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Each Makin’ Tracks Tour is updated on
this diary regularly. This is a great way for your friends and family
to keep track of you while you are on tour. They will be able
to check our web site and see exactly where you are
and what you have been up to… The Kimberley July 19 We have some real characters on board this trip and there are so many things to write about but would require some editing.... Joy dropped a clanger last night and had everyone rolling in laughter, Beth continually has us laughing, Kevins jokes are never ending and the friendly banter amongst the whole group is infectious. The weather is great, nice warm days and chilly nights great for campfire yarns and perfect for curling up under the blankets for a great nights sleep. Today we dragged ourselves away from El Questro and rejoined the Gibb River Rd which has deteriorated in the past few weeks but was still in reasonable condition. We crossed the Pentecost River stopping for photos of this wild river with its amazing backdrop of the Cockburn Ranges. Another stop at a lookout and then on past the Durack River to the Kalumburu Rd and our lunch stop at the Gibb River. We continued our journey north reaching our camp at King Edward River just after 3pm. We had a lazy afternoon in the waterhole, while the water was chilly upon entry the body soon adapted and we spent a good couple of hours just wallowing about in the crystal clear waters. This is what the Kimberley is really about. Just perfect. July 18 Lots of arms swung at the Swinging Arms Bar at El Questro last night but still everyone was up early looking forward to an exciting day exploring this amazing 1 million acre working cattle station. We started the day with a walk into El Questro Gorge, most having a dip at the half way pool and enjoying the magnificent scenery. Sam had his hands kept full with a few tottery walkers in the group but no injuries and lots of laughs. We then headed over to Zebedee Springs where we bathed in the thermal waters and soaked up the brilliant scenery and weather. We learnt about the history of the property and the region before returning to camp for lunch and a bit of R and R.... john even had a little snooze in the hammock under the shade of 2 magnificent old gums. This afternoon we went out to Durack Tree, an old boab with lots of history. We continued on to Chamberlain Gorge where we boarded the boat and spent a relaxing but entertaining couple of hours cruising this very special gorge. Tonight the fire is roaring and the smells of pork and lamb on the spit is attracting lots of attention from other campers as we relax with drinks and nibblies looking forward to a great night under the stars. July 17 We then took the short drive to the Gibb River Rd and began our journey along this infamous road through the heart of the magnificent Kimberley. We soon reached El Questro where we are camped tonight beside the Pentecost River. A few went for a refreshing swim in the waterhole before an earliesh dinner of Barra, chips and salad because its Saturday night at the Swinging Arms bar and there will be music, entertainment and lots of fellow travellers to have a laugh with. We got away from Darwin around 7.30am this morning and began our journey south along the Stuart Highway. Although it is unusual that this is a group of all first time Makin' Tracks travellers, 7 of the 9 on board have friends who have travelled with us before and it was evident from the outset that this group was here for a good time...... I thought at first that Beth knew everyone but no, she is just happy to give everyone heaps.Lots of laughs and a real fun group. We stopped for smoko at Adelaide River and then continued on to Katherine where we had lunch beside the river before a bit of a wander through town. We then began our westbound journey along the Victoria Highway bound for Victoria River where we are camped tonight. We enjoyed a walk down to the old bridge and took in some great views. The sunset was very relaxing as we enjoyed drinks and nibblies and lots of friendly banter around the campfire. By the time the support crew arrived around 7pm, after the coach because of mechanical issues, everyone was quite happy...... The past 4 days have been very hectic as it was discovered both front and rear diffs were cracked and needed replacement or repair. A special thanks to Chris and the guys at Kerrys Nissan in Darwin and Spike from We'reabout Engineering who all performed miracles to get us back on the road in time for this trip. With all the mods our Nissan support vehicle has had it might almost be up to Toyota strength now..... next time just buy a Toyota hey..... The Kimberley July 7 11am.... the road has partially opened and vehicles were escorted through the flooded section.... hundreds queued and eventually we got through.... so happily we are once again makin tracks.... bound for Darwin. 6.30am..... still here in our makeshift camp by the side of the road....all the passengers have flown home and the crew await the RTA to reopen the road after the unseasonal rain in the Kimberley. There have been only a few sprinkles throughout the night so we hope that soon we will be makin' tracks again. July 6 (evening report) yes we are bored..... Update 6.20pm WA time: We are still here, set up nicely now by the side of the road 216km west of Fitzroy Crossing. We have now accepted our situation and are making the most of it. The next review of the road condition and possible opening will be 7am. Hopefully there will be no more rain and we will be able to move on. For those lucky people on our next trip departing Darwin in 10 days, please don't be concerned, we are confident that in that time roads will be open and your trip will proceed as planned. July 6 Sam, Nik and I are currently stopped in a rest bay 216km west of Fitzroy crossing as the road has been closed at Ellendale. We have been here for some 2.5hrs and the latest news from the RTA is that we will not be moving today..... We also received advice from Parks that Windjana and most Parks along the Gibb River Rd are closed, as is the Gibb River Rd itself. Ah well, time to do some housekeeping.... just glad we made the decision last night and all passengers are safe, dry and by now on their way to their next destination. July 5 We had an early breakfast on board the Lady M before boarding the seaplane for a great flight back into Derby. As we approached we could see the rain clouds building up and soon discovered there had been some overnight rain. We boarded the coach and began our journey to Broome as the rain started to come down..... It just doesn't rain up here at this time of year so this is a first for us. We arrived into Broome that Cable Beach Camel Rides were cancelled for today and the rain kept pelting down. The roads were flooding, footpaths like lakes and people ducking for cover everywhere. We still enjoyed the afternoon exploring the town while the Makin' Tracks team made phone calls to determine the extent of the rain and what affect it would have on the rest of our journey. Unfortunately the news was not good, rain throughout the entire Kimberley region forecast for the next 3 days. Already Broome has had more than 50mm and Derby 49mm. The final bit of bad news was an alert from National Parks that it was anticipated the Bungles and Windjana would close in the next day or so. A real tough decision was made to cancel the remainder of the tour. We spent the evening