Timber Creek - Our First Taste Of The Northern Territorry

To stop or not to stop - that is the question as we drove into Timber Creek to refuel. It was only mid afternoon and we could probably get to Katherine by dusk if we keep going. There was only one thing to stop for, and in Zach's mind it was EVERYTHING to stop for. I had been told that the roadhouse feed crocodiles each evening from the camping ground, and upon checking when we paid for petrol it was true. So I guess we're stopping.

The camping ground was shady and spacious with only a handful of other vans or tents set up. We were, however, met with the waft of bats as soon as we opened our doors. The trees around us full of bats. It is funny how smells remind one of places, people or things. Nick commented how it reminded him of visiting my Uncle Barry and Aunty Lorraine, who lived on Sydney's North Shore overlooking a gully which was inhabited by thousands of bats, and we would watch them leave on their nightly journey from their decking. For me it reminded me where my Grandma lived at, which happened to be on the other side of the gully from my Uncles place. We would walk down to the gully with Grandma and look up in the trees watching the bats hang upside down occasionally stretching their wings, before wandering back via the rose garden.

Nick and Josh found a small TV in the camp kitchen. Melbourne Dees were playing GWS. Josh was excited and negotiated delaying setting up in order to watch the game. Nick didn't need much convincing, opening the van enough to reach the fridge and grab a cold beer before settling down to watch Melbourne get their second win for the season. The other 3 kids entertaining themselves on the playground or bridge over the creek where the crocodiles are, coming to check the time, longing for 5pm to come so they could see croc feeding.

Finally it was 5:00pm. Zach led the way down to the narrow bridge. We waited eagerly to see both the crocodiles and the person who would feed them. Sam arrived with a bucket of raw meat and a feeding stick with a piece of rope and large hook on it. We waited and waited. Joking about how you can't train animals in the wild or children. Still no croc..... The water was getting colder and the crocs weren't as plentiful at this time of year. Two months ago there were up to 11 fighting over the meat. Above us in the trees whistling kites were eyeing off the piece of meat dangling for the crocs. Sam threw a small piece of meat up and the kite flew down but missed it. Nick, always up for a challenge, tried throwing up a piece and the kite grabbed it with its claws. This kept Nick entertained for the next half hour while Zach kept his eye on the creek looking almost willing bubbles to appear, the tell tale sign of a crocodile.

Zach asked if he could hold the feeding stick. (I'm sure he thinks he's a croc whisperer and would have the "touch") Well sure enough a "freshie" finally appeared, slowly gliding in the water towards the meat. Holding on to the stick tightly Zach was in heaven as the croc attacked the meat, leaping out of the water and snapping its toothy jaws.

Matt hooked up the next piece of meat and after waiting another 5 minutes pr so, another croc appeared, again leaping and snapping away at the meat. Abbey's turn.... We waited and waited and finally a huge freshie (about 2m) came under the bridge and towards the meat. Unfortunately it wasn't interested in the meat and swam off.

It was amazing to think that we had just fed crocodiles from a bridge only 1/2 metre from the water, using little more than a broom handle, piece of rope and coat hanger.

Zach pleaded with us to stay another night, but with the need to get to Darwin we set off and hit the road again.

Timber Creek - Our First Taste Of The Northern Territorry

To stop or not to stop - that is the question as we drove into Timber Creek to refuel. It was only mid afternoon and we could probably get to Katherine by dusk if we keep going. There was only one thing to stop for, and in Zach's mind it was EVERYTHING to stop for. I had been told that the roadhouse feed crocodiles each evening from the camping ground, and upon checking when we paid for petrol it was true. So I guess we're stopping.

The camping ground was shady and spacious with only a handful of other vans or tents set up. We were, however, met with the waft of bats as soon as we opened our doors. The trees around us full of bats. It is funny how smells remind one of places, people or things. Nick commented how it reminded him of visiting my Uncle Barry and Aunty Lorraine, who lived on Sydney's North Shore overlooking a gully which was inhabited by thousands of bats, and we would watch them leave on their nightly journey from their decking. For me it reminded me where my Grandma lived at, which happened to be on the other side of the gully from my Uncles place. We would walk down to the gully with Grandma and look up in the trees watching the bats hang upside down occasionally stretching their wings, before wandering back via the rose garden.

