Up early (5:30am) to go try our hand at Barramundi. This was a fun activity but unfortunately Harry was the only one to catch a fish (and it was too small). Josie and I both got a couple of strikes but they got off! Yes the big one got away. Apparently though this is the way of Barramundi  fishing, somedays there is just nothing. Anyway way fun!

Back to the station to back up. Had a chat to Rod the station owner re the back roads to Home Valley station and being the man of not many words he said "How many spare wheels do you have?" of course my response of just one was a bit inappropriate so together we decided it may be better to go back to the main road and around, rather than doing the 4wd thing. And just as well as we did as we caught up with one of the other campers later, and apparently there was not track anymore so she had to make one in places!

Good drive along the Gibb river road with no issues. Also across the Penticost river, which was supposed to be 55cm deep (but I think was prob a bit lower than this). Anyway brilliant awe inspiring scenery once again which photos just dont do justice.

Arrived at Home Valley, to find green grass (uncommon in these parts), Swimming pool (unusual), and a full bar and resturant. Of course you can guess where we had dinner ....

Left the van and travelled to Diggers Rest Station with the tent. Plan was to go fishing the next day. 

On the way came across some very remote art sites. The only ones where I have seen a sign from the Museum of WA (ie not normal governement, or parks and wildlife). Anyway worth the 5 minute detour and walk to see.

Also got to see our first Prison Boag tree, speaks for itself really ...

 As we had got away rather late and arrived just on dusk. There was only us on one other person staying there. But it was a very cool experience as we got to sit around the fire with the owner and some of his staff while they had their beer and dinner etc. Bit like we become part of the station group for a little while. A much more real experience and one I would recomend.

Drive up to Wyndham without the van, about 80kms. Had a quick look at the begining of the Gibb River Road, still deciding whether to do this or not!

On the way visited some local friut places and got local bannanas, mangos etc. Yum. Also found a Zebra rock shop, Zebra rock is a special layed rock found only around this area. Of course Josie had to do a few purchases!

Onwards to Wyndham. Wyndham is one of the only 2 places in the world where there are 5 rivers that join the ocean. We went to the 5 rivers lookout, but to be honest I had to take their word for it as I could only see three in the haze. Also had a drive around the town and wharf. Very run down and now really just there for the mining like so much around the place.

We did have lunch at the an unusual park that had large Aboriginal statues in it ....

Home day today to catch up on homework, and work work. Bit of swiming and lots of playing for the kids after such a long day yesterday.

Up very early to fly up and over the Kimberly. Organised a tour with Aligator Air to fly us up over Ord River irrigation area, Wyndham, up to the coast, and along the coast. Past the perl farms and the eco resorts that charge $1000 a night.

Dropped down and landed at Kalumbaru which is at the top of the Kimberly, and Aboriginal mission settlement. Now government run. Interesting to see, and met some people who had driven all the way up (which took about a week or so). To finish off though they had been robbed the night before! Also now the local people don't work any more as the government hands out the benefits. We found out from the people at the mission that the locals used to help maintain a full market garden and bake bread daily. Now nothing, all too lazy.

Back in the air we travelled to Mitchell Falls, and then down to Drysdale Station for a hearty burger for lunch. Back in the air and return to Kununara by 2pm!

Back to the van for a rest, and swim and school work!

OK, I know this sounds silly but back over the border we went to NT. Today visiting the Keep River National Park which is only 1.5 km on the NT side of the border. Went for a walk at Gurrandalng through the Brolga Dreaming land. This was an interesting collection of sandstone mounds and hills. took about 1 hour to do, but it was damn hot, so we had all really had enough by the time we got back to the car. Still very interesting area, great views and interesting scenery.

Also got to see here a number of Pindan Wattles and Grevillea's (see picture).

On the way back out of the park we stopped to check out the arboriginal art which was raved about in our guide. Unfortunatelty when we got there the site was closed as now a sacred site. Funny as this was one of the major draw cards to come here! Any lunch at the rangers office/ front lawn. All rangers were away or on rostered day off, so not much going on there!

Back over the boarder, after eating anything fresh so we could clear quaranteen ok, even though all the food was actually purchased in WA the day before. Crazy!

On the way back through to Kununara we called in at Argyle Dam which is huge. The dam is actually classed as an inland sea as it is so large and required off shore life jackets and rules to be adheared to!

Final day in the NT today, as we are off to WA after spending a great time the NT. On the drive came across our first Boab tree (the upside down tree),  and then on to the border. Bit of a decent drive for us of around 550km for the day.

At the border we got checked for vegetables, fruit and honey and any they found went in the bin. Once we arrived at Kununurra and had setup, we drove down to look at Ivanhoe Crossing where there were crazy fishermen fishing in the river, waist deep with Crocodile signs all around!

Today we enjoyed the top Didge tour where we met Manuel and Adriana. Manuel was from one of the local tribes and spoke to us on his back ground and his family back ground. His parents had wandered to the area from further south many years before. Manuel talked about his family groups and how they worked for the marriage etc to ensure that the relationships were not with close family members. Interestingly when  I asked what happens if you married outside your family group/ tribe, I was told you would not do this. If you did you would be ostracised/ banished.

Manuel then taught Harry, Charlotte and me how to do the local style of aboriginal art (line art). Josie and Emily went with Adriana to do dot painting which is from the desert country in the middle of Australia. It is funny how before I came away (at the begining of the trip) I thought all Aboriginal art was dot painting and all aboriginals used the didgeridoo. Now I know the   didgeridoo is a north (near the coast ) thing and dot art comes from the centre. So these two things would not normally go together but of course they do for the tourist!

Finally we started a fire with 2 bits of wood and threw a spear with a woomera. All good fun.

Spent the afternoon at the pool after a spot of grocery shopping.

Lazy morning hanging around will Josie did a teleconference. Bit late in getting away,  but eventually on the road to Katherine. Arrived mid afternoon and stayed at the Big 4 caravan park on the outskirts of town, which had a great pool.

Also managed to get the tyre looked at the had a slow leak and found a screw was causing the issues. All fixed and back on the road.

Off to check out the park, first to drive past the old Uranium mine. What you say, yes both Lichfield and Kakadu have or had mines in them! You are not able to enter the mine here but we did see a sign closing the road to the local lake and researve. This was mentioned in a couple of brochures that this was the place to swim. Wonder if too many people were getting sick. Also wonder if we should drink the water and eat the food around here (else we may start to glow!).

Anyway, that aside, enter the national park we go.

First stop was the magnetic termite mounds. These are thin mounds that run north / south. They were very cool and interesting to see. It was disappointing at the site, as since so many tour groups go there, there was no access to the mounds, you could just walk on a board walk at the edge of the mounds. Still rather good to see and a bit spooky as sort of like many grave stones standing in lines.

Next we thought we would be brave and take on the Lost city road (4wd only). Road/ track was pretty good really but all single lane, so challenge for passing cars going the other way. When we got there, there was 4 other cars there so really we were not alone at all. Unusual place, called the lost city as many rock towers that sort of look like abandoned buildings (with a bit of imagination).

Back up the road to Tomler falls viewing platform, for another waterfall view, and then to the cafe for lunch. The cafe was at the other end of the park, so after luch we started heading back towards Batchalor.

Swimming at Florence Falls, and Bluey Rockhole was fun on the hot way home.  The rock holes were very cool (neat) and very cool (refreshing). Nice and deep and the kids could jump, dive etc. Fantastic in the hot day.