Week Thirteen: Longreach – the Gold Coast of the Outback

Armed and dangerous!

The lady at the Visitors Centre was right when she said Longreach had so many attractions it had become the Gold Coast of the Outback. We loved it and extended our stay from four days to five and still didn’t get to see everything we wanted to. Longreach is situated in the heart of Outback Queensland and is steeped in history. It was once a wool producing area but now rides on the very broad back of beef cattle and has very successfully diversified into tourism. It was a case of having to because of the drought, which has had a stranglehold since 2013. The people are very resilient and resourceful and haven’t lost their senses of humour. When we inquired about the impact of the drought one old timer said it was so dry “the trees were chasin’ the dawgs”. You have to laugh.

Up close and personal to a jet engine

We have never heard such broad Australian accents and they kept us smiling and laughing all week with their laconic way of speaking and laid back lifestyles. Our gorgeous young guide, Maddie, who showed us over the Qantas Founders Museum had just returned from six weeks in Europe and she said no one understood a word she said. We could understand why. Along with fifty other sightseers, she herded us around for an hour and a half and had us spell bound with her professionalism and knowledge of the huge aircraft on display. She kept us all in check and no one stepped out of line. No mean feat especially as she in only five feet two and about forty-seven kilos. Maddie loves her job and it shows.

Come fly with me!

The Museum is an independent not-for-profit community organization operating since 1996. It is an award winning, world-class museum and cultural display, telling the story of Qantas through interpretive displays with original and replica aircraft. We were fascinated with the Boeing 747 named the Spirit of Bunbury. Maddie took us on a walkaround tour showing us all the features of the aircraft including the Traffic Collision Avoidance System, the workings of the undercarriage and wings and all the bits and bobs (that is not the technical term but I lose concentration after a while) and the Flight Recorder (black boxes, there are two, which are actually orange). They are placed at the back of the plane not at the front with the pilots as commonly thought because, as Maddie explained, “Have you ever heard of a plane flying backwards into a mountain?” No and I don’t want to. 

We will never look at flying the same and have a greater understanding of all the intricacies of the big beast waiting for us on the tarmac next time we fly. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing but I now know how to ‘arm the doors’,  ‘cross check’ and ‘prepare the cabin for landing’. I think I have missed my vocation!

Very impressive Stockman's Hall of Fame

Our caravan park was like a dust bowl but central to everything so we walked to the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame. Wow! Museums these days are not the boring old glass cabinets and dusty, moth eaten displays of our childhoods. They have themed galleries, touch screens and audio-visual presentations to showcase brilliant displays to hold your interest and to educate and explain a plethora of facts while maintaining your interest. I must admit we do prefer the ‘hands on’ visual displays and the live Outback Stockman’s show was brilliant.

We loved the Stockmen show

It is a tribute to the skills of past and present stockmen who shaped Outback Australia from drovers to stockmen and the sturdy horses that carried them. The show was fantastic and as animal lovers, we were enthralled with the horses and dogs that enabled the stockmen to move thousands of head of cattle through this tough land. The very talented stockman who presented the show rode his stock horse, herded sheep with the aid of two kelpies (our very favourites) and also sang and played his guitar. As I said before, we have smiled and laughed all week. It is another world out here.

There's a coach comin' in!

There was more iconic Aussie humour and experiences to come when we fronted up for the Cobb and Co Stagecoach Experience and Harry Redford (Captain Starlight) Old Time Tent Show. What a hoot! After a ‘smoko’ of scones with jam and cream and billy tea we climbed on board our stagecoach to trace the original mail route from Longreach to Windorah along bush tracks that pioneers set out on over a hundred years ago. It gave us an insight to what the pioneers experienced when travelling between towns. What a ride! We got up to a gallop through the back blocks of Longreach and along with our fellow passengers had a rollicking good time. Despite the dust and white knuckle ride we had a fantastic time but were relieved to be safely delivered to our destination back at the Outback Pioneer Centre in the main street of Longreach.

The Kinnon brothers tent show

We were entertained by the award winning Kinnon brothers with their tribute to an old time tent show with slapstick humour, mayhem and animal antics. It was great fun with lots of audience participation. We then watched the iconic Aussie movie ‘Smiley Gets His Gun’ starring the very young Chips Rafferty, Leonard Teale and Ruth Cracknell. The acting, or should I say over acting, was terrible but we sat enthralled and marvelled that there wasn’t one fat person in the whole cast and Smiley and his mates spent the whole movie running barefoot through the countryside. How times have changed!