Nick and Josh found a small TV in the camp kitchen. Melbourne Dees were playing GWS. Josh was excited and negotiated delaying setting up in order to watch the game. Nick didn't need much convincing, opening the van enough to reach the fridge and grab a cold beer before settling down to watch Melbourne get their second win for the season. The other 3 kids entertaining themselves on the playground or bridge over the creek where the crocodiles are, coming to check the time, longing for 5pm to come so they could see croc feeding.

Finally it was 5:00pm. Zach led the way down to the narrow bridge. We waited eagerly to see both the crocodiles and the person who would feed them. Sam arrived with a bucket of raw meat and a feeding stick with a piece of rope and large hook on it. We waited and waited. Joking about how you can't train animals in the wild or children. Still no croc..... The water was getting colder and the crocs weren't as plentiful at this time of year. Two months ago there were up to 11 fighting over the meat. Above us in the trees whistling kites were eyeing off the piece of meat dangling for the crocs. Sam threw a small piece of meat up and the kite flew down but missed it. Nick, always up for a challenge, tried throwing up a piece and the kite grabbed it with its claws. This kept Nick entertained for the next half hour while Zach kept his eye on the creek looking almost willing bubbles to appear, the tell tale sign of a crocodile.

Zach asked if he could hold the feeding stick. (I'm sure he thinks he's a croc whisperer and would have the "touch") Well sure enough a "freshie" finally appeared, slowly gliding in the water towards the meat. Holding on to the stick tightly Zach was in heaven as the croc attacked the meat, leaping out of the water and snapping its toothy jaws.

Matt hooked up the next piece of meat and after waiting another 5 minutes pr so, another croc appeared, again leaping and snapping away at the meat. Abbey's turn.... We waited and waited and finally a huge freshie (about 2m) came under the bridge and towards the meat. Unfortunately it wasn't interested in the meat and swam off.

It was amazing to think that we had just fed crocodiles from a bridge only 1/2 metre from the water, using little more than a broom handle, piece of rope and coat hanger.

Zach pleaded with us to stay another night, but with the need to get to Darwin we set off and hit the road again.

Kunnanurra

Moans of "I'm starving" were coming from the back seats as we headed into Kunnanurra. Admittedly we'd had an early breakfast before packing up the van and then walked to Emma Gorge, which with a swim took about 2 hours, then drove to Kunnanurra with only an orange and drink of water as a snack, and it was now 2pm. Nick surprised us all and announced we'd get "chicken treat" (A cross between KFC and red rooster). We walked across the road to what looked like a prison. All the windows and doors were covered in security bars, and once inside we felt like caged animals. Funnily enough the excitement of having fast food is more appealing than actually eating the stuff even the kids admitted this.

Our caravan park, Hidden Valley, backed onto the Mirima National Park, and as sunset approached the rocks became an iridescent orange, quite a spectacular sight.

We are having a whirlwind day tour of Kunnanurra today. After breakfast we went for a walk through the Mirima National Park from the caravan Park to Demboong (means Gap) Banan (means trail) and were treated to some magnificent views over the town, irrigation scheme and mountain ranges. After returning back we packed a picnic lunch before heading into town for a wander around the market, then drove out to Ivanhoe Crossing. The crossing is currently closed, and with water gushing across it Nick and I said simultaneously I think this would be pushing Tory past her limits. The information centre had told Josh that this was the best spot to catch Barramundi, although the water was a bit cold now. We watched a couple of guys fishing for about 1/2 hour, without catching a thing.

Driving "the loop" around the Ord Irrigation Scheme was interesting. We saw numerous tropical fruit trees and sandalwood plantations. We stopped to buy some farm fresh veggies (no fruit as it wasn't the right season), and spent more time than it should of getting the boys to work out how much money we needed to put in the honesty tin.

At the Sandalwood factory we learnt about the difference between Indian and Australian sandalwood, how it's processed, it's uses, and that it needs a host plant to attach its roots to in order to grow. We watched a DVD and tried every tester of lotions, potions and perfumes. Leaving with some newly learnt facts, and smelling beautiful.

Nick and I enjoyed a taster at the Hoochery, Nick trying 2 rums and a aniseed liqueur while I tried 3 liqueurs - mango, chocolate and aniseed.

At The Zebra Rock gallery we saw many beautiful rock carvings. Zebra rock is only found in a small area of the Kimberly on the banks of Lake Argyle. The mine can only be accessed 4-6 weeks a year due to water levels covering the area and is mined with a pick and shovel. We purchased a small bag of unpolished rock, with an instruction sheet on how to finish and polish them. Matt in particular is looking forward to doing this activity. The gallery is on the banks of a lake and for a gold coin donation we fed hundreds of catfish and a few turtles some bread.

