Edith Falls 08/06/12
Today we had a very short drive to Edith Falls (camps No. 134) which is only 61km north of Katherine. It is also a part of Nitmiluk National Park. We arrived at 10.30am and picked a campsite. It is in a typical national park with earmarked sites, & there were about 10 campers when we arrived. We had a bite of lunch, and then went on a 2.6km circuit walk to the falls. It was a fairly interesting walk with lots of steps and rocks on the path. We were dressed in our togs so we could go for a swim at the falls, but the water was freezing, so we just paddled our feet and admired the scenery of the waterfall. There had been a lot of damage to the path at the falls due to the wet season, so you had to pick your way over rocks till you saw a direction sign. On the way back you cross a crystal clear river via a little bridge that looks very much like what we floated down at Mataranka. It only took about 2 hours to do the walk. By night fall when the ranger came around to collect her $18, there would have been about 50 campers.
Darwin 09/06/12
Somehow we left Edith Falls and got on the road at 8.30am. Some days I think it would be easier to get a steam train fired up and rolling faster than getting the family up, van ready and everyone in the car ready to leave. Lucky we are not in a hurry. We headed back to the Stuart Highway and headed north to the Adelaide River for morning tea. We had a quick look around some Saturday markets, then moved on and arrived at the FreeSpirit Resort Caravan Park about 1pm. This would have to be the nicest caravan park we have stayed in, with 3 pools, jumping pillow, restaurant and lovely tropical gardens. We got settled in and had a look around the park, where we were invited to come to a concert a couple in a van was putting on at happy hour. We took our chairs and snacks to their site and spent an hour listening to the husband and wife playing a guitar and keyboard and singing country style music. It was a long hour, but we got a chance to leave when they stopped to take a break. Luckily there was about 20 people there listening so we could sneak off. We travelled 273km today and it cost $41 a night.
10/06/12
We had an easy start to the morning with a Buffet Breakfast at the caravan park restaurant, the first bought breakfast of the trip. We then made our way into Darwin’s central area which is about 15km from our caravan park. For some strange reason there are no caravan parks close to the water. It was great to see the sea again, and it reminded us how much we all love the beach. The water was a beautiful clear blue colour, a bit like the Whitsundays. There was a Greek festival on at the esplanade which was huge, so we had a good look around, & watched some Greek dancing and a live Dora the Explorer concert. Braydon had a great time. We then had a look around the city which we both thought was lovely. Then we got some groceries on the way back to the caravan park.
11/06/12
Today is a catch up day where Di did some paperwork, while Craig washed and polished the car and cleaned the interior. We went to the pool in the afternoon and the boys had a swim, but the water was too cold for the two of us.
12/06/12
We went and explored Darwin some more today. We visited the oil tunnels from World War 2, which are 6 tunnels that run under the city of Darwin that were built to hold oil (only 2 remain open). They started to be built after the bombing of Darwin, as the original oil storage containers were an easy target for air attacks – 7 out of 12 were destroyed in the first air raid on 19 February 1942. The tunnels were never used though as the war was over by the time they were finished. We then walked around the new wharf area, and impressive wave pool, and then headed into the mall to have a look around. We still think Darwin is such a pretty place. After lunch we headed out to the western beaches, and then watched some planes land at the airport as the planes come in really close to the road when approaching the runway.
13/06/12
Today we did the washing, & Braydon went to the jumping pillow and did some bike riding - it was a very leisurely day. Braydon and Craig painted a caravan park layout on the back of his race track play mat so he could use his matchbox cars in a caravan park.
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| Braydon just hanging with his mate Craig Lowndes |
14/06/12 V8 Supercars roll into town
Today we went into the centre of Darwin as the town is humming with V8 Supercars fever. There are V8 Supercars flags on street poles with the city dressed up for the event. On the radio there is a lot of V8 Supercar talk, and the caravan park is full with people talking about them. All the V8 transporters were having a procession through the city centre, so we went in to see the action. When we arrived at the mall, all the V8 supercar drivers were lined up for autographs, so we joined a fairly short line and got them to sign a couple of posters. Unfortunately by the time we got to the drivers, Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes had left the table due to other commitments, but we still got lots of photos of them before they left. Braydon got to stand next to Craig Lowndes while he cut a cake, so he was happy. After we got the poster signed, it was time to watch all the semi’s come through the middle of town, blowing their horns with the drivers waving. It was quite a spectacle, along with the grid Girls...... We then hopped back in the car and made our way to the Darwin Military Museum. Firstly we had a picnic lunch near the museum which is next to the Bay. After lunch we had a good look through the museum, which Di in particular found very interesting. The Top End of Australia endured more than 64 air raids during World War 2, with hundreds of people killed. We left there just before closing time of 5pm, and then headed to the Sky City Casino, as the V8 Supercars were holding another driver signing. This time we got to see and meet the V8 Ute drivers, and also had another look at the V8 Supercar drivers. The line up to get autographs here was huge, except for the Ute drivers. The Ute drivers were very friendly to Braydon and a lot more talkative. After about 1/2hr we then headed next door to the Mindil Markets, which are markets held on the beach front that start at 5pm and go into the night. It was extremely busy with people everywhere. At sunset people make their way down to the beach and watch the sun set over the water while having dinner. It was spectacular. The markets were the best we have ever been too, with fire twirling, whip cracking, didgeridoo playing band, every food type you could think of, and the usual market type of goods. After a big day we were all looking forward to a good nights sleep.
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| All the V8 Supercars transporters rolled into town |
15/06/12
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| Braydons favourite driver Jamie Whincup |
Today Braydon and Craig went to Hidden Valley Raceway to watch the V8 Supercars. They both had an excellent time, and Braydon loved that Jamie Whincup won the race. It is a great racetrack with great facilities, including covered grassed areas to sit under. There were heaps of different events to keep you interested throughout the day, from drag cars racing, stunt motorcycles, drifting car and the usual support categories. Braydon was a brave boy through all the noisy drag cars, and had fun at the Disney “Cars” transporter and displays. The racetrack was only about 5km from the caravan park and there was little traffic and congestion to worry about. The nice man in the caravan next to us offered us tickets to go to the race tomorrow, but I told him that we will give it a miss as it was a big day today and we have had enough sun for a while. We will see what we feel like in the morning.
17/06/12
17/06/12
We had a relaxing day at the caravan park today. Braydon got to ride his bike and play on the jumping pillow, while Craig & Dianne caught up on the usual jobs. In the afternoon we watched the motor racing.
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