sorting out new travel plans for everyone. Christina and David from the UK came particularly to visit the Bungles but now are heading to Perth and the Margaret River region for the remainder of their holiday downunder. Sue and Rob are booked back to Brisbane tomorrow, Bronlyn and Gary are booked to Sydney as are Ted and Dick.... that just leaves the crew, Sam, Nicole and myself to get back to Darwin. July 4 Today has been a real adventure as tonight we are anchored in Talbot bay on board the majestic Lady M. We left camp at Silent grove thismorning and headed into Derby for lunch and a look around the town before boarding a seaplane for a wonderful 45 min flight to Talbot Bay where upon landing we boarded the Lady M and were allocated our cabins and shown around this luxurious vessell. We then boarded the fast boat, complete with 500hp of power on board for a thrilling ride through the Horizontal Falls. We finished the day off with some relaxing on deck while others went off on the fishing boat where both Dick and Ted had a catch.... Its been a great day and what a way to finish it, sitting in comfort on the tranquil waters of Talbot Bay July 3 We started today under clear skies and while most took an early morning walk to the gorge waterfall some enjoyed a relax around camp. We then headed into Mount Barnett where we took on some fuel and other supplies before continuing along the Gibb River Rd to Galvans Gorge where we enjoyed the spectacular scenery and watched a lazy old monitor enjoy the water. Our journey then took us on to Silent Grove where we are camped tonight. We went out to Bell Gorge this afternoon and enjoyed a swim at the top of the falls before returning to camp for a wonderful sunset July 2 Well I never thought it would happen but last night it rained..... The coach lounge area was converted into a dining room and we were all comfortable inside while we saw all other campers trying to erect elaborate tarpaulin shelters in an effort to keep dry. The rainfall wasnt heavy but certainly a first for me in this region at this time of year....and wasn't too much of a worry because if the roads did close I would be quite happy staying at my favorite camp for a few more days... we could even get out the fshing gear and try our luck or just laze in the hammock for some r and r.... dream on.... The rain stopped around 10pm so by this morning roads were fine to be driven on. We left camp around 8.30 and began our southbound journey back towards the Gibb River Rd. This section of road was particularly bad and our repair to the bracket of a couple of days ago gave up and unfortunately the bracket snapped in two this time..... luckily our support vehicle was behind us so I took the part down to Drysdale Station where they welded it and added some flat bar reinforcing.... it was refitted and we were back on the road with only a short delay....driving on these roads is tortuous to any vehicle and on this trip we have seen 3 vehicles requiring towing and a caravan left sitting in the middle of the road while its owner went off to get parts. Its tough but being prepared and travelling with a support crew makes the situation much easier. On the road again we stopped for pics at Drysdale River and called in to Drysdale Station before rejoining the Gibb River Rd and continuing our westbound journey arriving at our camp at Manning Gorge in time for an afternoon swim.... another beautiful place in the heart of the Kimberley. July 1 A great day today as we visited the magnificent Mitchell Falls. It was a strange start to the day as we woke to cloud covered skies, something I have never seen in the Kimberley at this time of year. We headed off along the rough and slow track which had just been graded in parts so was much smother than normal but still the 78km journey took us just over 2 hrs. After our helicopter briefing we set off on our walk stopping at Little Mertens Falls where we viewed Aboriginal Rock Art and swam in the crystal clear water of the rock pool. We continued along the track to Big mertens Falls and eventually Mitchell Falls which was flowing well and looking spectacular. We then boarded helicopters for an 18 min scenic flight over the falls and river system before returning to the coach. Our return journey to King Edward river was a chance for a few to grab some shut eye... just shows how comfortable the coach is that even on this road you can doze off.... June 30 After having such a great time at El Questro we were a little slow getting away today but finally left camp around 9am. Dick had left a couple of hours earlier on pushbike and we caught up to him around 36km down the track which is pretty good going considering the creek crossings and corrugations he had to contend with. We soon reached the Pentecost River where we stopped for pics and then continued on to the escarpment lookout which gives great views over the Pentecost River and the Cockburn Ranges. We continued along the Gibb River Rd, crossing the Durack River where we stopped for a stretch before continuing on to the Kalumburu Rd where we began our journey north towards Mitchell Falls. We had lunch on the banks of the Gibb River before continuing on past Drysdale Station. About 25km from camp a strange noise was heard which upon investigation required some attention. Rob, Ted and I repaired a loose bracket and we were soon on the road again bound for our camp of 2 nights beside the beautiful King Edward River. June 29 Today was a full day exploring El Questro. We started with a walk into El Questro Gorge enjoying the raw beauty of this wonderful property. The half way pool was a bit chilly but by the time we returned to the coach the temperature had risen and we were ready for a dip at Zebedee Springs. This wonderful spot where the thermal waters are soothing and the waterholes surrounded by sheer rock escarpments and Livistonia Palms. Its a great place to nestle into a rock pool and just lay there daydreaming..... but hey who needs to daydream when you are living the dream. We returned to camp for lunch and then headed down to Durack Tree where we learnt all the history of the Kimberley region. We then headed out to Chamberlain Gorge where we took an afternoon cruise and our hosts Kathy and Chilli did a great job explaining the natural and human history of the area. Christana was squirted by the Archer fish and we all had an enjoyable afternoon. June 28 Our first night under the stars was pretty normal for one of our trips, lots of chatter around the table as everyone gets to know each other and lots of laughs setting the scene for a great trip ahead. Today we left camp around 8.30 and visited Gregory's Tree, learning all about the efforts of this early explorer. We then headed to the Ord River Dam and viewed the spectacular Lake Argyle before morning tea at the base of the dam wall. From here we took the short drive into Kununurra where we had lunch at Celebrity Tree park before spending some time exploring the town. We continued our westbound journey and soon reached the start of the Gibb River Rd. This infamous road was in reasonable condition and a few new sections of bitumen (yuck) made the going easy and before we knew it we reached El Questro, a 1 million acre cattle property which features some magnificent scenery, gorges, escarpments, waterholes.... this place has it all and we are here, camped beside the Pentecost River for 2 nights. June 27
