Checking out the gardens at the Butterfly Resort

Delicious poached pear with macadamia and orange, just one of the

devine creations for desert at the Butterfly Resort.

Off road in Litchfield National Park

Swimming at Wangi Falls, Litchfield National Park

Blyth Family Homestead [tin shack] Litchfield National Park

Sunday 22nd of August saw us up and packed and on the road again to a place called Batchelor, just outside the Litchfield National Park. We have been trying to stay in Big 4 caravan parks because we think they have the best facility for kids and we also chose this big 4 because it offered ensuite sites. Well wasn't I in heaven when we pulled up at this park, not only was there the best bathroom I have seen so far but also my own personal washing machine.......oh bliss, I was to my hearts content and not have to walk back and forward between laundry and caravan for have the day waiting for machine to finish, then empty and hang on line, then wait for it to dry then go back again to collect, which is fine if the laundry is close but a bit of a pain when its across the other side of the park!!!!!! I had a load on before the caravan was even set up!!!!!!

We did a bit of a scout about for somewhere to have dinner and we came upon The Batchelor Butterfly Resort, what a delight. First let me tell you there is nothing much in Batchelor itself, it is the gateway to the Litchfield National Park, but as for the town itself, not much going for it!!!

Except for the heavenly Butterfly resort, here you can come and stay in little cabins surrounded by beautiful gardens and be pampered by massage and relaxed by beautiful music and oils and swim in the little "bali" pool and eat delicious foods........ok I feel I am getting abit caught up in the Butterfly Resort and its food, but it was good. We had dinner there two nights and breakfast as well, I would have gone back a third night but Andrew wanted to try the pub!!!! So when we wern't at the Butterfly resort we were out exploring the National Park, the first day we went to the Historic Bamboo Creek Tin Mine where the remains of this mine is. It was interesting but also very hot, how they got the macheriney and equipment to these remote places is beyond me, the heat and the flies and dust are just too overwhelming to be have to be thinking of work of any sort. When we finished looking there we went for a swim at a beautiful spot called Wangi Falls, the Falls are about 10ks from the tin mines so its not like the

miners could just go and jump in to cool down on a hot day, but that is just what we did. The kids really enjoyed the waterfalls and swimming holes for a change from the cholrined swimming pools. These water holes are teeming with fish and the water is as clear as crystal, Courtney swims around and around under water checking out all the fish and would love to catch one, not to eat, just to look at. Around all these water holes are hikes and walks, we have done many of these to check out the natural flora and forna. At these falls there were many, many trees full of flying foxes.

Next we had to put the car into 4 wheel drive and drive through a couple of river beds to get to the Historic Blyth house ruins, this was a family of 14 children and the parents who lived in the middle of no where but lived very comfortably during the depression because they were self sufficient, they ran beef, grew fruit and veges, milked cows for milk, butter and cream. The house however was a tin shack with a dirt floor, my my these people did it hard.

Next day we went back into the national park to finish off the last couple of things we needed to see, the Lost City, a decayed basalt plain, which left the appearance of a deserted city, then onto a couple more Waterfalls and swimming holes where the children had great fun swimming again.

Wednesday saw us packing up and leaving the fabulous ensuite shower and washing machine behind to head to Darwin. I am especially looking forward to this leg of the journey because Karen is coming from Timor and we are flying mum up for a week in Darwin.

Cutta Cutta Caves

Thermal springs at Katherine

Katherine Gorge

Katherine Gorge

Courtney and Jen enjoying breakfast on the Katherine Gorge breakfast

cruise.

We arrived in Katherine Tuesday 17th and just had a day off to catch out breath from travelling as we have not really stopped for a while. We needed to straighten things up again and a bit of rejigging of the caravan, I think it's down to a finer art each time. We have indulged in a few guided tours here covering the Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk now) . First we did a sunrise breakfast gorge cruise (those 6.00 am starts again). The walls of the Gorge are massive and still leach water even though we are nearly ending the dry season, must be dramatic here in the wet!! We went croc spotting down the river with a BBQ finish at around 9.20 pm. That could put you out of your comfort zone as it's very dark and jungle like up the Katherine river and teeming with wildlife at that time of night and then the boat bottomed out on a sand bar. So with plenty of fresh water crocs out there our guide had to jump out and push us off the sandbank. I don't know if was for affect but it added a different dimension to it. The amount of wildlife here is pretty amazing and the kids are really taking it all in. No sign of the saltwater crocs now as it is getting too dry but they are the nasty ones, they say freshwater will defend but salties attack! We also visited the Cutta Cutta caves just outside Katherine and spent some hot afternoons rolling around in the natural hot springs.They are very deep but clear and about 33 deg, you could sit in them for ever.