Toasty warm by the fire

That night we boarded a paddlewheeler for a sunset river cruise up the Thomson River. Unfortunately we were tacked on the end of a busload of oldies from Canberra and they were boring as the proverbial bat poo. The fastest they moved was to the chuck wagon that served up our authentic stockman’s campfire dinner. GK said he has faced softer hip and shoulders on the rugby field and they weren’t armed with walking sticks! 

We managed to distance ourselves for the entertainment and the hilarious bush poet who recounted a poem on not being able to back a trailer. He is an accomplished stockman, drover and roustabout but can not master the skill of backing his trailer despite practicing left hand down, right hand down and has to get his wife to do it. As most of the audience were caravanners like us we were in stitches as we have all witnessed someone struggling to park their van. It can be very embarrassing as it always when there are a lot of people around and it is quite a tight spot. We politely avert our eyes and hope it never happens to us. So far so good.

Loved the bush poets and the campfire

Winners are grinners - almost!

We were lucky the Longreach Races were on when we were in town so on Saturday we drove out to the very impressive country racetrack to have a flutter. I dragged GK along to watch the Fashions of the Field with me and he got roped into entering the Best Dressed Gent competition! They had only one entrant and were desperate for more and begged GK to enter. 

We know what it is like to organize events and have them fizzle out through lack of participation so being the good sport he is, he entered. The judging panel managed to drag another couple of suckers from out of the bar and explained that the entrant who impressed them with their imagination on the catwalk would win. GK dropped and did two pushups with handclaps in between to wow not only the judges but the awestruck crowd as well. His efforts were in vain as he came second losing to a local with a man bun. He won a voucher to the Qantas Founders Museum, which we passed onto a very appreciative Victorian couple who bought us a drink. Win win. Needless to say there were lashings of Deep Heat massaged into my Hunk of Spunk that night when the adrenalin died down after his gymnastic display and reality set in. There is still life in the old dog. 

GK busting a move (and a muscle or two) on the catwalk!

Tough competition (not!)

As I said our stay in Longreach wasn’t long enough but we have been left with lasting impressions of what a great town it is and how the pioneering spirit and resilience of Aussies facing grim odds can overcome hard times. We hope the drought breaks very soon and the wonderful people of Longreach can get on with their lives. The bush poet summed it up when he said that way out west is where ‘the handshakes are stronger and the smiles linger longer’. Couldn’t have said it better myself. I wonder what next week will bring as we head further south down the track through more drought stricken outback towns that make up Outback Central Queensland. Will let you know next week. Love to all and keep safe. 

Week Twelve: Way Out West

Another sunset but isn't it gorgeous.

West Queensland that is. We are in Outback Queensland where the vast distances and huge spaces have shaped the stories and forged the pioneering spirit of its people from Captain Starlight to Banjo Paterson.  It is a truly a unique part of Australia and we have enjoyed exploring a large section of it this week, travelling over 1800 kms along the Overlander Way through iconic Outback towns like Cloncurry, Julia Creek and down the Matilda Highway to Winton where we are at the moment.

A bit exaggerated but you can see what we mean

It has been an amazing adventure despite the dreadful Queensland roads. We have been spoilt with the mostly straight, wide and well maintained highways of WA and the Northern Territory. Because we have been travelling over floodplains the roads are undulating and it is like riding a roller coaster. It is always a worry when we open the caravan door to see what awaits us. We have come out mostly unscathed except for two broken glasses and some jammed door handles. A squirt of WD40 has fixed the latter and we now batten down the hatches and ensure everything is stored securely before we take off. 

Camooweal was our first stop in Queensland and we stayed in town at the caravan park to catch up on our washing etc.  We wondered why the couple next door didn’t have a vehicle parked outside their van and we later found out that their Jeep Cherokee had an electrical fault and burnt to the ground! They were waiting for their friend to come from Wagga in NSW to tow their van home. Luckily the caravan wasn’t hooked up at the time and it is all covered by insurance. It was a cruel end to their long planned holiday.

Mt Isa - a mining town

Mt Isa has had a crime wave recently with people breaking into caravans while the occupants are asleep. One lady had her handbag taken with over a thousand dollars in it and worst of all, all her credit cards, license, Medicare card etc. The streets are very grubby and there are a lot of vacant shops, which is always a bad sign. We have been to Isa before and weren’t impressed then so we did a grocery shop and pushed on to safer pastures without a backward glance. 