The Kimberley June 23 Our last day together began with a breakfast Gorge cruise. The water was still, making for great reflections and photos. We lerant all about the history of the region and all the plants and animals who call this place home. Agreat commentary by the local guide. From here we headed back into Katherine where we spent some time slowly getting used to being back in civilisation with all those shops. We then began our northbound journey, stopping at Adelaide River where we visited the war cemetary before continuing our journey into Darwin. A great trip with a great group of people. June 22 Camp oven Pizzas around the campfire made for an enjoyable night and lots of laughter added to what was a great night. We were a bit slow this morning, the 1.5hr time change and sunrise at almost 7am certainly makes a difference. We continued our journey east along the Victoria Highway stopping at Timber Creek and a roadside lunch before arriving into Katherine. From here we headed out to the Gorge, checking into our cabins where we are staying tonight. The ladies chose to float around in the resort pool while the guys headed up to the lookout for more photograph opportunities. Tonight we have dinner by the pool at the resort. June 21 Today we reluctantly packed up which after 2 nights can be a little daunting, especially when noone wants to leave. We left camp and began our journey along the long winding track but once again the views along the way were magic. We travelled the 52km in just under 2hrs and turned on to the Bitumen, stopping for smoko at Turkey Creek. We continued on to Kununurra and as we passed the turnoff heading west to the Gibb River Rd all sorts of bribes were offered for us to go around again.... very tempting but not sure if I could keep up with this group for another 16 days. We stopped for lunch at Kununurra and some purchased Argyle Diamonds as a momento of a great trip. We headed back across the NT border and soon reached the turnoff to Keep River National Park where we are camped tonight. We finished the day with a short bushwalk which again gave amazing views of the surrounding area. The campfire is blazing and we are all ready to make the most of our last night camped under the stars. June 20 Well, what a day... the Bungles is an incredible place any time but today the weather was just perfect. Nice and cool overnight followed by a crisp morning and today a gentle breeze which kept the temp perfect for our walks. We started the day with a walk into Cathederal Gorge, through the famous beehive domes which are a truly amazing sight and into the huge cavern at the end of the gorge from where this gorge gets its name. We made our way back to the coach and a short drive to the heliport in time for our 11.30 am departure. We boarded the choppers and enjoyed a magnificent 30 minuite flight over this incredibe landscape. We then returned to camp for lunch before heading out to Echidna Chasm for another walk through the creek bed and into the chasm where the walls slowly get closer and closer towards the end. We finished the day with drinks and nibblies on top of a hill giving 360 degree views overlooking the range and the surrounding hills... an amazing way to finish an amazing day. Ray and Sandy say hi to the boys and say they are having such a great time the just might stay on the road! June 19 Last night was an early night for most and today we were all up early keen to begin the next stage of our adventure and head into the Bungle Bungle. We had a leisurely walk along the banks of the Fitzroy River before boarding the coach and continuing our eastbound journey. We stopped at lookouts with great views and arrived into Halls Creek in time for lunch. We explored this small town before heading north to the Bungles turnoff. From here the road becomes a twisting, winding track through the ranges with creek crossings and breathtaking views. The going is slow and the 58km took just over 2hrs. We arrived at camp around 4.30pm and spent the last of the day viewing the ranges as the sun slowly sank. June 18 Today is mostly on the road, beginning our eastbound journey along the Bitumen to Fitzroy Crossing.... so a day to relax in the coach and enjoy the scenery.... and just as well because most ventured into town after dinner to the Roebuck Hotel where there was a competition on.... lots of fun and frivolity and lets just say that those of you with friends or family on board will have to ask yours for more detail... So a day on the road where one could easily view the inside of their eyelids was well appreciated and as the miles flew by, stopping a couple of times along the way, before we knew it we arrived at Giekie Gorge where we boarded a boat for a relaxing cruise on the Gorge, enjoying the views, spotting crocs and enjoying the commentary provided by the park ranger. We then took the short drive into Fitzroy Crossing where we are camped by the Fitzroy River tonight. June 17 We woke early and jumped straight onto the fast boat for another look at the Horizontal Falls which were now higher due to the tide and were treated to some magical views and could really see the power of the water as it swirled away under our boat. We returned to the Lady M for breakfast before boarding the seaplane for the journey back to Derby where we were met by Sam and took the short drive to Broome, arriving around 11am and immediately hitting the shops and exploring this beautiful little town full of history and pearls..... We headed out to Cable Beach where we rode camels along this famous beach as the sun slowly sank into the ocean, a great way to finish an amazzzzing day. But wait.... its not over yet as we are staying at the Mangrove Hotel overlooking Roebuck Bay where we had drinks overlooking the bay and are just about to head in for dinner. June 16 Our last night camped along the Gibb was really nice and although a little sad to be leaving there are so many more adventures ahead. Today we made the short drive into Derby where we explored the town as well as the Boab Prison tree and the amazing wharf which has been built to cope with the massive 11m tides in this area. We then made our way to the airport and boarded a seaplane which took us directly to Talbot Bay where upon landing we were whisked onto a fast boat for a thrilling ride up through the Horizonal Falls. We zigged and zagged and several screams were heard as we rode the waterfall at high speed. Back to the luxury cruiser "Lady M" moored in Talbot Bay which is our home for tonight. The guys spent the last of the day out on the fishing boat while the ladies took a swim in the ocean..... surrounded by sharks..... thankfully inside a sharkproof cage lowered into the water....yes, a wee bit scary I think. This magnificent vessel is first class and we dined on Barramundi, had a dip in the top deck spa pool and enjoyed a great night. June 15 We started today with a very pleasant walk into Bell Gorge with a swim at the top of the falls. From here we drove through the King Leopold Ranges, stopping at lookouts giving great views which really demonstrate the raw beauty of the Kimberley region. We Arrived at our camp at Windjana Gorge in time for lunch and after feasting on Hamburgers we took the short drive to Tunnell Creek where we explored this incredible tunnell carved through the Limestone cliffs. The water level was higher than last year and the rockpile entry a little more tricky but with Sams guiding skills everyone managed to get through. We spotted a few fresh water crocs.... a bit daunting for some as we waded through the water but