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"For I know the plans I have for you"

Cairns

30/10/2013

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We spent about 10 days here relaxing and exploring the area. It was nice to actually get away from the 40° temperatures to the more pleasant climate of Cairns. The area is beautiful, surrounded by mountainous rain forest. We stayed at the Big4 caravan park which is potentially the best set up park in Australia with its numerous kids activities including movies, play grounds, pools and who could forget the water playground!

We went up to Kuranda on the train and headed back down on the SkyRail (cable car)
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Cruising around the caravan park!
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The water playground.
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Taking time out from playing mini golf.
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The train up to Kuranda.
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It shouldn't be legal to enjoy train rides this much !!!
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Coming back down the mountain on the SkyRail.
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I hired a motorcycle to ride through some of the crazy twisty roads up here.
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We visited a couple of coffee plantations ... posing with a giant coffee bean!
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Croyden and Undara Volcanic National Park

29/10/2013

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Next we moved on to Undara Volcanic National Park. We stopped in at Croyden on the way, a beautiful old town with its history in gold mining.
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The Croyden General Store ... The oldest store in Australia.
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Exploring the general store which was set up as a bit of a museum.
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Captured! in the old Croyden LockUp.
Undara Volcanic National Park was created by ... you guessed it ... volcanoes! They are actually lava tubes that traverse the country side. and were quite spectacular.
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Dinner at the Undara camp grounds!
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In an old train carriage at the Undara campsite.
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The lava tubes.
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Lawn Hill & Lucy's 1st Birthday

25/10/2013

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Lucy had her firs birthday in the outback, and she had a ball. She had presents, a singing birthday card, balloons, cup cakes and we decorated the tent annex. Every time we sung happy birthday her face lit up!
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Eating cup cakes!
We ventured into Lawn Hill National Park and hired canoes for a relaxing paddle up the river.
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Canoeing in Lawn Hill NP
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Lucy had a great time hanging over the edge!
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These are archer fish. We were holding food over the water and they spit a small ball of water at it to try and knock it into the water so they can eat it. They are remarkably accurate.
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Daly Waters Pub and Kingfisher Camp

24/10/2013

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Next we headed to Kingfisher Camp but on the way we stopped in at Daly Waters to check out a unique pub there. It is full of stuff that people have left there over the years.
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There appears to be a bit of a tradition in the NT of decorating termite mounds with clothes, hats, sunnies and other assorted objects. This would have to be the most elaborately decorated of the all!
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We had our first tyre blow out !!!
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Having fun changing the tyre!
 Once we reached Kingfisher Camp we had the place to ourselves. It was nice to have a bit of seclusion for the night.
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Our only companion whilst camping at Kingfisher, apart from the bugs!
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Dusk at Kingfisher Camp.
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This is a load of ... bull dust !!!
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Bitter and Mataranka Springs

22/10/2013

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We stayed at Mataranka for a night and got invaded by tiny little ants which worked their way all through our kitchen. Luckily they didn't spoil too much food. Generally, it has been the tiny little insects that have caused us the most issues on this trip. While we were here we visited the Bitter Springs and Mataranka Springs. They both consisted of remarkably clear warm water but the Bitter Springs had been left in a more natural state which we preferred. While they were both around the 30° mark, they were still refreshing ass the outside temperature was nearer 40°. Neither of them were much to look at above water, it was under water that they got interesting.
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Katherine

19/10/2013

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In Katherine we took a boat cruise down the spectacular Katherine Gorge and also went for a tour down into the Cutta Cutta caves. Two very different experiences! The photos from down in the cave were very average so I won't bore you with those ... you will just have to make do with photos from within the gorge.
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Keep River National Park

18/10/2013

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Today we finally crossed out of Western Australia into the Northern Territory. We didn't have to drive too far to reach our first destination, The Keep River National Park. We set up camp and waited until later in the afternoon to go for a bush walk. In the end this was probably one of the nicer bush walks we have taken while on our trip so far. Some photos: 
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Crossing the border.
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Lucy and I hanging around!
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The Bungle Bungles

15/10/2013

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One morning in Kununurra, Zoe and I got up early and drove two hours to do a helicopter flight over the Bungle Bungles (Pernululu National Park). It was an amazing experience as we flew in the helicopter with the doors off. Here are a few photos:
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Kununurra

9/10/2013

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I have decided to update the blog again .... FINALLY!!!

After the Gibb we were all a little worn out. Kununurra was a chance to wind down a little. I took the opportunity to visit the transmitter site for HCJB Global, a christian organisation that produces and transmits christian radio into Asia. They have an impressive antenna installation. While we were here, Fiona, Zoe and Pippa all got sick so we rented a unit for a few days until it blew over. Just 3 days in air-conditioning desensitised us to the 40°+ heat we were experiencing. 
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We hired a boat and took a relaxing cruise on Lake Kununurra.
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Taking a dip!
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We visited the very beautiful Lake Argyle.
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We took the opportunity to drive to Wyndham. This is the port as seen from the lookout.
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Zoe and Pippa with the big saltie at Wyndham.
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Gibb River Road

1/10/2013

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We finally left Broome on the 1st of October and headed off to experience the Gibb River Road. We had wanted to do this for a long time so we were eagerly anticipating this part of Australia.

We started off in Fitzroy Crossing so we could do a boat tour down Geikie Gorge. The temperature was around the 43° mark which hit us quite hard. We stayed there for 2 nights and then headed off to see Tunnel Creek before setting up at Windjana Gorge. After Windjana where we finally turned onto the Gibb River Road.

The drive was beautiful and scenic, not what either of us expected. Our next stop was at Bell Gorge for the night. After walking into Bell Gorge the next day we packed up and headed off. During that day we visited Galvin's Gorge and the service station for an icecream which was a bit of a luxury considering the heat.

We spent that night at the Barnett River Gorge. The next day we headed to Mount Elizabeth Station which not only had beautiful gorges but also farm animals, which the girls loved. They got to feed a calf and a baby donkey milk which was great.

Our last stop was a couple of nights at El Questro ... unfortunately we didn't fork out the $3000 / night price tag to stay where the rich and famous go!

We loved doing the Gibb River Road and we agreed that Bell Gorge was the highlight for us. The journey was very hot and we had a few casualties with batteries not charging, spot lights breaking and a multitude of thong deaths but all in all we are glad we experienced it and we enjoyed the Gibb's many pleasant surprises.  

Some of our images from along the Gibb:
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Geikie Gorge
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Some of the spectacular rock formations / erosion of Geikie Gorge
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One of the many fresh water crocs we saw at Windjana Gorge
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Lucy enjoyed sleeping in the backpack on numerous occasions
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Pippa and Zoe in Tunnel Creek
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Bell Gorge waterfall
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Bell Gorge
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Swimming at Bell Gorge ... refreshing after a hard walk!
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Climbing into Wunumurra Gorge at Mt Elizabeth Station
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Wunumurra Gorge. We had this place to ourselves for an entire morning.
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Feeding the calf at Mt Elizabeth Station
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Swimming at Warla Gorge at Mt Elizabeth Station
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Swimming in the Zebede thermal springs at El Questro
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The Pentecost River crossing coming into El Questro
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The Gibb claimed many thongs!
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Galvin's Gorge
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The Gibb River Road ... a sealed section was a nice break from the corrugations!
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