Kunnanurra was a good place to do a big food shop as there is a Coles in town. As I wandered the aisles filling my trolley, my eyes caught sight of something long in the bottom shelf of the freezer section where the meat pies, sausage rolls and fish fingers were. I immediately thought that was a strange place to find long french bread sticks, but when I opened the door I found that they were infact whole kangaroo tails. I wish I'd taken a photo of them.

Heading closer to the Northern Territory border, we drove down to see Lake Argyle - Australia's largest man made lake. I was certainly large and impressive. We walked around the caravan park there and saw the infinity pool which looked over the lake. The kids weren't tempted in the slightest to have a swim in it as it was quite windy and only 21*c - bit of cold morning.

Time to hit the road and leave Western Australia remembering the wonderful places we've seen, people we've met and memories made as we enter the
Northern Territory.

Kunnanurra

Moans of "I'm starving" were coming from the back seats as we headed into Kunnanurra. Admittedly we'd had an early breakfast before packing up the van and then walked to Emma Gorge, which with a swim took about 2 hours, then drove to Kunnanurra with only an orange and drink of water as a snack, and it was now 2pm. Nick surprised us all and announced we'd get "chicken treat" (A cross between KFC and red rooster). We walked across the road to what looked like a prison. All the windows and doors were covered in security bars, and once inside we felt like caged animals. Funnily enough the excitement of having fast food is more appealing than actually eating the stuff even the kids admitted this.

Our caravan park, Hidden Valley, backed onto the Mirima National Park, and as sunset approached the rocks became an iridescent orange, quite a spectacular sight.

We are having a whirlwind day tour of Kunnanurra today. After breakfast we went for a walk through the Mirima National Park from the caravan Park to Demboong (means Gap) Banan (means trail) and were treated to some magnificent views over the town, irrigation scheme and mountain ranges. After returning back we packed a picnic lunch before heading into town for a wander around the market, then drove out to Ivanhoe Crossing. The crossing is currently closed, and with water gushing across it Nick and I said simultaneously I think this would be pushing Tory past her limits. The information centre had told Josh that this was the best spot to catch Barramundi, although the water was a bit cold now. We watched a couple of guys fishing for about 1/2 hour, without catching a thing.

Driving "the loop" around the Ord Irrigation Scheme was interesting. We saw numerous tropical fruit trees and sandalwood plantations. We stopped to buy some farm fresh veggies (no fruit as it wasn't the right season), and spent more time than it should of getting the boys to work out how much money we needed to put in the honesty tin.

At the Sandalwood factory we learnt about the difference between Indian and Australian sandalwood, how it's processed, it's uses, and that it needs a host plant to attach its roots to in order to grow. We watched a DVD and tried every tester of lotions, potions and perfumes. Leaving with some newly learnt facts, and smelling beautiful.

Nick and I enjoyed a taster at the Hoochery, Nick trying 2 rums and a aniseed liqueur while I tried 3 liqueurs - mango, chocolate and aniseed.

At The Zebra Rock gallery we saw many beautiful rock carvings. Zebra rock is only found in a small area of the Kimberly on the banks of Lake Argyle. The mine can only be accessed 4-6 weeks a year due to water levels covering the area and is mined with a pick and shovel. We purchased a small bag of unpolished rock, with an instruction sheet on how to finish and polish them. Matt in particular is looking forward to doing this activity. The gallery is on the banks of a lake and for a gold coin donation we fed hundreds of catfish and a few turtles some bread.

Kunnanurra was a good place to do a big food shop as there is a Coles in town. As I wandered the aisles filling my trolley, my eyes caught sight of something long in the bottom shelf of the freezer section where the meat pies, sausage rolls and fish fingers were. I immediately thought that was a strange place to find long french bread sticks, but when I opened the door I found that they were infact whole kangaroo tails. I wish I'd taken a photo of them.

Heading closer to the Northern Territory border, we drove down to see Lake Argyle - Australia's largest man made lake. I was certainly large and impressive. We walked around the caravan park there and saw the infinity pool which looked over the lake. The kids weren't tempted in the slightest to have a swim in it as it was quite windy and only 21*c - bit of cold morning.

Time to hit the road and leave Western Australia remembering the wonderful places we've seen, people we've met and memories made as we enter the
Northern Territory.