Happy Birthday to you

Of all the places you could celebrate your birthday Cape Range National park was definitely the best. Steve woke to the sound of waves and the spectacular clear blue ocean. After presents and the kids awesome handmade cards. It was then reef snorkeling to see turtles, fish, fish and more amazing fish.

Steves amazing wife (thats me) made lasagna from scratch and even managed a birthday cake with candles.
The national park was so divine we ended up staying 5 days.

It was in Exmouth that steve originally got his dive certification in his backpacker years, so we went to see the shop and steve was so yearning to do a dive. I told him its the trip of a lifetime go for it. After trying to think of 100 reasons why he shouldn't i convinced him he must. A refresher course as its been let's say well over 10 years.

He had the most fantastic time.

Today back to Exmouth to fill the tanks and do some washing.
Happy birthday to the most wonderful man.

Bye bye sandcastle

Absolutely stunning coast line as we spent time in Exmouth and then to the national park -Cape Range. The snorkeling on the Nongaloo reef has been unbelievable we have seen schools of fish and abundant marine life; big green turtles, rays and clams and even a reef shark.
Miles tried out his new fishing passion and caught his first sizeable fish which gave him a huge boost.
So fantastic is the national park we are spending another 3 days there. Just back in town stocking up on supplies.
Steve getting all nostalgic as he learned to dive in Exmouth visited the dive centre. Amazingly they PADI had a record of his dive certification and with a bit of egging on he has booked a revision of his skills so he can hopefully do a dive on saturday. So nice to have him do something for himself as he bless him alwaya puts himself last.
Fingers crossed he can pass his upgrade for the dive.
On one of our snorkeling trips Angus made his first very own sandcastle playing on the beach. All the way along the beach back to the car Angus mumbled "bye bye sandcastle " as it disappeared from view he burst into tears blubbering "bye bye sandcastle i love you". So touching.

So fantastic to be back at the beach again and able to swim. The temperature has been a very pleasant refrain from the previous heat wave.

The Best Yet

One of the great things on our travels is freedom. The freedom to stay at places we love for a time or move on and best of all we can change our plans to suit us. And so we took a detour to Karinji National Park.
We now all agree its been the highlight.
The shear scale of the gorges is mind blowing. The steep decents were so challenging we felt like we had a real adventure.
On the last day we went off route swimming across a deep pool far below a gorge and then edged our way through a very dark narrow gorge in the coldest water imaginable. We then inched our way across a steep rock wall to a shear drop to marvel at the open drop to a pristine pool. Noo was a super trooper and joined us until the cold canyon which was too much for him but up until then he did all the level 5 steep decents like a seasoned hiker.
The day before we had ventured to another swimming hole but took a wrong path and ended up hanging from share cliff faces wondering that the route was graded 4 when we look across the other side and saw people sauntering along the flat path-whoops. We had picked up a gang of Argentinian's-Cynthia, Andy and Marco.
We did manage in the end to find our way to the end of the walk the kids having loved the adventure and a firm friendship formed with the Argentinian's. We look forward to seeing them again next year in Sydney.
To top off the whole adventure the kids had a fantastic cubby house at our camp ground.
Happy days!!!!

This and that

Just to share this and that. Left Broome and are now covering another big expanse of country ultimately trying to get to Exmouth.
In our rough guide it describes this section Ias the most boring of anywhere in Australia hooray.
So long drive always trying and especially for the poor kids but they have for the most part been awesome.  Loads of Harry Potter (book5) poor Noo is now way ahead of his years loves the story plays wands and magic potions all the time and a shed load of car sweets.
Another wildlife encounter this morning as we were chased by an overly inquisitive cow into the caravan. Steve and i then argued who should be responsibile for chasing it away Steve purporting not to have any experience with large animals!
For the record I saved us.
Then the morning in Port Hedland seamingly nothing industrial town  but a thrill for the boys a massive salt mound for salt processing and the longest freight train ever 2km! Noo just about lost it with excitment. Then we watched a series of massive container ships leave  the port with their accompanying tugs. Made us all think of Grandpa Fluffy. Quite a sight as the passage out of the harbour is very narrow so its actually very impressive to watch.

So just shows the Rough guide doesn't know it all!

Heading out now another long drive ahhhh

Look but don't touch

Have had a wonderful 4 days in Broome. The pool at the caravan  park is resort worthy, the only give away its not, is that on Saturday night we had to contend with the local car derby from the next door car track  (wesure haymen island doesnt have that)
We have swam alot to deal with heat, visited the musuem, saw a movie at the oldest garden cinema in the world, seen dinoasur footprints and looked longingly at the beach with no action. Since stinger season commences end october we were not willing to risk it, too serious to end up in hospital for a beach swim. But oh the temptation the colour of the water is so magical.

The only issue with the pool is the hitler like owner who patrols her pool day and night. In fact speaking of night you can't swim after sun down despite the pool lights.
Tonight we are lucky enough to be here for the full moon stairs to heaven an illusion of  the moon reflecting across the mud flats of a low tide, creating the illusion of stairs, should be amazing. And there is a full moon market as well.
Love to all xx

I phone drama

Huge apologises anyone who has been texting me from an iphone i havent received your texts as my number was registered as an iphone so it sends the messages as an i message.
I gave unregistered my number so i should be fine to receive your texts now.
I have been trying to rebuild my contacts lists but wondering why peole weren't texting me but you all have been apparently.
Thank you to catherine for helping me sort out why i havent been receiving texts
So apologises i still have a lot of numbers i need and my darling posse i have been waiting for your numbers from carherine who had in fact sent them.
Please can you all text me your numbers.
Miss everyone

The cattle are lowing

Spent the night on the side of the road in Purnululu National Park. Being the end of the dry season the caravan park was closed. Never mind, the beginning of the national park is actually a cattle farm so outside the caravan was the lowing of cattle and no wonder baby Jesus woke hearing this as they make a heck of a noise all night.
As WA goes on Perth time the sun up is a ridiculous 500am. But with day temperatures soaring we got up at 300am and drove the roughest road we have yet encounted. The corrogations literally shock us all nearly to death. I could feel my brain shaking around in my head.