We must now move on again 260km north to Litchfield National Park. This is a bit like Kakadu from what we have heard, so we have decided to spend a few days there.

Alice Springs at the Telegraph Station

Day Tour to Palm Valley

Courtney hand feeding the rock wallabys Alice Springs

"Aliens" at Wycliff Well

Courtney and her new friend at the Reptile Centre Alice Springs

We finished at Alice with tours to Standley Chasm , Palm Valley and Hermansberg with a guide that could only be described as a real "Bushy" and a great character. He didn't believe in TV or any technologies much but had some really interesting ideas about life and the bush, We learnt a lot from him.

We did a study of the route we are about to travel and decided that there really was not much to stop for until we get to Katherine now so we decided to just push through. Really some of what you may think are small towns are really just "Road Houses" with an allotment for a few vans.

We left Alice and went to Wycliff Wells , alien capital of Australia (didn't you know that.)!! They had plenty of evedence to suport it though. Then we left for Tennent Creek , what can you say about Tennent Creek..... not so much ... so we left and traveled 540km the next day to arrive at Mataranka on Sunday (15th Aug) This caravan park has no Jumping pillows ,no activities room but it's like living in a sactuary! Bird life and wallabies are all very tame and are everywhere with a beautiful dam full of water lilies and Barramundi which you can hand feed,and both Courtney and Cait have. Materanka is known for the classic Australian movie "We of the never never", and you can visit the homstead that was featured in it. It is also known for the natural warm water springs so we have spent the afternoon floating around in them, they are very deep, clear and warm.

"beer and wine O'clock" is still probably too early but we are so enjoying it!!!! along with the diet........well soon I'm sure...? 4th week on the road now and all really going quite well , no arguments or any problems really , I think thats because there has been very little

boredom so far and still too much to do and see. We sometimes just stop for a day and take a breath and thats great too, gee it's good without the schedule.

We think we will leave to go to Katherine on Tuesday. We have had some great chats to people about what to do and what to expect. Some of the trick to getting this trip right has been picking the right Caravan Park so word of mouth has become important and is working really well. Lots to do in Katherine so we will spend a few extra days there so stay tuned.!

Right I know what people are wondering, "how are we all coping in such a confined space??"So far, after 3 weeks on the road all is good. We have worked out a routine of unpacking and packing up, and the kids have their jobs to do and they are very good at getting them done. The tubs of clothes in the back of the car is working well, [thanks Fi] and who would have known we could get by with so little clothing......those who know me know that I have an ebay obsession with clothes buying!!!!! The caravan is easy to keep clean, just a sweep and a mop, a quick flick of the the doonas, do a few dishes and that is it for the day, I am spending a lot of time doing what I love best, reading!!!!! I have started reading books on my Kobo now and I am loving it!!! The kids are enjoying the freedon that caravan parks allow, going off to use the facilities like the jumping pillows and playgrounds without having to wait for us. Cait is often up, dressed and had her breakfast all by herself, just waiting til we give her the o.k.so she can run off to play with new friends at the park!!!
Andrew enjoys reading all the tourist information and booking in tours and fun things for the kids to do. So from apart from the great everyday things we do they have been on camel rides, helicoptor rides, they have hired go carts, they have tried a couple of pools but still too cold for swimming yet! At this caravan park in Alice Springs the have a Strawberry van that sells strawberry pav, strawberry pancakes, strawberry mousse and other strawberry concoctions and the kids [and Andrew] have been enjoying dessert here at night. we have done some cooking in the van, the usual bacon and eggs for breakfast, some rolls and sandwiches for lunch [not that that is cooking] and some nights we have had BBQs, Andrew cooks the meat outside on the BBQ and I cook some veges in the van. When we go out for dinner I usually cook Jen and Cait veges before we go so they are getting some nutritional value in their day.
I think the kids are enjoying all they are seeing, we chat about what we have done at night during dinner time and sometimes we are amazed at what they have picked up. Courtney is doing a great job of her journel, Jen and Cait have dropped off a bit so i must get back on to them.
At night we have been enjoying some card games and watching the Harry Potter Series of DVDs, we taught the girls how to play "PIG" and Andrew and I have loved watching their faces as they realise the game has finished and whichever one hasnt picked up that the game has ended!!!!
So all in all everything is going fabulously and we are beginning to think we are made for caravaning, but then again it has anly been 3 weeks so check back here again to see how we are getting along!!!!!!

