Trip 2005 : WA and NT
Leaving Perth on August 10
Kalbarri - Western Australia
Kalbarri is a nice quiet spot about 600km drive north of Perth.
Staying a few days enabled us to get into the holiday "swing". The Kalbarri National Park with it's uniquely weathered rock formations and gorges is a local attraction.
Where we stayed in Kalbarri - a cabin | Day trip on a boat on the Murchinson River in Kalbarri | Kalbarri National Park - Nature's Window Nature's Window again | Another view of Kalbarri National Park | Monkey Mia - Western AustraliaNo trip up the north coast of WA would be complete without checking out the dolphins at Monkey Mia. The only thing at Monkey Mia is the resort. Denham is about 20 mins drive away. We stayed in the most budget accomodation available. The dolphins are feed in the morning.
Denham harbour | Cabin at Monkey Mia (cheapest) | The beach at Monkey Mia - with guest! Waiting for the dolphins | Still waiting! | Here the are! | Feeding the dolphins. | Carnavon - Western AustraliaSmall town, impressive jetty and history. Did a very terrific $5 tour of a local Banana Plantation (best value tour ever - the owner was very funny). Carnavon Jetty | Banana plantation tour | Carnavon Banana Plantation Coral Bay - Western AustraliaWe were heading for Exmouth, but liked the look of Coral Bay so we stayed a couple of nights. The first day was beautiful and warm - then it started raining and a storm came through. Tenting at Coral Bay | At the beach! | Exmouth - Western AustraliaExmouth is a lovely but isolated town just short of the North West Cape. Originally established to support the defense installations, it's main attraction is Cape Range National Park. Acting on advice from fellow travellers we signed up for Niel McLeod's one day adventure tour - terrific! Visiting Gorge Country | Valley view in Cape Range NP | Tackling a 4WD Track in the Park | Yardie Creek - a flooded gorge | Great views and wildlife in Yardie Creek | My hat rescued from the water by fellow tour guests | The big prawn | The all day tour finishes with a magnificent sunset | Another magificent sunset at the Exmouth lighthouse
Port Headland, Western AustraliaHaving lived for a few months in Port Hedland back in the eighties, we were keen to see if the place had changed much - answer: not much. But we caught up with some of Jody's friends who are teaching in the local high school. Port Headland main port (iron ore) | At the pub with Jody's friends | Broome - Western AustraliaOften described as the jewel of North West Australia, Broome is quite a bit bigger now than when we visited some twenty years ago. Naturally, Cable Beach is the jewel of the jewel - especially at sunset.
Our large on-site van at Broome | Approaching sunset | Cheryl watching the sunset | Sunset with boats | The true magic of a Cable Beach sunsetWe did a day trip from Broome up the Dampier Penisula to see a famous church built by the aboriginals and missionaries Church at Beagle Bay (Dampier Peninsula | Inside the church with the mother of pearl shell alter | The road on the Dampier Peninsula
Derby - Western AustraliaCheryl twisted her ankle in Broome so we couldn't travel far the next leg - only to Derby. The Boab trees are all around. A typical Boab tree | Sunset at Derby Harbour | The biggest Boab tree found so far
Helicopter Flight over Bungle Bungle Ranges - Western Australia We took a helipcopter flight over the Bungle Bungle ranges from Turkey Creek (north of Halls Creek) - very spectacular. Next time we'll drive in as well.
The helicopter we went in (no doors!)
Inside the helipcopter | View of the Bungle Bungle campsite | Looking down inside a gorge | Another view of the Bungle Bungle "beehive" formations |
Kununurra - Western AustraliaCame in via an overnight at Halls Creek. Kununurra had changed quite a bit since my travels there on business in the late eighties. Had a fantastic tour of Lake Argyle followed by a boat trip down the Ord River back to town. Our cabin at Kununurra (fantastic) | On Lake Argyle | Lake Arygle Dam | Going down the Ord River on the boat | The speed of the boat (3 x 200hp Hondas) | A freshwater crocodile spotted on the river | Magificent views on the Ord River
Katherine, Darwin - Northern TerritoryOnce inside NT we stopped at Katherine (great natural springs which we soaked in for a few hours) then onto Darwin for a look around and a couple of nights of luxury accommodation. Crossing the WA-NT Border | Cabin in the lush Katherine region | The Adelaide River hotel has the actual water buffalo seen in the Crocodile Dundee films (not stuffed) | Our hotel in Darwin | Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks - Northern TerritoryWhile Cheryl returned to Perth for a few days, I took a three day 4WD adventure tour of Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks.The tour group at Kakadu entrance Gorge country in Kakadu | Birdlife in the billabongs | Tent accommodation on the tour | Crocodile country! | Lunch break during the trip | Aboriginal rock art | Swimming pools in Litchfield NP | Florence Falls in Litchfield NP | Daly Waters, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock (Uluru) - Northen TerritoryAlice Springs is a nice sized rown with lots to see. Ayers Rock is really worth seeing - more impressive than we expected. No trip to NT is complete without having a beer at the famous Daly Waters pub | Inside the unique pub | Alice Springs from the lookout | Ayers Rock | Ayers Rock at Sunset | Walking round the base of Ayers Rock | Wycliffe Well, Devil's Marbles - Northern TerritoryBoth on the road to Tennant Creek, Wycliffe Well is a unique roadhouse for it's UFO "sightings". Devil's Marbles are well worth a look.Sign at Wycliffe Well (on the road between Alice Springs & Tennant Creek) Aliens at Wycliffe Well | Another strange alien! | Devil's Marbles | Vandals pushing a marble over! |
| Trip 2005 | Qld, NSW and NZ | Vic, Tasmania and SA |
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