DOING DARWIN AND THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE

After travelling for 12 days through some of the most remote parts of Australia, we arrived back in civilisation in Darwin. Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, it is the most northern city in Australia. It is tropical with hot temperatures all year round and lots of rain in the wet season, our summer. It is not a large city but very modern because it had to be rebuilt after the cyclone,"Tracy" completely destroyed the whole city in 1974. Our tour with 'Outback Spirit" ended with a bus tour of Darwin and a visit to the Military Museum.

This house was one of the few that survived the cyclone. It has been kept as an example of the type of homes that used to be in Darwin before the cyclone. New ones are built to cyclone standards and are more modern.

After we said goodbye to our tour companions, Ann, George and I continued our holiday for a few more days. Firstly, we joined a half day "Ultimate Tour".  We were picked up at the hotel and driven to the airport, where we boarded a small float plane , which took us south of Darwin into the wilderness and landed on "Sweets Lagoon".

In the lagoon there was a big pontoon with a boat, a helicopter and an airboat waiting for us.

There were 10 of us on the tour, which started with a relaxing cruise on the pristine lagoon. We also enjoyed a BBQ Barramundi fish lunch.

When we returned to the pontoon we were divided into groups. Some went on the airboat and some in the helicopter. 

The first ride in the airboat was a fast lap where we zoomed around the lagoon at speed and then we entered the wetlands and zoomed around the trees. It was exhilarating and wet.

At one point the driver slowed and stopped and fed these wild pigs.

We returned to the pontoon and then boarded the helicopter without doors, which is good for photography if you are game to let go of the widow edge.

The young pilot buzzed along the lagoon the tipped on its side as we turned towards a patch of termite mounds. It was exciting even if a bit scary.

We came down for a closer look.

We actually landed for a few minutes to see how big these mounds were, they were as tall as the helicopter. Then we zoomed between the mounds back up into the sky.

We looked down and could see the others in the airboat returning from the wetlands.

Then we were back at the pontoon and boat. When the airboat returned all the tour group boarded it for a more leisurely tour into the rain forest. It was an amazing trip into a deep dark spooky world where we saw prehistoric crocodiles.

They came very close to the boat. One actually jumped out of the water with its jaws wide open showing us its menacing teeth and pink tongue. Luckily we were protected by a wire fence around the boat and a ranger with a long pole.

They glide so quietly and almost submerged, they are hard to see.

It was the most amazing ride I have had. The scenery and wildlife was like out of another world.

We returned to the pontoon and waited for the float plane to take us back to Darwin. While we were waiting the crew were trying to feed fish to  the Sea Eagles.

Finally one came down and plucked the fish from the hand of a crew member.

Then it was time to go.

The sun was setting as we returned to the airport.

I was sitting right behind the pilot. It was fun. Wow! What an adventure. I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Darwin.

THE LAST LONG DRIVE (Savannah Way 16)

This was going to be the longest and the last long drive along The Savannah Way or as it is sometimes called, "The Top Road." It stretches across the top of Australia from Cairns to Broome. In 2009 we travelled from Broome on the west coast to Darwin. This year I travelled from Cairns to Darwin. (see map). So now I have been the whole way across. This tme our last leg was from Ngukurr to Darwin, 658k.

 We set off early and came across some water buffalo.

 Once again there were many river crossings, no bridges just causeways.

 There were kapok trees along the road, with their pods full of kapok.

 After many miles we came to the little township of Mataranka. It has a population of 250. The area is famous for cattle and thermal pools. We stopped for morning tea and a quick swim.

 I didn't have time for a swim because I was too busy taking photos.

 Jeanie Gunn's autobiography, "We of the Never Never" was written about her life on Elsey Station near Mataranka. A movie was made of the story and they built a replica of the homestead for the movie. It still stands as a museum depicting those early days.

 After morning tea we drove on for miles and miles. We watched a DVD about John McDuall Stuart, a famous explorer, who found a way for the overland telegraph from Adelaide in the south to Darwin back in the 1800's. Finally, we arrived in Katherine for lunch and a group photo. There was a statue of a bushman in recognition of all the pioneers and cattlemen who helped develop Katherine. It is a larger town with 24.000 people living in the area, 60% are indigenous.

 We were a bit disappointed that we couldn't stay another night here because there are many things to do and see. Luckily, I did stay here on our last trip from the other side of the country. There is a beautiful big gorge, Nitmiluk. There are photos on my post here:

 After many more miles we were getting closer to Darwin. We stopped at Adelaide River War Cemetery for a leg stretch.

 This cemetery is for the people who were killed during sixty bombing raids on Darwin by the Japanese in World War 11. They were mostly RAAF service men but there were many civilians and nurses killed also.

 Finally we made it to Darwin and a very comfortable hotel room. It was a strange feeling to be back in civilisation after being in so much remote country.

I watched the beautiful sunset over Darwin Harbour while getting ready for our final dinner with our new friends that we had made on the tour. However, the tour hadn't quite finished as there was a tour of Darwin scheduled for the last day. But it wasn't the last day for me. My friends, Ann and George had organised another few days touring, where we would end up on the bottom of Australia. 

THE RUINED CITY (Savannah Way 15)

On our trip across the top of Australia we stopped in the Aboriginal town of Ngukurr, which used to be a mission in Arnem Land. (see map)   Seven clans have joined together and run the council. They are endeavouring to create jobs and be self sufficient. They value education and there is a 95% attendance rate at the school. They all love sport and football especially. The town has a policy, 'no school, no sport' at any of the clubs. The kids love their sport so it is helping them keep going to school.

They also have an Art Centre. We stayed at the Art Centre while we waited for our turn to go for a helicopter trip to the 'Ruined City'. We watched some of the artists at work and then they cooked us damper and tea for morning tea on a camp fire. There are two sculptures in the background, a water buffalo and a crocodile. Inside the centre were hundreds of beautiful pieces of aboriginal art for sale.

 This time I had the front seat in the helicopter, there were no doors but we had seat belts.

  It was quite scary but fun when the pilot swooped down  closer to the water buffalo.

 We flew for 20 mins over Arnhem Land.

 Then we came to the most unusual rock formations, which resembled a ruined city. It is a special place for the aborigines called Baroonja. Visitors are only allowed to go there if accompanied by a family member of the owners of this area. There were miles and miles of these rocks and I took heaps of photos but too many to put here.

 The helicopter lands on top of one of the bigger rocks. The people, waiting for the return flight, looked so little and in the middle of nowhere.

 The guide loads the people to go back.

We were taken for a short walk around the rock that we were on. The different shapes and colours were amazing. It was also very hot there about 40°C. Our local guide was Walter the son of the elder who owns this area. It was the first time he has done the tour guide work for his family. He enjoyed the helicopter ride so much that he wants to become a pilot. He told us stories about the area.

 After 40 mins the helicopter was back to pick up us.

 Time to say goodbye to the 'Ruined City" or 'Baroonja"

We returned to Ngukurr nestled on top of the ridge not far from the Roper River but a long way from any other civilisation.

 That afternoon we were taken on a cruise on the Roper River with another local guide. We learnt about the interesting history of the river. Paddleboat steamers were a common site in the past originally to bring supplies to those building the overland telegraph system in the 1870's.

We saw many different birds and bats but no crocodiles (they were hiding).