Family "shadow" photo at Aryes Rock!!!

Kids having a good time at the "Roadies" show at Kings Canyon

Cait and Jen having a rest on a natural 'daybed' on a Kings Canyon

hike.

Scenic photo at the end of another Kings Canyon hike!!!!

Arrived at Kings Canyon Monday 3rd ,it is off the beaten track a bit (400 km) and we will have to go back the same way as the roads through to Alice are too rough for caravans. Travel now seems easier as we have got used to 400 to 5oo km trips, the time just slips by as long as you have a few stops along the way. Kings Canyon is spectacular so we took a helicopter flight through it and over the Gill ranges. The next day we did the full "Rim walk" (about 3 hours), and this was the most scenic walk I've had. Seems pretty dangerous though as there are shear unfenced cliff faces with drops of about 1000 ft and anyone can walk right up to the edges, and they do for a good photo. The resort at the Canyon is small but exclusive ( a crown lager "take away" is $7.5o each). They have a nightly show with live music and they involve the kids which they loved so we went every night.

Anyway back on the road for Alice on Friday 6th August , we will drive straight through 45o km.

Looks like I'm going to miss out on Troy's Bucks turn at the lake, sounds like they're going to have the full bash, typical of when I can't go. I miss the Friday pub nights also ,....everyone is having a good time without me !!??##.

Disappointing Sunrise over the rock, lucky I stayed in bed!!!!!

Sun rise at Yulara

Andrew and Courtney cooking up a bit of Kangaroo, Emu, Crocodile and

Prawns!!!!

At the Olgas

At the Olgas

We left Coober Pedy on Thurday and just had a night stopover at Erldunder (really just an overnight park) The distances between real towns now are too great to travel in one day and we are in no mood to push ourselves. Our only mood right now is fairly laid back!!! On that night we had the biggest electrical storm I have experianced, we thought the van was going to explode, I've never seen that much water come out of the sky in such a short space of time. Anyway we survived and arrived at Ayres Rock resort on Friday afternoon. This place has become very commercialized since we visited 13 years ago. Yalara is the actual town and while the shops are better (like a resort) it has become very expensive ( $30 for 4 stubbies takeaway) . Resaurants seem very nice but don't welcome kids that much so we have been going to a DIY BBQ Restaurant, you can cook all the outback meats there. We went to Sunrise over the rock and I can see that years ago it was a great experiance to watch the rock changing in the quiet morning desert, but now with all the helicopter tours Sunrise reminded me more of something out of "Apocalypse Now"! That's the new world of Tourism I suppose. The Rock is a lot more guarded than last visit. You can't see all of it as easily now and some areas are off limits to the public now, a bit of a shame but I guess they also have to protect it from us too. Have had a great tour with an Aboriginal woman Sarah ( didn't know that was an Aboriginal name ?) but she was very good as her ansestors were from the Rock. She had to be interpreted , by a Japanese woman of all thing! But the Tours do teach you a lot more about the areas than you could hope to reserch yourself and the whole trip is becoming quite an education and that is good for the girls and they are showing a keen and real interest in most of it. Well ,onto Kings Canyon tomorrow (Tuesday 3rd) We have read it is not to be missed for it's scenic beauty but it is awfully expensive. We will keep you posted there.