Albert Tognolini Lookout - WA

22nd September - 23rd September 2014

We stopped at this free camp just outside of Karijini National Park.  There was nothing here, not even a toilet!  We set up camp, got a fire going, admired the views and had a few drinks!

Albert Tognolini Lookout

Our campfire and view

De Grey Free Camp - WA

21st September - 22nd September 2014

De Grey River is a lovely free camp with toilets and free wifi but no showers!  We camped up along the river and there was even some grass which was a pleasant change to red dirt!  We camped here with "The 4 Walls" and celebrated Kath's birthday.  The kids gathered up some wood for a campfire and Kath made the kids some s'mores!

The next day we headed off to Port Headland to stock up on food, water and fuel on our way through to another free camp near Karijini National Park.

Port Headland was a very industrial area.  On the way into town you pass a huge salt plant, masses of train carriages to transport iron ore and mines everywhere!  I've never seen so many road trains in the one place!

A couple of friendly residents

De Grey River

Barn Hill Station - WA

18th September - 21st September 2014

We arrived at Barn Hill Station and was most excited to have a little bit of phone reception!  It's a beautiful location right on the WA Coast.  We decided to go without power as we could camp right on the cliff looking over the water.  We travelled here with "The 4 Walls" from Gosford who are also travelling around oz!

The toilet and shower facilities were certainly interesting, they were corrugated iron walls with no roof!  You could actually get a suntan whilst taking a shower!

We spent most days here at the beach swimming, fishing and trying to keep cool.  Josh caught the only fish and it was a throw back.  The water was just as warm as a bath.  The views from our camp and the sunsets were amazing.  Definitely a lovely spot to sit and chill out!

Our next stop is De Greys free camp.

Beach at Barn Hill Station

Our camp

The Beach

Broome - WA

11th September - 18th September 2014

We definitely arrived in Broome at the right time, the town was a buzz with the Chinese Festival and The Staircase To The Moon.  The Staircase To The Moon is a natural phenomenon that occurs each month at different times.  As the full moon rises it creates a staircase effect on the water which is quite magical to see.  

The tides were also in our favour to view the wreckage of the Dutch Flying Boats and the dinosaur footprints.  The flying boats, also known as The Catalina's were shot down by Japanese during an air raid in 1942.  It is unknown how many people lost their lives, as some weren't recovered.  The remains of the Catalina's rest 1 klm from the town beach.  Once we had made our way back into shore there was a lot of people gathering for the Chinese dragon boat races so we decided to hang around and watch, it was a lot of fun.

The following morning we made use of another the low tide and walked out to see the dinosaur footprints.  It was extremely hard to imagine dinosaurs wondering around in the exact same place thousands of years ago.  The footprints were very impressive to see.

We took time out to relax and enjoy beautiful cable beach with a very nice water temp of 26 degrees! The pool at the caravan park was also very inviting with the hot weather we endured.

One afternoon we rode a camel which was a lot of fun.  The scenery was spectacular as you rode down cable beach, and we even caught a glimpse of some people making the most of the clothing optional section of the beach!  

The closing ceremony of the Chinese Festival was held at the cable beach amphitheatre.  It was a fantastic night with lots of Asian food stalls, live bands and spectacular fireworks to finish off!

Our last night in Broome we drove down cable beach, took some chairs, drinks and watched the sunset with the camels passing by. We went with another family we met in the caravan park.  Jason, Cath, Bridgette and Tiffany, or otherwise known as "The 4 Walls".  It was a beautiful way to end our Broome experience.  

We our now starting to head south, next stop is Barn Hill Station.

Beautiful Broome Coast

Standing on one of the sunken Catalina's

Dinosaur Footprints

Broome Coast

Broome Coast

Closing Ceremony of the Chinese Festival

Having fun riding a camel!

Stu driving on Cable Beach dodging the camels!

 Camel riding at sunset

Nillibubbica Rest Area - WA

10th September - 11th September 2014

This is a free camp on the side of the highway which has nothing but toilets oh and a bull and a couple of cows!  This stop is about halfway between Derby and Broome.  We set up the night here and had a fire, not that we needed it as it was 39 degrees!  Although we did use the fire to cook our dinner!

In the morning a car load of indigenous kids arrived and started kicking the footy (no shoes of course) so the boys joined in and had a lot of fun with them.  

Next stop is Broome.

Our camp

The boys playing footy!

Fitzroy Crossing - WA

8th September - 10th September 2014

Fitzroy Crossing is a small town with the main attraction being Geikie Gorge.  We are going to spend two nights here.

On our first morning we woke up to find an indigenous man trying to get the nuts off the very large boab tree directly behind us.  I had to go and investigate what he was up too!  He had a couple of long sticks joined together with wire and a hook on the top.  He pulled the nuts down and was going to do a carving with a bread knife he found!  We were getting ready to go out on a boat cruise so l left him to it!  Shortly after he introduced himself to Stuart, his name was "Bob".  He then asked Stuart to ask his wife to make him a cup of tea and some toast!  So l gave him breakfast and he started to do his carvings!

