Northern Territory 2018

This was the very first trip we did with our Prado and BRS Camper and the start of Schwarzy's Adventures!

Below is our itinerary and details of what we did and saw.

DAY 1: HOME TO CUNNAMULLA (765km) This day was all about getting out West from home following the Adventure Way.

DAY 2: CUNNAMULLA TO INNAMINCKA (576km) We travelled through Thargomindah, stopped at the Dig Tree and camped in the dry river bed at Innamincka. The roads turned to dirt, got skinnier and the corrugations started.

DAY 3: INNAMINCKA TO CAMERON CORNER (279km) We checked out Burke's Grave, then on to the Strezelecki Track to Cameron Corner. Cameron Corner is where the states of Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia meet.

DAY 4: CAMERON CORNER TO LYNDHURST (424km) Continued on the Strezelecki Track. Stopped and Montecollina Bore for lunch. Camped at pub at Lyndhurst.

DAY 5: LYNDHURST TO MARREE (80km) Stopped along the way at the outback ghost town of Farina, which is being restored by volunteers. Lucky to be there at the time of the year that the bakery was open.

DAY 6: MARREE TO COOBER PEDY (368km) Travelled the Oodnadatta Track, travelling the Explorers Way. Saw a Sculpture Park in the middle of nowhere. Stopped at Coward Springs for lunch. Afternoon tea at William Creek. Stayed at Riba's Campground. That night did underground mine tour at campsite.

DAYS 7 AND 8: COOBER PEDY Explored the area for a couple of days - Breakaways Conversation Park (where Mad Max 3 was filmed and an amazing place), the dog fence, Crocodile Harry's, Faye's Underground House, underground church, Old Timers Mine.

DAY 9: COOBER PEDY TO MARRYAT REST AREA (509km) Headed off down the Oodnadatta Track to Oodnadatta and saw the Pink Roadhouse. Then back to the Stuart highway at Marla. Free camped at Marryat Rest Area.

DAY 10: MARRYAT REST AREA TO ULURU CAMPGROUND (396km) Continuing up the Stuart Highway we stopped at the Kulgera Roadhouse/Hotel, then on to Erlinda where we turned onto the Lasseter Highway. Passed a large rock which is Mt Connor but looks like Ayer Rock. Stopped in at Curtin Springs. Arrived at campground a day early so in the overflow area for the night.

DAYS 11, 12 AND 13: ULURU CAMPGROUND Explored the area, went to Kata Tjata or The Olga's and did some walks. Went to Uluru and did a free ranger-guided walk on the Mall Track (approx 2 hours). We drove around the rock and did Kuniya Walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole. We watched people climb the rock. We had sunset drinks and , a 3 course Australian themed dinner under the stars and walked through the Field of Lights.

DAY 14: ULURU TO KINGS CANYON Went to aboriginal show in the little theatre in morning, drove to Kings Canyon in afternoon.

DAY 15 KINGS CANYON TO ALICE SPRINGS (339km) This morning we did the 6km Kings Canyon Rim Walk. All I can say about this place is WOW WOW WOW, what a spectacular place. In the afternoon we drove to Alice Springs.

DAYS 16, 17 AND 18 ALICE SPRINGS Day 16 we did a 426km scenic drive along Larapinta Drive and Namatjira Drive. We saw Ellery Creek Big Hole, Serpentine Gorge, Ochre Pits, Ormiston Gorge and Redbank Gorge. We had lunch at Glen Helen Homestead/Gorge and also checked out Palm Valley (4WD access only). A lot of time here was getting some repairs done to car. We did check out Springs Telegraph Station and Anzac Hill Lookout. Couple of things learnt here is you cannot buy alcohol without your drivers licence being scanned and only at certain time, and at the time it costs 50 cents to use the toilet at the shopping centre!

DAY 19 ALICE SPRINGS TO SOMEWHERE ON THE TANAMI ROAD (584km) We left Alice Springs and headed west along the Tanami Road. I would suggest you have some jerry cans of fuel for on this road. You can get fuel at the aboriginal settlements but they don't have regular opening hours. We free camped just off the Tanami Road for the night in the middle of nowhere!

DAY 20 TANAMI ROAD TO LEYCESTER REST AREA - ORD RIVER (598km) We completed the Tanami Road. We did small detour of road and went to Wolfe Crater (worst road of the trip). Stopped for fuel in Halls Creek, then continued up the Great Northern Highway to a rest area (free camp) for the night.

DAY 21 LEYCESTER REST AREA TO KUNUNURRA (272kms) We had planned to go to the Bungle Bungles but due to an issue with camper were unable to. Stayed in a lovely caravan park - Lakeside. Afternoon was spent doing some maintenance on van.

DAYS 22 AND 23 KUNUNURRA Day 22 - This morning a mini bus picked us up from the caravan park and took us to Lake Argyle. We looked at the Lake Argyle Homestead. Once at the lake, first stop for me was a dip in the caravan park infinity pool to get a photo! We then got on a boat and did the lunch cruise. The size of this lake is mind blowing. After our cruise, the bus took us to the other side of the dam wall where we hopped on a fast boat which took us down the Ord River back to Kununurra. The boat stopped along the way for a yummy afternoon tea of pumpkin scones and carrot cake. This day was again full of WOW moments. The bus met the boat and dropped us back at the caravan park. Certainly a day trip I would recommend. Day 23 was spent exploring the area - Ivanhoe Crossing, Hoochery Rum Distillery, The Sandalwood Factory, Celebrity Tree Park, Zebra Rock Mine, Diversion Dam Wall, Lake Kununurra.