all was fine. We arrived back at camp just on sunset, fire raging and looking forward to a nice night under the stars for our last night on the Gibb River Rd. Rod and Liddy send their love to the family and say they are having a great time!!!! only question is can the rest of us keepup with Liddy? June 14 Late yesterday afternoon we were allinspired by the beautiful sunset and the light and reflections created that most were up early and down at the waterhole for sunrise.... cameras ready and were treated to one of the most spectacular sunrises I have ever seen. The water was like a mirror and the scattered clouds lit up with the most brilliant orange colours. Peter managed to get some fantastic photographs. Most of the group headed off after breakfast for a walk to Manning Gorge while a few decided on a relaxing time around camp. We headed off around 10am back to the Gibb River Rd stopping at Galvans Gorge and Adcock Gorge along the way. The weather is perfect for walking and while the water is a little chilly there were a few who didnt miss the opportunity to swim in the pristine kimberley waters. We arrived at our camp at Silent Grove around 4pm and enjoyed watching the numerous species of local birdlife darting amongst the Darwin Wollybutts and Acacia in flower around our camp. June 13 A much more relaxed day as we took our time this morning enjoying the sunrise and natural beauty of King Edward River. Some were a little slow as the campfire last night was great, as was the stargazing. Some of us stayed up till midnight enjoying the night with great company and lots of laughter. We left camp around 9am and soon after a strange noise was heard coming from the rear of the coach..... we thought we had a flat but it turned out to be a bracket holding the tail shaft had come loose. Some roadside repairs with a bit of bracket reshaping and borrowing nuts from other parts of the vehicle and we were soon back on the road.... the pounding the vehicle takes on this road is amazing and we were thankful this was the only problem. We continued south along the Kalumburu Rd stopping at Drysdale River, Drysdale station and the Gibb River for lunch. Soon after we rejoined the Gibb River Rd which has recently been graded so we made good time and before we knew it arrived at Mount Barnett and our camp tonight at Manning Gorge. The waterhole here is just beautiful and we all relaxed, some swimming, others snapping away with cameras... just a beautiful location. June 12 Today we were on the road early for our trip to Mitchell Falls. The 80km journey took us more than 2.5hrs and the condition of the track was the worst I have seen it. Lots of washaways and corrugations that shook our teeth out. We arrived at the Heliport and after a briefing began our walk to the falls. We stopped at Little Mertens Falls for a swim and a good look at the Aboriginal rock art before continuing on to Big Mertens falls and then the magnificent Mitchell Falls. The vegetation along the way is constantly changing and Sam did a great job explaining the different plants and geology of the area. The recent rains really had the water flowing and the sight was spectacular. We had lunch at the top and then boarded helicopters for an 18 minute scenic flight which dropped us back to the coach at the Heliport. A wonderful day but still the rigorous journey back to our camp at King Edward River was ahead of us. Another 2.5hrs of torture but all agreed it is well and truly worth the effort and we had an exciting and adventurous day that will be hard to top. June 11 Last night was a perfect way to top off our El Questro experience. After a great spit roast dinner (and a failed attempt at bread and butter pudding) local guides Chilli and Brendon came down to our campfire for a yarn, some bush poetry and some songs. Their playing of their 12 string guitars is exceptional and the songs sung were perfect for the occassion.... Australia is a great country and here we are lucky enough to be out here experiencing some of the best places. Today we dragged ourselves away from El Questro and continued along the Gibb River Rd, crossing the mighty Pentecost River, stopping at lookouts giving great views of the Cockburn Ranges and travelling along this road infamous as avehicle breaker and believe me after the recent rains it was really living up to its reputation. Lots of careful creek crossings and through numerous washaways and sections of track badly damaged by vehicles using the road when wet. An exciting day on the road. We turned on to the Kalumburu Rd and had lunch beside the Gibb River before continuing north to our camp beside the King Edward River. Phil went for a dip in the pristine waters while the rest of us just explored the rock ledges and took in the incredible beauty of this wonderful location.....my favorite camp in all of oz..... shhh, don't tell anyone, we don't want too many people here hey. June 10 What an action packed day.... the weather is perfect and sleeping last night was just right... 12 degrees and no moon... Sunrise this morning was spectacular with some light scattered cloud adding to the effect. We woke early as it is now daylight from around 5.30am, had a nice relaxed breakfast and then were joined by our El Questro guide Brendon who we spent the morning with. We visited Zebedee Springs where we bathed in the thermal waters, visited scooties yard where we learned the history of El Questro cattle and how things have evolved in the industry, we visited the grave tree where we learnt about the history of the people of El Questro and then went for exhilarating to the Durack Tree and then through the rugged Chamberlain Creek and up the mountain range to Brancos Lookout.... spectacular, breathtaking and a wonderful way to spend the morning. We returned to camp for lunch and a bit of R and R before heading off to Chamberlain Gorge where we cruised along enjoying the scenery..... all topped off with a glass or 2 of bubbly to seal the occassion. What a day! June 9 Our first night out was comfortable and the temp dropped to 12 degrees which is just great for sleeping. Still in NT time zone the sunrise was around 6.30am so we had acruisy morning and then hit the road bound for the Kimberley. We stopped in at Sams favorite bridge (Bradshaw Bridge) and Gregory's Tree where we learnt the history of this early explorer and the region. We soon reached the WA border and a short time later headed out to the Ord river Dam and Lake Argyle. The wildlife was very cheeky today and Peter had a cookie stoled from his hand ny a great bowerbird. They must have heard all about Nicoles cooking too! We headed into Kununurra for lunch and a quick look around the town but everyone was pretty keen to begin our journey along the Gibb River Rd. We were surprised to see a few more km of bitumen... lets hope they don't get too carried away hey... and after recent rains the dirt sections were pretty cut up and the going was slow. We soon reached El Questro and spent the last of the afternoon relaxing around camp... Peter and Liddy took a dip in the pool while Phil and Ray were a little more active taking our 2 bicycles for a spin. We are camped by the Pentecost River for 2 nights and looking forward to exploring this amazing working cattle station tomorrow.
June 8 We leave Darwin today with the comfort of knowing the weather outlook is normal.... dry with cool nights and warm days... and that most of the Kimberley region has reopened after the rains experienced in the last trip.