Fantastic free camp at Clem Walton Park

It has been fun free camping along the way and an absolute highlight was Clem Walton Park and Corella Dam Rest Area. There were over a hundred vans of all shapes and sizes dotted around the edges of the dam when we arrived. We found our spot and settled in for two days of relaxing and yarning with our neighbours. GK scraped together some twigs and dead branches and made a campfire. It was a pretty good effort considering we had no newspaper, firelighters or decent hunks of wood. He is a true caveman!

GK mesmerized by his fire. Ugg.

We haven’t come across a lot of people we know this trip but when we were in Cloncurry we met up with some Moora connections. By coincidence there were three WA vans in a row parked on a side street. A couple that used to live in Muckinbudin owned the van at the back of us and they know Frank McGrath and the late Mick Bates. The van in front had Katanning plates and they know Marg and Geoff Gill and the lady was Wendy McKinley’s bridesmaid! We all had a good yack and marveled at Western Australia’s two degrees of separation - not six like everywhere else. It’s a small world.

Loving the free entertainment

Julia Creek was a very pleasant surprise as it is the cleanest country town we have ever seen and that is saying something. The buildings have been freshly painted and the footpaths are spotless without gobs of chewing gum and dirty marks. It is an absolute credit to the Shire and townspeople and we complimented them when we were in the newsagency and the Visitors' Centre. They were really chuffed. The caravan park was another bonus with modern spotless ablutions and live entertainment every night. We listened to the one-man band singing all the old hits by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson et al before toddling off to bed where we thought we were going to freeze to death.

The days are glorious but the early mornings and evenings are icy cold so we have packed away our lighter clothes and dragged out our trackies and winter PJs.  We have also put the electric blanket on the bed and when we free camp and have no electricity we invert a terracotta pot on one of the gas jets and that takes the chill out of the air. It is a hint we heard in our travels and one we use all the time now as we hate being cold. Whoever is up first puts the kettle and the pot on to warm up the van and then we are happy campers once again. 

CK with another old fossil

GK and Hughie

The towns of Richmond, Hughenden and Winton make up the Dinosaur Trail because the area was once a huge inland sea. Thousands of fossilized bones have been found scattered throughout the area including the world’s only recorded dinosaur stampede near Winton. The three towns have capitalized on the tourism attraction of the ancient creatures and they feature in the streets, at the local museums and as works of art throughout the district. Dinosaur feet cover even the rubbish bins. The kids love it and were clambering over all the statues around the place. Even us old fossils were impressed and posed alongside Hughie, the 7m life-size skeletal replica of a Muttaburrasaurus at the Flinders Discovery Centre in Hughenden

Apart from dinosaurs, Winton is also famous for being the home of Waltzing Matilda. Banjo Paterson wrote the song while staying at a nearby station in 1895 and the first public performance was at Winton’s North Gregory Hotel. The town is really proud of this claim to fame and have built the iconic Waltzing Matilda Centre featuring state of the art technology to celebrate the story of Waltzing Matilda and how the ballad shaped Winton and the surrounding district. We thought it was fantastic especially knowing that it had been rebuilt after a devastating fire razed it to the ground in 2015. It is typical of the tenacity of the people who live way out west. It is a very hard life and not for the faint-hearted.

GK perched outside the fabulous Waltzing Matilda Centre

We are looking forward to heading to Longreach tomorrow as we have heard so much about it. There are so many famous attractions the lady at the Visitor Centre called it ‘The Gold Coast of the Outback”. It will be interesting to see if she is right. These small outback towns have to diversify into tourism as they have dwindling populations and most are drought affected. They are doing a fabulous job with mostly volunteers doing the brunt of the work. We are doing our bit to prop up the economy by shopping locally and supporting all the attractions. The bank balance is looking crook as we booked our tickets for the Gympie Muster today. Yeay! Can’t wait. We have a lot more of central Queensland to do before then so will let you know how we get on. Lots of love to everyone and keep safe.

For Kelly and Grace - Cubby de Squeal's funky cousin holidaying at outback Banka Banka Station

 

Beautiful restored Winton Hotel

Week Eleven: Crocs and Cruises.

Does anyone know a good orthodontist?