DAY 24 KUNUNURRA TO KATHERINE (504km) Just a travel day through Timber Creek, Gregory National Park and over the Victoria River.

DAY 25 KATHERINE We went to Katherine Gorge

DAY 26 KATHERINE TO LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK (388km) We headed further north up the Stuart Highway, through Pine Creek, Adelaide River and turned off into Batchelor. We set up camp at Wangi Falls Campground in Litchfield National Park. Once set up we went exploring - Florence Falls for a swim, Buley Rockhole, The Lost City, Tolmer Falls Lookout then back to Wangi Falls for another swim before dinner. This is another amazing place.

DAY 27 LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK TO DARWIN We headed north on Litchfield Park Road. We stopped in and checked out the Bamboo Creek Tin Mine before we left the national park. We drove through Berry Springs and booked into a lovely little caravan park on the outskirts of Darwin. Once camp was set up, we did a load of washing and then headed into Darwin to the tourist information centre. Late afternoon we went to Aquascene and did the fish feeding, then went to Mindil Beach Sunset Markets (a must do when in Darwin).

DAYS 28 AND 29 DARWIN Spent these 2 days exploring Darwin - drove out to Fannie Bay and East Point Reserve, visited the Darwin Military Museum, drove back to camp through Nightcliff. We did a sunset dinner cruise on the Darwin Harbour. Checked out the Darwin waterfront, Mitchell Street and went to the Crocosaurus Cave. We even found time to get the car serviced.

DAY 30 DARWIN TO KAKADU NATIONAL PARK. We headed out on the Arnhem Highway through Humpty Doo and Mary River National Park to arrive at Jabiru in the Kakadu National Park. After lunch we drove to Ubirr where we saw some rock art and did some rock climbing to another amazing lookout. We then drove to Cahill's Crossing at the East Alligator River that goes to Arnhem Land. We went out on the viewing platform and saw at least 6 crocodiles. We the had an afternoon dip in the pool.

DAY 31 KAKADU NATIONAL PARK Spent the day exploring - Yellow Water,

Cooinda, Mardugal Billabong, Nourlangie Rock, Anbangbang Billabong, Ranger Mine.

DAY 32 KAKADU NATIONAL PARK TO MATARANKA (404km) We headed south on the Kakadu Highway and checked out one more lookout - Bukbukluk Lookout. We drove past the Mary River Roadhouse to Pine Creek on the Stuart Highway. We continued south on the Stuart Highway, through Katherine to arrive at Mataranka Homestead for the night. After a quick set up, we headed to the hot springs where we spent a couple of hours. That night there was entertainment - a whip cracker.

DAY 33 MATARANKA TO BANKA BANKA HOMESTEAD (463km) This morning we got up and another dip in the hot springs. We then continued south on the Stuart Highway stopping at the historic Daly Waters Pub for lunch. We checked out the Stuart Tree, then continued to Banka Banka Homestead where we camped for the night. We had more nightly entertainment.

DAY 34 BANKA BANKA HOMESTEAD TO BARKLY HOMESTEAD (508km) We headed further south on the Stuart Highway through Threeways to Tenant Creek to look at the Devils Marbles. We then came back to Threeways, turned onto the Barkly Highway which will take us back to Queensland. Camped at Barkly Homestead for the night.

DAY 35 BARKLY HOMESTEAD TO FULLARTON RIVER REST AREA (623km) Mainly a travel day. Continued east along Barkly Highway back over the border into Queensland. We drove through Camooweal, Mt Isa and Cloncurry before heading south on the Landsborough Highway. Free camp for night at Fullerton River Rest Area.

DAY 36 FULLARTON RIVER REST AREA TO WINTON (282km) We continued along the Landsborough Highway. We stopped at the town of McKinlay where the famous Walkabout Creek Hotel from Crocodile Dundee is. Then drove through Kynuna to arrive in Winton for the night. Camped at the camp ground attached to the pub. We went to the Waltzing Matilda Centre and the Musical Fence.

DAY 37 WINTON TO LONGREACH (201 km) Spent the morning at Age of Dinosaurs just outside Winton. After lunch headed down the Landsborough Highway to Longreach. Went to the Stockmans Hall of Fame dinner and outback show. I actually got to be part of the show!

DAY 38 LONGREACH We went back to the Stockmans Hall of Fame and had look around inside and then enjoyed a different outback show. We spent the afternoon at the Qantas Founders Museum where we did the jet tour and had our photo taken in front of a jet engine.

DAY 39 LONGREACH TO ROCKHAMPTON (703km) Heading back on the Landsborough Highway, we drove through Ilfracombe, then stopped at Barcaldine and looked at the Tree of Knowledge. We then headed down the Capricornia Highway where we passed through the towns of Jericho, Alpha, Emerald, Comet, Blackwater, Bluff, Dingo, Duaringa, Westwood, Stanwell and Kabra before arriving in Rockhampton.

DAYS 40 AND 41 ROCKHAMPTON Spent time with David's parents.

DAY 42 ROCKHAMPTON TO HERVEY BAY (301km) Today we saw rain, something we had not seen for 6 weeks. Stopped here to catch up with David's brother and wife.

DAY 43 HERVEY BAY TO HOME Arrived back home. Travelled at total of 12,787kms and got to see some amazing places. Time to start planning the next trip, we have the bug now!!!