The Kimberley Note: Due to unseasonal rains in the Kimberley region this tour is on an amended itinerary. At this stage our plan is to complete the itinerary in the reverse direction which will hopefully mean by the time we are ready to head east we will be able to travel the Gibb River Rd. Update: The weather continues to be unseasonal with most parks still closed and more rain forecast so we have decided to take in some of the Pilbara region....which at this stage is dry and sunny June 4 Our final day is always a bit sad and after breakfast by the pool we headed north along the final stretch of bitumen to Adelaide River where we visited the war cemetary before our final short drive into Darwin. A somewhat disrupted trip because of the weather but still we saw a lot, travelled around 2500km more than a normal trip but still had a great time. While most roads were closed we dodged the rain and discovered parts of the Pilbara and our tour became a real adventure. Thanks to everyone on board for your understanding and glad that we got at least one Makin' Tracks night under the stars and around the campfire... see you all next time. June 3 Last night was great.... a big campfire, spit and camp oven roasts, damper.... the works, and of course some of the Hoochery Rum which really has worked easing the cold. We woke to another crisp morning, a huge change since camping in this area 2 weeks ago. Then the minimum overnight temp was 28, last night just 12. The real Kimberley dry season weather is finally here. Another relaxed morning and then a short drive into Katherine where we spent some time visiting the shops... retail therapy for some. We then headed out to Katherine Gorge where we stay in Cabins tonight. We relaxed the afternoon away, most of us in the pool while Suzi, Art and Jan took a thrilling helicopter ride through all 13 gorges... and loved it. We have just returned from our afternoon gorge cruise followed by dinner on board the boat slowly cruising down the first gorge... a great sunset followed by a clear star filled sky. Lots of laughter and remeniscing on our last night together on tour.....sob sob. June 2 Last night was very pleasant and we woke to a crisp morning and with not too far to travel today had a relaxed morning around camp. We took the short drive into Kununurra and visited the agricultural area and the Hoochery which makes the tasty Ord River Rum. Art and Sam really appreciated the tastings... and plenty was spent on "souvineers" while some like myself purchased purely for medicinal purposes..... having picked up a cold on this journey. We visited Mirima National Park which is like a mini Bungle Bungle so were able to see up close the formation of the domes. After lunch we travelled east along the bitumen to Victoria River where we are camped tonight. June 1 We woke today with some excitement as although we were unable to travel into the Bungle Bungle we had flights booked from Turkey Creek so we could at least get a good look from above. The only downside was the first flight was at 1pm and we had some distance to travel. Not to worry, everyone was eager and we were ready for departure ahead of schedule. Our journey today was back along the bitumen to Halls Creek, we continued on to Turkey Creek in time for a late lunch and our flights. The scenery was spectacular as we flew over the Osmond Ranges and on to Purnululu where we viewed the magnificent beehive domes of the Bungle Bungle Ranges. 50 minutes has never gone so fast but it was a wonderful flight. We then continued on the short distance to our camp at Doon Doon Roadhouse. May 31 Another relaxing night and we slept well with the sound of ocean nearby. Another full day on the road ahead as we make our way back east. We drove along the coast to Roebuck Plains and then continued along the Great Northern Rd to Willare Roadhouse where we stopped for lunch. The coach is acomfortable way to travel and a DVD, some music and good company made the km go very quickly and before we knew it we were in Fitzroy Crossing where we are camped tonight. May 30 Our couple of days in the Pilbara was a good trade off considering the rains are continuing in the Kimberley. The downside is we will travel an extra 2500km compared to a normal Kimberley trip and it is time to start our return journey. We left camp around 8am and made our way back to Port Hedland. The scenery along the way continued to be spectacular and ever changing. We stopped for lunch in Port Hedland and then began our north bound journey along the coast to 80 mile beach. We camped here on our southbound journey and everyone was excited to be back. Art went for a swim but the tide was out and after 20mins walking was only ankle deep.... can you consider this bathing in the Indian Ocean? May 29 Today was action packed and with so much to see and do we set off at 8am for a walk along the gorge rim which gave wonderful views of Circular Pool, Dales Gorge and Fortescue Falls. It is very difficult to explain the beauty of this place except to say it is breathtaking. You walk through relatively flat country with a few surrounding hills and then you come across this huge gorge and it literally takes your breath away.... so unexpected, so beautiful.... all you hear are the wows from your walking companions. The initial walk down into the gorge is quite steep so we took our time and enjoyed the scenery along the way. Once into the gorge the going was much easier and we enjoyed a wonderful stroll with a few taking a dip in the pools at Fortescue falls. We returned to camp for lunch (hamburgers...mmm) and then took the short drive to Weano Gorge where we enjoyed a relaxed walk and swim. A few more lookouts on the way back to camp and we were all ready for sundowners as we reminisced over our great day. May 28 We woke to a beautiful clear day and headed off to explore the park. We visited the old homestead and took the loop drive which gave great views of the Fortescue River and the surrounds before reaching Crossing Pool. This magnificent waterhole looked great and home to hundreds of Corellas who put on a great show for us. We continued our journey into the Pilbara with a great drive through the Hammersley Ranges, stopping at lookouts along the way and a nice walk into Hammersley Gorge. We visited the township of Tom Price which exists purely to support the local mining activities. Our late afternoon drive to Karijini National Park was spectacular as the orange and reds of the mountain ranges glowed in the afternoon sun. May 27 Everyone slept well last night, cool breezes and the gentle sounds of the seaside making for perfect conditions. This morning most had a stroll along the beach as the day came to life. I was asked this morning if we could just stay here for the next 5 days and I tell you this could be easily done, such a peaceful and beautiful spot in this great country of ours. So much more awaits us though and we reluctantly packed camp and continued south to Port Hedland where in start contrast to the peaceful 80 mile beach this bustling port town amazed us for totally different resons.... long trains loaded with ore, massive conveyor systems and huge ships being loaded for export. The size of everything is BIG and has a beauty all of its own. After lunch we headed off to Millstream Chichester National Park where we are camped tonight at Snake Creek. This is a small bush camp ground and only 3 other people are here so very quiet....until we arrived of course.. We walked in to Python Pool, a small oasis in this dry and rocky country with sheer cliffs of red and black rock. The waterfall was not flowing but we could all imagine the spectacle this must be during the wet. The sunset was perfect as the rocky outcrops surrounding our camp glowed as the sky put on a wonderful show for us. May 26 Last night at the Mangrove Resort was very pleasant and everyone let there hair down a bit..... what happens on tour stays on tour.... sorry... The weather in the Kimberley region continues to be very unseasonal with the National Parks along the Gibb River Rd still closed and more rain forecast. With this in mind we have all discussed the options and decided to head for blue skies further south so look out Pilbara.... here we come! We spent the morning in Broome and several pearls were purchased.... lucky ladies, and left town at midday for our southbound journey. We stopped for lunch at Roebuck Roadhouse before continuing on to our camp at 80 mile beach. The weather is great, nice cool ocean breezes and the white beach looks great in the afternoon sunshine. May 25 We started today with a relaxed breakfast and then sadly boarded the seaplane. We took off and headed west over the Buchaneer Archipeligo to Cygnet Bay where we landed and spent some time enjoying the area before boarding another plane for our journey into Broome, arriving around midday. We then headed to the Mangrove Resort Hotel where we are staying tonight and spent this afternoon wandering around the Broome township. At 3.30 we headed out to Cable Beach where we enjoyed a camel ride along the beach as an amazing sunset took place.... cameras going wild..... May 24 Last night was another one of the great nights Derby so often puts on for us. At the resort was an Auction night raising funds for local girl Lara who is suffering from cancer. The town really got behind her and a great night was had. Today we had a relaxed start to the day and then headed out to the Leprosorium where we learned