They say never smile at a crocodile but that is just what we have been doing this week – albeit from the safety of our tour boats on the Yellow Water Billabong and South Alligator and Katherine Rivers. The wildlife is amazing and we have spotted more than our fair share of crocs, water buffalo, wild horses and wallabies, not to mention the abundant birdlife at Kakadu. It is a photographer’s paradise.

We have been to Kakadu about fifteen years ago when we unfairly renamed it Kaka-don’t. So much has changed in that time and it was great to share the experience with Jenny and Terry. Terry is like a big kid and his enthusiasm and excitement at witnessing all that Kakadu has to offer was infectious. We pushed ourselves to do and see more than we normally would and it was really worth it.

One of the many hundreds of water buffalo in Kakadu

The Yellow Water Sunset Cruise was fantastic and we were able to get up close and personal with a 3.5 metre croc within five minutes of boarding. Our petite skipper Olivia expertly guided our tour boat through the Billabong and up the South Alligator River where we spotted more crocodiles and birds including the famous jabiru, sea eagles and migratory magpie geese. Olivia gave us a fascinating commentary and we learnt so much. The river at sunset was spectacular.

Cruising on the Yellow Water Billabong

A famous jabiru

We were up bright and early the next morning to do the Sunrise Cruise. Our skipper Rueben is a local Bininj/Mungguy man and his knowledge of the area is incredible. His people are now the proud custodians of Kakadu and its surrounds including the Cooinda Lodge and Caravan Park where we stayed. His cruise gave us a different perspective to Olivia’s so we came away having a greater respect for Australia’s largest National Park and its rich history. We have changed our minds and consider Kakadu a definite ‘do’ for anyone considering a trip to the Northern Territory.

Terry was keen to travel out to see the famous rock art gallery at Ubirr, forty kms from Jabiru so we packed plenty of water, hats, sunscreen and the much needed insect repellant and set off to see the aboriginal paintings dating back 15,000 years. Wow! They were mind-blowing. Ubirr’s most famous pieces include X-ray paintings of animals, Dreamtime folklore and ’contact art’ showing local impressions of contact with white explorers. They have lasted this long because they are under rock ledges which protect them from the elements. 

Stunning rock art at Ubirr

Despite the heat, the site was once again literally crawling with other tourists and families, as it is still school holidays. Jenny and I decided to camp under a ledge in the shade as the boys tackled the steep 250 metre climb up and over the rocks to Nardab Lookout which has 360 degree views over the floodplains to Arnhem Land. It is very lush and green and we were surprised as the rest of the country is very dry at the moment. 

 

GK overlooking the floodplains to Arnhem Land

Another of Terry’s must-see destinations was Cahill’s Crossing, which he had seen on YouTube. (Look it up – it’s fascinating.) Despite the ‘Crossing Closed’ and ‘Keep Out’ signs several foolhardy idiots were attempting the crocodile infested river crossing with kids on board. We watched from the safety of the viewing platform with clear evidence of two failed attempts in the river below us. It takes all types doesn’t it? 

Idiots crossing Cahill's Crossing with two not so lucky ones in the croc infested river

Well camouflaged rock wallaby

We have had lots of highlights over the last eleven weeks but one that takes the cake is the Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Cruise on the Katherine River through its series of gorges. The biggest one, Katherine Gorge, was renamed Nitmiluk in 1989 when the traditional owners gained title to the land. It has soaring cathedral like cliffs on either side of the river with sandy beaches dotted here and there where you can moor your canoe. No thanks as we saw a 3 metre fresh water croc on our way up the river, sunbaking on the sand. We also saw a pair of inquisitive rock wallabies gracefully bounding across the rocks. The international tourists and we blasé Aussies were fascinated. A real bonus.

Indescribable Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk)

As the sun sets the colours of the sandstone gorge walls deepen and turn glorious shades of ochre. It is breathtaking and we were pinching ourselves as we sat back enjoying our three course meal, sipping wine and sailing through Nitmiluk which is thousands of years old. Our gorgeous young crew of two Chileans, a Liverpudlian and our skipper - a traditional owner, looked after us very well and pointed our crocodiles in the water around us. The spotlights on top of the boat gave the gorge a truly mystical feeling, or maybe it was the wine. Nevertheless it was an unforgettable night with spectacular scenery, fine food and great company. Thanks Jen and Ter. Our time with you was too short but we had a ball. See you back in Perth. XOXOXO.

Life is good!

