Darwin (9 -16 Nov)

Looked round Litchfield national park on the way (more waterfalls and gorges).








We visited an aviation museum where there was B52 and some telecommunications equipment!







... And Rory and Neil played a game of golf.




We left Neil at Darwin so he could join friends on a tour at Uluru, and we toured Kakadu national park, with Mr Bump of course. Lots of aboriginal rock art, strange rock formations, wetlands with crocodiles and a huge thunderstorm kept us busy over the three days.

The Kimberley [between Broome and Darwin]

On the long road from Broome to Darwin we stopped at a few strange outback towns:
Fitzroy Crossing - walked around a river/gorge; nearly stepped on a snake and saw loads of white parrots flying around. Camped out in the car at a caravan park across the river from the rough town and didn't get much sleep.


Halls Creek - if anything, a bit rougher than Fitzroy Crossing. Drove out on a gravel road to see the old townsite and to see the Great Wall of China (Ok, the Great China Wall - a ridge of white stone that cuts through the countryside).
Had a dip in the mysterious Caroline's Pool, even though it looked a bit brackish. Thankfully no crocs there. Drove past the turn off for Wolfe Creek (if you've seen the movie you'll know about it) but couldn't go there cos it was about 100 miles away along a deserted gravel road. Not that we were scared or anything...

Wyndham & Kunnunura - right on the WA/NT border, we watched the Melbourne Cup with the locals and Neil managed to break even by betting on the second placed horse. Did some hot walking around a national park and went to Kelly's Knob. Also saw the rather feeble Celebrity Tree Park, ''where celebrities are being invited to plant a tree honouring their visit and acknowledging their faith in Kunnunura's future"! Among the celebrities who have honoured the park are Rolf Harris and Princess Anne! Wow!

They also have crazy-weird boab trees around here...

The Bungle Bungles

We took an open sided helicopter ride over the the Bungle Bungle range....

Broome

Entered Broome Time which means that time passes quickly and you don't do much, if anything. We stayed at the Kimberly Club which is a backpacker resort with a swimming pool which we spent most of our time in. Caroline and Neil practiced handstands - walking and backwards, diving over noodles and swimming underwater for many hours a day, whilst Rory was content floating with his noodle.

We sat in deckchairs to watch a film at an old fashioned outdoor cinema and visited a crocodile farm where we saw 5 meter long crocs.