about the history of this amaing place. Before we knew it we were at Derby airport bound for the Horizontal Falls. The flight across was spectacular, great views of this wonderful country and we soon landed in Talbot Bay. We boarded the fast boat for a thrilling ride through the Horizontal Falls and then the small punt for a relaxed cruise around the islands. An amazing afternoon, beaut weather and great company. May 23 We started today with a cruise at Geikie Gorge where we viewed this amazing natural wonder, complete with fresh water crocs. We then headed west to Derby where we visited the Boab Prison Tree and incredible wharf built to cope with the massive 11m tides experienced in this region. We then checked in to the King Sound Resort where we relaxed away the afternoon in the pool. May 22 Last night at Parrys Creek Farm was nice and the temps dropped a bit for us. We headed off this morning and headed south along the Bitumen bound for Turkey Creek where we stopped for smoko before continuing south to Halls Creek for lunch. Our westbound journey began and we soon arrived at our camp beside the Fitzroy River at Fitzroy Crossing. An interesting but longer than liked day on the road trying to keep away from the patchy light rain which hung around all morning. May 21 Last night stayed quite warm so sleep was a little restless. Temps did not drop below 25.5 with high humidity. This is several degrees warmer than our visit here last week. We woke to a still overcast and threatening sky, had a relaxed breakie then hit the road bound for Lake Argyle and the Ord River Dam. We enjoyed spectacular views and had smoko at the base of the dam wall in one of our favorite little parks. We then continued our journey on to Kununurra where we lunched in Celebrity Park before a bit of a wander through the shopping centre.... no diamond purchases this time round. Unfortunately the Gibb River Rd is closed due to the weather so we could not follow our normal itinerary and head into El Questro so we continued on up to Wyndham where we visited the 5 Rivers Lookout with spectacular views of the area. We were lucky enough to bump into a local who intrigued everyone with his stories of the area, a fascinating guy. Tonight we are camped at Parrys Creek Farm and are pleased that the temps and humidity are falling. Most are currently in the pool and looking forward to a good night under the stars. May 20 Well, how do we begin? For the past week the Kimberley region has experienced unseasonal rain....maybe in the past there has been the odd storm or shower but this year a week of solid rain which is just unheard of at this time of year. All the dirt roads in the region are closed and the trip has been turned upside down. Add to this that the rain and the northwesterly air flow means temperatures are high and humidity is uncomfortable. Suzi and Art travelled to Cape York with us last year and have brought along 6 friends for a Kimberley adventure and it looks like they are gonna have one. We left Darwin at 7.30 this morning and headed south along the bitumen to Adelaide River and then on to Katherine. After lunch we started our west bound journey along the Victoria Highway stopping in at Victoria River Roadhouse and arriving this afternoon at our camp at Timber Creek. The drive was beautiful with river and spectacular rock escarpment views. The recent rains making the red rocks even more vibrant and with an unusual backdrop of grey things apparently called clouds (unusual for here).
Sydney to Darwin May 13 Our last day on tour but still lots to be done. We started with a spectacular 2 hr breakfast Cruise in the first 2 gorges at Katherine Gorge. The gorges look great in the early morning light and Taffys commentary was great. We headed off from the Gorge around 11am, back through the township of Katherine and north bound for our final short drive to Darwin. We stopped for lunch at Adelaide River where we also visited the War Cemetary then continued north arriving into Darwin around 3pm. The end of a wonderful adventure, great people, great weather, great bush camps..... one of my favorite trips now. Thanks to Les, Gail and Elsie, our 3 newcomers who fitted in great and added a lot of character to the group...especially the amazing 87yo Elsie who kept us all on our toes. Owen and Jan, Ron and Val, Judith and Jeanette, all repeat offendors who know the Makin' Tracks way and were all great travel companions for our wonderful 16 days on the road. Thanks to our Guide Sam and crew Nicole for a great job done.... did I say this was work? May 12 The closer we get to Darwin the warmer it gets and last nights temp was around 20 degrees. Owen and I had our usual guessing competition on temperature and Gail, who is now formally banned from any future tours had some fun with the thermometer at my expense..... creating a lot of laughs from everyone. Val and Jan put the finishing touches to the jumper they have been knitting for Sams god daughter... one of the most perfect creations you have seen.... (the jumper that is) Today we had a relaxed start before continuing our journey along the bitument to Victoria River where we drove across the new high level bridge for the first time.... exciting after having watched its progress for the past 18 months... and soon arrived in Katherine where we had lunch before a look around town and a frantic search for some mauve buttons. This afternoon was very relaxing at Katherine Gorge where we are staying in Cabins tonight. Most of us spent the afternoon wallowing in the pool and we are looking forward to a poolside dinner tonight. Lots of laughs and the presentation of the knitted jumper. Most amazingly I found out that the whole jumper is knitted in one piece, no pattern and at one stage involving 8 knitting needles in action.... just amazing May 11 Our camp oven roast dinner last night was delish and we all slept well.... even Jeanette! After a hearty breakfast we headed out to the Lagoon and as we approached stopped at the old telegraph building ruins and took in the captivating views over the wet lands. We spent some time exploring the ruins but for most the views kept drawing us back.... has to be seen to be believed. We then headed down the winding track to the lagoon and bird hide and WOW..... The birdlife here is just amazing with so many species and in huge numbers. There were also so many small fish jumping that it looked like the water was boiling in places.... all capped off with masses of white and mauve water lillies.... a magical location that we could all have just sat and taken in all day long. We reluctantly headed off to Kununurra for a top up of supplies before heading out to Lake Argyle and the Ord Dam for lunch. Our eastbound journey continued through the first part of the Victoria River region with great views of red rock escarpments and glimpses of the mighty Victoria River as we approached Timber Creek where we are camped tonight. May 10 A restless night for some who have seen the movie Wolfe Creek but for most it was a great night under the stars. The weather is warming up but still good sleeping weather. Today we woke early having changed time zones so it was daylight not long after 5am. We had brekkie then headed off on our final section of the Tanami Rd. The track was pretty rough in sections and co pilot for today was Ron and he kept a good eye out for potholes. All too soon we reached that horrible black stuff called bitumen which brings a touch of sadness to us all as our Tanami section of this journey has come to an end... will always remember those great bush camps. We visited Halls Creek and then continued north to Wyndham where we visited the 5 rivers lookout. A lot of back burning is happening a the moment so the view was a bit smoky but it still gave a good appreciation of the masses of water that flow through this region in the wet. A brief visit to the township and then we headed off to Parrys Lagoon where we are camped tonight at Parrys farm. May 9 Last night back under the stars was great.... an incredible sunset set the scene and as the stars appeared on a perfect still night we felt we were in paradise.... and we were. Overnight temps dropped but a raging campfire and great company was very warming. This morning the thermometer showed a minimum temp of 1 degree. We woke to a perfect morning for mothers day and the scene was set with potted chrysanthemum on the table ( secretly hidden away by Nicole) and roses presented to the mums. We set off along the Tanami stopping for morning tea where again Nicole presented a special morning tea for the mums. The day is clear with just a few scattered white clouds giving us some fun as we describe the shapes... the road was in pretty good shape and we soon arrived at Rabbit Flat where we explored this infamous roadhouse and had lunch. We continued our journey which was spectacular as the recent rains have produced a flurry of growth which has encouraged lots of birdlife. We are now camped at Wolfe Creek Crater and have walked to the Crater rim for a spectacular sunset and looking forward to another enjoyable night under the stars. May 8 Last night at Hanuman was great... one of the better Thai Restaurants, not only in Alice but in Oz. The banquet was great and the atmosphere bubbling as we enjoyed a great night, albeit inside and under roof. This morning we headed south to Rainbow Valley and loved another great spectacle of the Red Centre, one missed by so many visitors but certainly worthy of the side trip to see it. We then headed north back through Alice Springs to the Tanami Rd and the beginning of our journey into the Tanami Desert. The first section of road was a little disappointing as it has now been made bitumen but after the first 130km we hit the dirt and all felt much better. The road was in reasonable shape but a lot of traffic.... 