Before the sunset 

It is always sad saying goodbye but we know Jenny and Terry will love the rest of their holiday driving through to Broome via Kununurra. They loved the Northern Territory so they will find the Kimberleys equally as impressive. I know we did. With them gone we are back on the straight and narrow (literally) as we venture further south without the temptations of chocolate, Magnums and too much wine at nighttime. We are so easily led and our waistlines prove it. 

GK relaxing at Mataranka Thermal Pool

We are on familiar territory once again as we were up this way last year heading in a northerly direction. That didn’t stop us calling into the famous thermal pool at Mataranka for a dip. The pool is a constant 34 degrees and flows from Rainbow Springs at an amazing 30.5 million litres a day. Because of its popularity the caravan park at the pool is growing all the time. We arrived early and got a drive through site in the back blocks but by four o’clock it was chocker block. 

There was live entertainment at the hotel on site and Happy Hour was from five till six. Unhappy Hour more like it. It was like entering God’s Waiting Room as we sauntered in hoping to pal up with some like-minded travellers looking for a good time.  The crowd was made up of a motley collection of old farts drinking lemon, lime and bitters and reading their books waiting for the band to start. GK couldn’t even have one off the wood as the beer came in stubbies. Not impressed. We had one round and then went back to the Cubby de Wheels Mk II where we could still hear the band followed by the whip cracking (!) until late into the night. Talk about Hicksville.

Well – what a difference twenty-four hours make. We are now at one of our favourite haunts, Daly Waters, and met up with a terrific couple from the Sunshine Coast last night. Happy Hour stretched into several hours and we had a great time swapping ideas and things to see as we head east. We gave them the lowdown on Kakadu and Darwin and they gave us info on some great free camps. They weren’t keen to linger around Katherine as last time they were there Des had a heart attack and had to be flown to Darwin, then Brisbane, then Adelaide, then back to Darwin. Poor Bronwyn was stuck in Katherine for two weeks, as she couldn’t tow the caravan by herself. As a returned soldier, DVA paid $900 for Des to return to Katherine from Darwin by taxi! Sounds like a movie doesn’t it?

Our new besties at Daly Waters Pub

We are really looking forward to the next chapter in our holiday as we explore new parts of Australia that we haven’t seen before. The weather is getting very chilly in the mornings but the days are still warm and sunny. Hope it lasts. Those desert nights can be very chilly too. Hope you are all warm and snug where you are. Brrr. Time to put the kettle on and wake up GK. Lots of love to everyone and keep safe.

Three brolgas before flight

Three brolgas in flight - fantastic

Week Ten: More Rockpools, Waterfalls and Sunsets.

CK with arms up at Florence Falls

As this week’s title suggests we have been wallowing in more rockpools, splashing under more waterfalls and gazing at more glorious sunsets. How could we tire of them? The scenery is sensational and we feel we are on a movie set. We haven’t had the attractions to ourselves as it is school holidays and everywhere we have visited is chockers with families cooling off just like us in the crystal clear waters. It has been another fantastic week. 

We had three great days based in Batchelor on the edge of Litchfield National Park. It was a great location to drive out to the surrounding waterfalls each day which attract over a quarter of a million visitors each year.  Our first stop was the spectacular double waterfall at Florence Falls set in monsoon rainforests. The killer 1km walking trail of 160 steps down to the falls was worth it. We had to muscle our way to the steps to the pool before plunging into the water beneath the falls to cool off and catch our breath. After a refreshing dip we turned around and faced the daunting task of the gruelling ascent. GK’s knees were like jelly by the time we stumbled out to the car park. We knew all about it the next day as our calves and knees were throbbing. We are amongst the oldest wherever we visit but our mantra is “Use it or lose it” and that’s exactly what we will continue to do. Even if it kills us.

GK relaxing in the Buley Rockhole

Buley Rockhole is a series of small waterfalls and rockpools and was also heaving with happy campers. That didn’t stop GK from finding a quiet corner to flop in and once again cool off and soothe his sore muscles. I was happy to perch on a rock in my supposedly slimming navy bathers with lift and separation plus built in tummy control watching all the gorgeous young flibbertigibbets skipping past in their Calvin Klein bras and knickers and the guys in their Tradie undies. Oh to be young again.

GK with blue noodle at Wangi Falls

We saved the most popular Wangi Falls for another day and were pleased to see it had much easier access than the other locations. It has green lawn and wide paths leading down to the falls, which are surrounded by a wide crystal clear pool. After our swim we picnicked on the lawn and read our books before heading back to camp. It was a wonderful way to finish off three relaxing days.

