could go and get changed as they were too cold to be in the pool any longer.
Darwin has a lot to offer those that want to visit. We will be back for sure.
It was good to see the things that only TV has been able to show me. This picture is a great example. We hear about the wet season and the huge amounts of water that fall in the region....... I think this puts it in to perspective.
We enjoyed the camper van. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that the speed limit was 130kph and the Van just couldn't make it... So that it one thing I will have to look forward to next time.
Darwin is full of retired people this time of the year. It was depressing to see how much fun they were having and to hear of their stories of their recent travels.
Coming home was hard. I have found it very difficult to get warm down here. I am sleeping with two doonas and a quilt these days.
Most of all I am missing the adventure and the exploring. I hope that I get old and can do what others are having the opportunity of doing.
I hope that my children appreciate the fact that they live in a great, if not the greatest country on earth.
I hope that their dreams come true while on their own adventures in life.