6 cars maybe and 3 road trains..... but the bulldust was thick and going was a little slow. We have discovered a great bush camp, nestled behind a small rocky outcrop.... just beautiful and all to ourselves. May 7 Yes, another fun night was had by all...some retired early but Judith and Jeanette made the most of the great campfire staying up well into the night. A great sunrise this morning and we set off early, before breakfast for the short drive into Chambers Pillar. The road was rough, lots of washaways but spectacular scenery as we wound through creek crossings and up over steep and rugged hills.... real 4wding and an eye opener for many on board. We walked to the Pillar, took lots of pics and reluctantly continued our journey into Alice Springs.... the big smoke for the afternoon where everyone had free time and we had the chance to do a few repairs and some shopping to top up supplies. Tonight we are staying at Lasseters Resort and dining at Hanuman Thai. May 6 Last night was a great camp, peaceful and quiet..... not likely with this group.... but at least we were miles from anyone so no one to bother. We woke to a crisp clear morning and left camp around 9am. We continued along the Oodnadatta track into Marla and then headed east back toward Finke to rejoin our planned route. A few extra km thanks to the road closure but the country certainly looks great after the recent rains. We passed through the Finke Community and then came to the Finke River crossing.... about 100m wide, no water but a build up of soft sand... well I should have let some air out of the tyres but didnt...and well... we sorta got bogged. blush blush...a bit of digging, deflated the tyres and we were soon on the move again. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself but everyone on board thought it was great. We continued along the Old Ghan Route where the road actually uses the old rail line base and in some places the sleepers are still under the sand making for an interesting ride. Lots of washaways made going slow so we set up camp alongside the track and looking forward to another fun night under the stars. May 5 Today we left Coober Pedy around 8am and made our way north to the Painted Desert. We stopped for smoko then took a walk into the hills which provided incredible views over the surrounding landscape and one can truly see why this is called the painted desert.... a myriad of colours from reds and yellows through to greys and green. A breathtaking sight and Les commented he "thought he had been to the outback before". This area provides some of the most spectacular and remote locations in Australia. We continued on to Oodnadatta where we stopped in at the Pink Roadhouse. After lunch we headed off to Mount Dare but unfortunately found that after the recent heavy rains the road was still closed to heavy vehicles.... so we continued along the Oodnadatta Track and set up camp beside the creek we camped at some 6 weeks earlier when the rain set in.... our tracks could still be seen but all was dry and a clear blue sky overhead. May 4 last night we dined in the William Creek Pub with new owners Bruce and Mim and their team doing a great job.... good food, good drink and good service..... a nice night in the real outback. This morning started with early morning flights over Lake Eyre... now 70% full with water and a magnificent sight. We continued our journey along the Oodnadatta Track turning off to Coober Pedy where we are staying underground tonight. This afternoon we visited the Old timers mine where we experienced first hand how opal mining is done.... hard work hey. Some made purchases so when your family gets home you might be in for a real surprise..... We had a quick look around town and then headed out to the Breakaways where we sipped on drinks and enjoyed nibblies as the sun set over these amazing natural beauties. A great way to end another great day in the Outback. May 3 Wow.... what a day... We left camp at Wilpena aroun 9am and drove through Brachina and Bunyeroo gorges, stopping at lookouts and spotting the rare yellow footed rock wallaby.... a real treat. The geological wonders of the region are difficult to comprehend but Sams interpretation made it all so real. We continued on to Parachilna Hotel where Jane served us cappucino and hot chocolates with some amazing cookies... we continued on past Leigh Creek, stopping at the huge open cut mine site where we enjoyed lunch. Continuing north to farina where we explored the ruins, Marree where we saw old locomotives... some of the last remaining signs of the Old Ghan Railway. From here we joined the Oodnadatta Track, soon reaching Lake eyre South which is almost full of water. An incredible sight not seen too often and for some of us who have visited this area many times it was still an amazing sight. Wecontinued along the track visiting the Bubbler and Mound Springs and arrived in to William Creek a bit later than expected but with a feeling of real achievement.... all this in one day... seems impossible but so much to see in such a small area. May 2 The Flinders are great at any time but at the moment they are just amaing... cold nights around the camp fire, crisp mornings and beautiful warm days... just perfect. This morning we walked up to the pound rim and lookouts. Sam did a great job explaining all the geological, plant and animal wonders of the region and we enjoyed each others company as we looked in awe at this amazing place. We returned to camp for lunch and after a bit of r and r we set out to Stokes Hill lookout where we obtained an even greater appreciation of the area. Judith and Owen took an afternoon flight over the pound while the rest of us relaxed around camp enjoying the wonderful weather. May 1 Well, last nights camp was great, a perfect night, wonderful fire and great company. Lots of chat and laughter before retiring under a clear sky filled with stars and a rising full moon. We took our time this morning and everyone would have been more than happy to stay another day in paradise but new adventures called and we headed off, bound for the Flinders Ranges and Wilpena Pound. We called in at the Wakerie Bakery for a sweet and coffe fix before continuing on through Morgan and Burra where we topped up with fresh fruit and veg after travelling through our last quarantine zone for the trip. We pressed on travelling through plagues of locusts making for some artistic designs over the vehicle and arrived into Wilpena at 5pm. A long drive today but with several interesting stops. Camp was set up, fireplace ready and drinks and nibbles soon underway. We will be camped here for 2 nights. April 30 Fortunately we stayed dry last night as the rain held off and some of us headed down to the Walls of China for a spectacular sunrise. The patchy cloud cover made for an amazing sky and the sands of the walls changed many times as the daylight struck. After a hearty brekkie we took a short walk to Mungo Lookout and then drove to Red Tank for a look at some amazing miniature canyon like erosion.... just spectacular. We then procceded along the Pastoral Loop, stopping at Zanci homestead and the old shearing shed. The day was still overcast so we decided to head off. We drove in to Mildura where we stopped for a while before continuing our journey west. Sam and Nicole had gone ahead in the support vehicle and tracked down an amaing camp beside the mighty Murray River, just near lock 9..... thats all we can tell you because we dont want the details to get out..... We enjoyed the last of the afternoon taking in the spectacular and peaceful location, birds, warm sunshine and an everlasting sunset as the fire was stoked with plentiful firewood around the camp..... were we dreaming? April 29 Last night was a rowdy night.... first night out is normally a little quieter but this time everyone was pretty excited about the journey ahead and getting to know each other was filled with laughter. The meal at the South Hay Hotel was great and we stayed overnight in Motel accommodation. This morning we headed to Balranald where we stopped at the bakery for coffee and treat... great vanilla slices and cakes of all sorts. We continued on to Mungo National Park and after lunch had a local Aboriginal guide take us on a walk through the Walls of China, explaining all about the incredible natural and human history of the area. It was overcast and unfortunately the sunset today was covered as was the much anticipated full moon rising over the Walls of China.... ah well thats the weather for you. April 28 We met up this morning Close to the M5 motorway at Wolli Creek at 7.30 all ready for a day on the bitumen getting as far from the big smoke as possible. 9 passengers on board, 6 of whom have done at least one trip with Makin' Tracks, for Jeanette this is her 5th and Judiths third. Les, Gail and Elsie were quickly welcomed into the "family" as the ks quickly wizzed by as we travelled south along the Hume Highway, stopping for a cuppa along the way and reaching Wagga for lunch. We continued our westbound journey arriving into Hay around 5pm where we are staying tonight.