As the sun rose we enjoyed the bungle bungle cafe -the shaded picnic tables where mum served croissants and coffee (ok they were coles packet ones but the view was priceless).
And being so early we were the only people there so we had thw whole of rhe bungle bungles to ourselves.
But it was all more then  worthwhile as the Bungle Bungles were absolutely magnificent.
By 900am the sun was already blazing but we had been blessed with early morning cool ans even a breeze.

Too hot to handle

Spent 2 lovely days in Wyndham just over the WA border. We saw the prison boab and had homemade sausage rolls at the tin shed cafe. A quiet town with some lovely hidden gems.

Miles is now ok after a dose of antibiotics for his infected mosi bite and poor nòo is recovering from a nose slide. See above picture for what happens to your nose when you face slide concrete.

There are extensive salt flats surrounding the town and we let the kids have a turn of sitting in our laps and driving the car.
Funny their little personalities, Angus took it very seriously concentrating so hard, miles was in heaven and has a bit of a lead foot, Bunny wanted to turn a lot (Steve in true parent form advising to not turn too sharply and flip the car so we all die)!

We all laugh at Steve as all his warnings end in death i think the kids are starting to doubt this is the inevitable fate for all bad actions.

The daily temperature is now 40 and above so we have decided its time to head to the coast. The sun here rises at 500am so even trying for early pre sun activity means getting up at 300am ridiculous.

We always said the trip was not a tick list and we would go with the flow.  Its just too dame hot up here. So we are braving one last hot walk to see the bungle bungles and then heading to Broome for some beach and coast action.

20 A Day

Now at the border to WA where there is a quarantine for fresh fruit, vegetables and honey. So we stayed overnight at Keep River National Park where i made the kids eat fruit and vegetables for 24 hours wow healthy kids.

Miles who is a magnet for mosquitos is covered in bites despite our best efforts. He has now developed a nasty looking infection fingers crossed it clears or its dr here we come!

Keep River is the Northern Territory's best kept secret. We did 2 stunning walks here one yesterday evening watching the golden
glow of the magnificent rock escapement as the sun descended truly magic. This morning we got up at 5 to do our final walk nefore the hewt if the day. The daily temperature now is a whopping 40 degress. The walk started flat and then eventually wound up the side of the escarpment to the most stunning view of the early morning sun. By the time we got back it was already heating up.  Amazing how you start to acclimatize as when we set of this morning it was 26 degrees and miles wanted a jumper!

Onwards now to the border minus our fruit and veg with three healthy kids in tow.

Timber Creek

Timber Creek is one big truck stop with two caravan parks, very lonely but with lots to do. We were very lucky because we got to see croc feeding as they feed the fresh water crocs and the whistling kites down by the creek at the back of the park.

Today we went to Limestone Gorge for a very hot and sweaty walk. It was such a relief to get into the aircomditioned car.
On the way home Angus and i watched the dust clouds billow from the cars back wheels.
Blog by Miles

Kakadu Bandits and Edith Falls

The Greens, are at the best of times a law unto themselves apareently no more so then in national parks.

There was the incidence at Edith Falls when we were walking along swishing off the flys with a handy tree branch swisher.  The Rangers accosted us suggesting we were causing major deforestation  (unlikely given the hundreds of  thousands of hectres of bush)

Then our next incident we were swimming in the lovely top pool of Edith Falls when a cormarent came along and pecked my ankle. It gave me such a freight i thought Miles was mucking about in the water. We continued swimming and the comarent took a piece out of both of Eloise's pinky fingers!
It seemed resentful of our presence in its fishing pool and was determined to let us know. Circling and repeatedly pecking we leaped up onto the rocks. Undeterred the bird continued sweeping up the rocks towards us. Freaking out i started smacking it with my flippers, thankfully no rangers were present to witness my complete disregard for the wildlife as well as the plant life.
  Edith Falls lower pool was fresh and clean with a beautiful waterfall and a free spa treatment with the fish nibbling constantly at the dead skin on our legs, apparently a common luxury in some day spas they were loving us.

Today we left katherine after refueling  (diesel, food and bits). We swum at the glorious Katherine hot springs, had Sydney worthy coffee and hit the road for our turn west towards WA.

Buffet Boy

Amazing morning on the Yellow River cruise in Kakadu. Saw thousands of birds (this time I'm actually not exaggerating).
Up close and personal with a croc.
Sightings of Kingfishers, Australian Eagles and the Jabiru to name a few.

Unfortunately the wet season has come early so the main attractions at Kakadu (Jim Jim falls and others are closed). The Greens don't have much luck with major World Heritage Listed sights and weather (remembering that we nearly froze at The Great Barrier Reef).

This morning was so spectacular I'm feeling better about missing out on everything else.
At the end of the cruise there was a free buffet breakfaat. Miles has never experienced the delights of the all you can eat buffet. He went 7 times! Twice for bacon, twice for the patisserie's and three times to the juice bar. I can't say I didn't get my money worth!