Feathers and Friends 12./8. - 15./8.

Tropical, lush, lovely Daintrees. Stayed 3 days at this not so little gem. Did visit the Mossman Gorge with a few hundred others.
During our stay at Les and Carol‘s place we discovered an ever increasing noise from both front suspensions and they now starting the loose fluid. This means we have to avoid all the planned back roads in the  Daintree as they are dirt/4WD roads. The car is booked in at the Brisbane Mercedes workshop for 2 days. We will explore alternatively lovely areas South of Brisbane with new suspension. HE was not all that surprised since this is our 3.rd trip on rough roads.

Images along the road

Karumba 10./08.

have arrived in Karumba for the obligatory Barra and Beer and sunset at the local pub. The previous night we stayed at Little Byroe river which recovered from recent floods, eroding the banks substantially. The flood covered an area of 60sq km. Karumba was about enjoying being a tourist.

Leichhardt river and waterfall 8./8.

Hello Petunia,

After a gruelling 4 1/2 hr. Trip on National Highway1, the Carpentaria Hway. which is corrugated, has steep water crossings, bull dust and dust clouds, we kept going for another 5 hours to arrive at the Leichardt river and Falls. Road was partly dirt, partly bitumen. THEY chose the Carpentaria Hway which supposed to take 14hrs and HE did it in (see above). The other option would have been to go all the way back through  Mt. Isa in order to visit another fishing hub at the Gulf of Carpentaria called Karumba.

At about lunchtime we crossed the NT./Qld. border.

Borroloola 7./08.o

Hi family,
Had a lovely trip along the mainly dirt road to  Borroloola, a sleepy touristy fishing town. As we are both not into angling one night was  enough. SHE liked the name so much so that THEY decided to visit. It is situated about 35km inland from the ocean. We had of course Barra and Beer in the local restaurant, the Carpentaria Grill, a tin shed serving mates plates of fresh Barramundi. THEY flushed it down with Coopers Ale as she couldn’t face the xxxx cans on offer.

Mardukal No.2 campsite (Kakadu)

Did a bit of sightseeing but were put off the amount of people visiting every site. Some of them THEY had already seen about 10 years ago. So the decision was made camp for 2 nights at camp no 2 at Mardukal. Totally secluded camp site, luxurious showers and super clean toilets.

Kakadu images

Lambell’s Lagoon to Kakadu 02/08. - 04/08.

Hi 👋
Stayed 2 nights at Lambell’s Lagoon in amongst commercial Mango groves with no lagoon at all 😎.
It was ok for a night or two. We carried on to Kakadu NP paying a park fee for 2 senior tickets at a discount rate of $30 each, valid for 7 days.
Having breakfast at South Alligator river seeing one 🐊

Loved the border watch sign👀😆

Litchfield tracks

Images and minuscules Litchfield

Florence Falls to 01./08.

using the former 4WD camp site ( now bitumen all the way) THEY went at sunrise to the Florence Falls, a 10 min. stroll. The prime 2WD camp is located high above the Florence Falls and quite crowded. Like all the locations easy accessible by bus and rental vehicles it is a little culture shock to run into people all the time, even though measured on European standard is pretty calm.

Wangy Falls 30. - 31./7.

On our way to Wangi Falls. It used to be an Aboriginal women’s initiation place. On closer look one can see why. Nowadays tourist 🚌 arrive as we are now on a bitumen road again called the Litchfield Park Road and leads to a settlement called Batchelor along the Stuart Highway.

The Australian Terra Cotta Army

Tjaynera Falls (Sandy Creek Falls) 29./7.

A campsite about 1.4km away from the Falls is run by a volunteer called Don who looks after the place and had huge gum leaves attached to every door handle at the ablution block with affirmations to give the place good karma. It worked 💗⛺️😃  

And a croc trap of course

Surprise Creek 27./7.

The beginning of an interesting trip though savannah like areas, tropical forests and monsoon rainforest. First stay Surprise Creek, a small area with cascading waterfalls over Levels through 3 Ponds. The waterhole emerges very suddenly around the corner, hence the name surprise Creek. No park fees are collected and due to Darwin‘s long weekend the campsites spilled over with loud and happy campers of all ages.

Edith Falls to Litchfield NP 26./7.

A beautiful drive away from the Stuart Highway using the Daly River Road, passing huge termite hills and finally turned into the Reynolds River track Litchfield NP.

Termite cities

Crossing almost empty creeks

Daly Waters to Edith Falls Nitmiluk NP 24./7. to 27./7.

Hello Petunia,
After the typical boring run on the Stuart Hway, a quick reconnoiter at the Katherine tourist ℹ️ Centre helped us to make the swift decision to hang out at the Edith Falls. The only hitch was to bothered by 10am do get a space. So no shopping 🛍 in Katherine and straight into the NP and thanks to our ‚small’ vehicle we got a lovely space, not something we usually do being surrounded by heaps of happy campers. It was worth our while: hot showers, super clean toilets, plenty of excellent drinking water and a fantastic swimming hole. HE went there several times a day, SHE preferred the loop walk up and across and down again of the Edith Falls. As pensioners the cost were $10 per night p/P ( I went for free), a bargain for a luxury venue.

Edith Falls from the distance

Upper Falls

Upper Falls and swim hole