We are now in multi-cultural Darwin. Wow! It has grown so much since we visited six years ago. It is now a sprawling city with excellent freeways making it very easy to access the city and all it has to offer. An added bonus is having my sister Jenny and brother-in-law Terry with us as they are holidaying in the Top End. They flew in on Thursday and will be spending the next week with us. Terry’s famous tours will see that we don’t miss a trick and we will get to enjoy all the touristy ‘must sees’ that Darwin is famous for.

Terry, GK and Jenny at Mindil Beach

We were straight into it after collecting them from the airport. It was a quick drop off at their central hotel on the esplanade before heading for the vibrant Mindil Markets renowned for tropical sunsets over Mindil Beach. There are over 200 stalls and 60 foodstalls showcasing Darwin’s multi-cultural laid-back lifestyle. It was fascinating to see, taste and smell all that what was on offer. We joined the happy throng and strolled through the markets before joining over two thousand people on the beach to watch what we in the West take for granted – the sunset over the ocean. It is obviously a real draw card for the tourists but left us shrugging our shoulders and picking our way over the ‘dirty sand’. Cable Beach eats it up. Just saying.

Another sunset. Yawn. 

Kids having fun at the Recreation Lagoon

Jenny and Terry spent Friday down at Litchfield retracing our steps and enjoying all the waterfalls. Despite being exhausted at the end of the day we caught up for dinner at a great restaurant on the café strip. Darwin is certainly spoilt for choice as there are so many restaurants, cafes and bars to choose from especially down at the fabulous Waterfront precinct five minutes walk from the city centre. Apart from the wide selection of eating-places it has a Wave Lagoon and a free saltwater Recreation Lagoon with manmade beach and shady lawn. That is necessary, as you can’t swim at any of Darwin’s beaches because of the threat of saltwater crocodiles and box jellyfish. Another thing we take for granted in the West.

GK watching the fish feeding at Aquascene

Saturday involved visiting the fish feeding at Aquascene before driving out to see Darwin’s famous museums. First stop was the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, which features the very moving and fascinating exhibit of Cyclone Tracy. It contains before and after photos of Darwin, plus sound recordings of the actual cyclone and many salvaged objects. Darwin has been virtually rebuilt from that time, as the destruction was catastrophic. It is now a beautiful, vibrant and resilient city of over 145,000 people with more than 60 nationalities. It is a destination renowned for its tropical climate and colourful characters and we highly recommend a visit. You wont be disappointed. 

GK's scary fish dinner at the Trailer and Boat Club

Another location that never disappoints us is the fabulous Darwin Trailer and Boat Club. We have been there several times and have always had a great meal while watching the sunset. We recommended it to Terry and Jen and their friends who were by coincidence holidaying in Darwin. The six of us had a great night and this time were really blown away by the sunset. Maybe the drinks helped although Jenny and I had to drive so we were on our best behaviour letting the boys enjoy a few reds.

We had a great night at the Darwin Trailer and Boat Club

Terry! You are supposed to be photographing the old farts at the back!

Today we travelled 50kms down the Stuart Highway to Berry Springs Nature Park, which is one of Darwin’s most popular picnic spots. It has shaded picnic areas with barbecues and crystal clear swimming pools. We enticed Jenny into the warm water under the waterfall despite the crocodile warnings and the threat of dreaded diseases from the micro-scopic organisms in the water. We kept our heads out of the water but the locals were duck diving, snorkelling and having a wonderful time.  We will probably be the mugs to get diarrhoea and ear infections, as warned, while their immune systems have probably built up a healthy resistance to all the bugs. We will have to wait and see. So far so good. Fingers crossed. 

The correct photo of Jenny, GK and CK under the death defying waterfall.

Tonight was our final night in Darwin and we all agreed that it is a fabulous city that we will return to someday. We had dinner down at the Waterfront at an award winning Mexican restaurant called Hot Tamales. There was a really happy vibe as we walked through the park to the car as we stopped to see a group performing for the Darwin Fringe Festival, which is on this month. It was a wonderful conclusion to four great days spent in Darwin. We are looking forward to the next few days, which we will spend in Kakadu and Katherine. Will tell you all about it next week. Until then lots of love and keep safe.

Last night in Darwin

A couple of hot tamales at Hot Tamales in Darwin.