Outback Pubs April 9 Last night in Cobar was nice, a drink at the local followed by a great meal at Coppers Restaurant..... highly recommended for great food next time you are in Cobar. Today we began our journey back to Broken Hill with all the diversions due to rain adding around 1200km to our normal journey. This of course meant extra time on the road but no one was worried as we saw lots of new areas and the country looks magnificent after all the recent rains. As we approached Broken Hill the skies opened up and our last 120km was in pretty heavy rain which soon caused some localised flooding and a number of floodways were already covered in water.... great for getting all the mud off the bottom of the coach.... We arrived into Broken Hill as the skies cleared and the afternoon was bathed in sunshine. A great trip, thanks to all on board for lots of fun and laughter and looking forward to getting to all those places we couldn't get to with you next time round. April 8 Although the skies looked very threatening we had no more than a few drops of rain but the weather charts showed the areas we were meant to visit received plenty of rain, enough to close the roads once again so lucky we chose the bitumen route. Today we continued our journey east to Charleville, then south to Cunnamulla and on to Cobar where we are staying tonight. April 7 Well what a night.... after a great dinner we gathered in the bar of the infamous Birdsville Pub and whilst not all of us are drinkers the atmosphere was great. Peter got a game of darts going and the fun continued with Frank the eventual darts champ. Shirley was sitting back sipping on port while chatting with Joy, both laughing at the antics of the tournament. A good night all round while in the back of our mind all wondering when the threatening clouds would open up and maybe leave us stranded in Birdsville for a few more days... could we be that lucky? We woke this morning to clear skies above us but very heavy clouds just to the west....a relaxed breakie, a last visit to the bakery and then on the road. Unfortunately the Birdsville Track is still closed so that means travelling back to Broken Hill the long way round. We managed to rejoin the bitumen 100km west of Quilpie, all afternoon expecting the rain to come down as clouds as black as the bitumen road gathered all round us. Tonight we are staying at Quilpie and looking forward to a night in the big smoke. April 6 We had a relatively quiet night at Windorah in preparation for our journey to Birdsville today. The weather this morning was clear but we had some rain overnight. This was a worry as the Birdsville Development Road has only just reopened from flooding and we knew it wouldnt take much rain to make an interesting drive. We weren't wrong.... plenty of slipping and sliding and a few long stretches of soupy road we only just managed to get through. The coach is covered in mud and required a few repairs this afternoon. We arrived into Birdsville, visited the famous race and went to the bakery for lunch....yum. We have checked into our roomsat the Birdsville Pub and had the afternoon free to explore this great little outback town. Tonight we are looking forward to dinner at the pub. April 5 Last night at Noccundra Pub was great except for the millions of grass hoppers and a few mozzies but the local frogs were making the most of it. The pub has been isolated for 2 months due to floods and we were the first group Don has seen all year so we were treated well. We continued our journey north and visited Thargomindah and Quilpie before stopping for lunch at Toompine Pub..... well.... what a laugh. This remote little pub has real character and the hangover from last nights festivities could still be seen with local legend "wog" still in fine form.... he had us in stitches, gave us all stubby holders and Shirley even managed to get one of his shearers singlets. We dragged ourselves away and coninued our journey through Thargomindah, Quilpie and on to Windorah where we are tonight. April 4 Tibooburra lived up to its usual standard and Dan and Kathy from the Family Hotel were once again perfect hosts. Over the summer Dan has been working hard on a new dining room and we were there for it's official opening.... a great job Dan and a great atmosphere in the new room. Meals were great and Frank amazed us all by polishing off a T bone which overhung the plate on 3 sides. Today we headed out to Cameron Corner and enjoyed a hit of golf across the States.... who said Peter can play golf??? After lunch we headed back into Tibooburra and on to Noccundra where we are staying tonight. The direct road across was passable but officially closed so that meant the long way round for us but what an incredible drive with the country all green and the normally dry and barren landscape really alive. The 3 sisters on board are providing us with a lot of laughs as they have digs at each other with husbands often hiding their faces as rooms burst into laughter... a fun trip with lots of adventures ahead of us. April 3 We left Broken Hill at 8.30am and headed north along the Silver City Highway. After the recent rains in the area the countryside was green and lush with plenty of watercourses showing signs of the incredible forces behind the floodwater and all the usually dry lakes full to the brim. We spotted wedge tail eagles and the odd roo. We also picked up Mike, a Scottish cyclist having trouble with his tyres now with 10 puncture holes in the rear tyre. We loaded his bike on the roof and gave him a ride which prooved very entertaining for us all. We stopped in at Packsaddle Pub and Milparinka before arriving into Tibooburra around 3pm. We had a couple of hours to enjoy the town before heading out to sunset hill for drinks, nibblies and a fantastic sunset. Tonight we are staying at Tooles Family Hotel in Tibooburra. |
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Preparing dinner as the sun sets and the moon rises 
