Darwin to Kununurra

Darwin – Wednesday 17 August to Friday 19 August 2011

Todays the day we say goodbye to Ryan, as he heads home this afternoon.  We started the day by cooking up a big breakfast for him then had a last swim (just because we can swim in the middle of winter, before Ryan headed home.  His plane left at 2:30pm, it was sad to see him head off, we have had such a great week with all the family.  Catherine and Tim had arrived in Vietnam safely and now Ryan was heading home to the cold and work, but all’s good he was happy with that or so he said.

Thursday was clean-up day, the car and van got a big clean inside and out and all looked good again.  Nearly everything was back to how it was before the family arrived. 

Friday was an exciting day, we started with a tour of the Darwin on the “Ride a Croc” amphibian vehicle, it goes through the city then into the harbour for a look around, heaps of fun.  Then back home for lunch and to pack a bag before we meet Gavin at the airport. 

Ride a Croc on the road 

Ride a Croc in the water

Those who know us can imagine how excited Marlene was for Gavin to be in town for 24hours to introduce the “Legends of Rock” at tonight’s NT Music Awards.  Gavin arrived  and we headed off to the Vibe Hotel for a few drinks before going to the awards.  The NT Music awards are an annual event held during the Darwin Festival, they are staged in the amphitheatre in the Botanical Gardens just a great setting.  We arrived and had tickets in the VIP area, it was a great night and was just fantastic to see Gavin in the zone, he is widely accepted and respected within the indigenous community.  We met so many people during the night it was just a blur, but something very spectacular.  After a brief session at the after party we were back at the van by 1am.

On our way to the NT Music Awards

Darwin to Katherine – Saturday 20 August 2011

The day started early packing the van, but leaving it at Free spirit while we headed back into Darwin city one last time to pick up Gavin for breakfast then drop him to the airport.  We ended up at Cullen Bay and the Boatshed Café for breakfast where Gavin and I had the “Boatshed Fatty Boom Busta” breakfast served in a fry pan.    Just brilliant and the coffee was by far the beast on the trip so far, better than the winner so far at Mission Beach.

Boatshed Fatty Boom Busta breakfast

Cullen Bay with a friendly croc

After breakfast is was time for a walk or waddle – then off to the airport to say goodbye to Gavin, this was difficult for Marlene she thoroughly enjoyed the past 24 hours with him.  We headed to the van park to pick up the van and on the road to Katherine, saying goodbye to Darwin.  Easy trip only 320kmto Katherine into the wind all the way, picked up fuel at Adelaide River and arrived Katherine abut 5pm.

Katherine to Kununurra – Sunday 21 august 2011

On the road by 8:30 a little later than we wanted but all was fine, headed out along the road for a 514km day, best trip ever left at 8:30am did 514km and arrived Kununurra just after 1:30pm, the Falcon was flying.

Soon arrived at Victoria river roadhouse, we voted it the cleanest friendliest roadhouse so far on the trip, and the landscape and changed from this flat sandy base with scrubby trees to huge rocky outcrops and massive canyons, just sitting up out of nowhere, just incredible.  We were now driving through Gregory National Park, a rugged landscape but just brilliant, it was also the first of many Boab trees, after a while they were everywhere.  Lunch and fuel at Timber Creek, not a place I would stay but we needed fuel.

Victoria River Roadhouse

You soon get used to these prices

Gregory National Park - just spectacular

Soon back on the road for the final 200km to Kununurra, we crossed the border to WA abut 150km out and also the quarantine station, were they go through everything.  They searched the car, and all through the van, we gave them half a jar of honey and a lemon, which we had forgotten about, as we finished off all salad and fruits in Timber Creek for lunch.  We also gained 1.5hours as we crossed the border, for those who didn’t work it out this is why the trip was so quick.  We still had half a day to look around Kununurra, get some groceries from Coles and visit the Old Pump house for a beer and watch a group water-skiing on the Ord River, which has crocodiles in it, so you don’t fall off.

Crossing the border, just 50k east of Kununurra

Lake Argyle – Monday 22 August 2011

Went for a day drive to Lake Argyle to check out this massive expanse of water, they built a dam wall on the Ord River to create this lake and it is incredible.  A huge expanse of water way out in the back on no-where, but it is used for irrigation throughout the area.  Unless you see it you cannot imagine how big it is, I remember from years ago that my mum just loved Lake Argyle it was a favourite spot of hers, so it was special to see it for ourselves.

The swimming pool at Lake Argyle Caravan Park

Lake Argyle  - a very small part of it

The release rapids 70,000litres per second  - hard to believe

We had lunch at the Lake Argyle café, while we were sitting there our friends we caught up with in Darwin (Jim, Emma, Harry & Olivia), walked in, they are on a couple of weeks holiday before heading to Nhulunbuy for a 2 year posting.  We helped pitch their tent and had a beer and chat before we headed back to Kununurra.  It was a real surprise and great to see them again, I also did my best to sell them a camper trailer in place of the tent, an Outback Swan would suit them fine, (watch out Michael).

Kununurra – Tuesday 23 August 2011

Nice easy start to the day, write the blog and relax before heading off on our 110km return trip up Lake Kununurra (the Ord River), we left Kununurra at midday travelled up the river to the base of the Lake Argyle Dam wall them back down the river stopping for afternoon tea, fresh scones and coffee on a little island on the way back, catching a great sunset on the way home.

Our cruise boat

Looking up at the Dam wall

Ord River rapids

Ord River gorges

The Lake Argyle, Lake Kununurra and the Ord River combination is an incredible waterway, they release 70,000litres of water per second from the lake downstream for the irrigation system, this waters 36,00 acres of improved pastures, of which 40% sandalwood forest that takes 15years to mature, the remainder is made up of vegetables and tropical fruits.  During the 2011 wet season Lake Argyle peaked at 41 times the size of Sydney Harbour and within 12 hours the lake levels rose 1.6 metres, incredible figures that are hard to comprehend.

Friendly Croc sunning himself

The Ord River has one of the highest population of freshwater crocs

Sunset across the Ord River - Lake Kununurra

Just spectacular all the way up and back we travelled this beautiful river full of wild life, more fresh water crocs than you would ever want and steep rocky outcrops all the way, the fact that the boat had 3 x 350hp outboard motors on it  just made the trip better, unfortunately they didn’t need my help to drive!!

Back home and off to the Pump house for dinner on the water, just another great day on what is just a fantastic trip.