We went off on our boat cruise of Geikie Gorge.  The gorge is very beautiful showcasing limestone escarpments, nothing like Katherine Gorge or Kakadu.  The limestone is estimated at 300,000 years old!  There are lots of little caves and nooks all throughout the gorge system.  There was the odd freshwater croc lying on the banks but they were only little compared to the huge ones we saw in Kakadu.  It was mating time for the crocs so we could see lots of holes dug out by the crocs for their eggs.  Funnily enough the temperature of the soil determines what sex the crocodile will be!

We got back to camp and "Bob" had finished our carving.  It was pretty impressive considering it was done with a butter knife!  One side he had drawn a turtle and the other side a barra!  We bought it off him for $20.  Later on that day "Bob" asked Stuart for a lift to the service station which he obliged. On the way Bob changed his mind and wanted to go to the pub instead!  So Stuart and the kids dropped Bob at the only pub in Fitzroy Crossing which was 3 klms down a dirt track!  I hope he spent our $20 wisely!!

Our next stop is at Nillibubbica rest area.

Geikie Gorge

Geikie Gorge

Geikie Gorge

Geikie Gorge

Geikie Gorge - Limestone caves

The boys and "Bob" (Ash holding boab nut carved by Bob)

Spring Creek - WA

7th September - 8th September 2014

We stopped at Spring Creek unsure if we would drive into the Bungle Bungles.  It was a free camp with a toilet only.  After accessing the time it would take us to drive into the Bungle Bungles we decided we would give it a miss and move onto Fitzroy Crossing tomorrow.

We spent the rest of the afternoon having a chat to the campers around us and doing a bit of school work.

Next stop Fitzroy Crossing.

A visitor

Our camp

Kununurra - WA

3rd September - 7th September 2014

I was very pleased to arrive in Kununurra to replenish our food supplies and get some phone range! We stayed at the Big 4 and were very happy when they didn't charge us for the kids!  It was a really nice outlook onto Lake Kununurra.  There was lots of fish and turtles that came right close to the river bank looking for a feed.  There was even a freshwater croc that came into the waters edge, the caravan park named him "George".  

We did a day trip down part of the Gibb River Road.  We set off nice and early to try and beat the heat a little.  We headed for El Questro had a look around and grabbed a coffee.  We then went to Zebedee Springs for a dip!  The springs were just like getting into a bath with the temp between 28 - 32 degrees, but you had to climb around rocks to get into there!  We happily sat for about an hour before getting out and heading to Home Valley Station.  To get to Home Valley Station we had to cross the Pentecost River which was pretty awesome fun.

At Home Valley Station we had some lunch and was amused to see crocodile balls on the kids menu! Ashton decided he would give it a try and they turned out to be very tasty!

Just out of Kununurra was Miramar National Park, we did a couple of nice walks in there which had some great views over the town.

Our next stop is Spring Creek.

View of Kununurra from Lookout

View from the caravan park of Lake Kununurra

Gibb River Road - Pentecost River Crossing

Crossing the Pentecost River

Crossing the Pentecost River

Lunch Time - Home Valley Station, Ashton with his Crocodile Balls

 Gibb River Road

Zebedee Springs

Lake Argyle - WA

31st August - 3rd September 2014

Well we crossed the NT / WA border and in doing so handed over our remaining fruit and vegetables. The scenery at Lake Argyle is stunning to say the least!  We are staying here for 3 nights.  The caravan park has an infinity pool which is spectacular but quite cold!  The view is one you could never get sick of.

We did a sunset boat cruise on Lake Argyle which was beautiful and a lot of fun.  The cruise went for 4 hours meandering through the lake watching the bird life, wallaroos, fish and of course freshwater crocs!  We also got the chance to have a swim in Lake Argyle which was heaps warmer than the caravan park pool!  We floated around the water for a while and even enjoyed a beer and wine whilst we floated!  The finish of the cruise was of course catching the amazing sunset.

Our next stop is not far away at Kununarra where we can re-stock our fruit and vegetables supplies!

We made it!

Lake Arygle lookout

The infinity pool at the caravan park - stunning!

Ash & I at the pool - very hard to take!

Lake Argyle

Lake Argyle

Enjoying a dip and a drink in Lake Argyle on the sunset boat cruise

Sunset on Lake Argyle

Sullivans campground - NT

30th August - 31st August 2014

This is a very basic overnight stopping place with only a toilet! We need to stop here before hitting the Western Australian border to eat up all our fruit and veggies!  I spent the day making a potato salad and cutting up and cooking all the onions we had.  Apparently cooked fruit or veges are ok to take across the border.   We also have to use up all our honey!  There was really nothing to do here so we did a bit more school work with the kids and relaxed!

Next day on our way to Lake Argyle we passed through Gregory National Park which was really pretty.

Next stop is at Lake Argyle in Western Australia!

Our camp

Drive Through Gregory National Park

Edith Falls - NT

29th August - 30th August 2014

We did a one night stop here as we are keen to hit Western Australia.  We quickly set up and went down to the plunge pool for a swim.  The water was a little cool and the falls not as spectacular as we have seen in Litchfield and Kakadu.  We met a couple of nice families who were unfortunately travelling the other way from us.  One family had a travel mascot on top of their car called "Benny The Bull" and he apparently even has his own Facebook page for his adventures!  Ashton made a loom necklace for Benny so we will watch his travels!

Next stop is Sullivans Campground.

Edith Falls

Ashton in action

The boys having a paddle!