Darwin to Cairns.

Knowing we would be coming back to Darwin we decided to skip Kakadu National Park as we would have chance later on, and so we headed south back through Katherine and stayed in a roadside stop for the night. Next morning up early we made bitter springs for a swim in the thermal waters of the creek, once we were all done it was in the car and onwards.

Lunch was at Daly Waters which is a great outback pub with some fun history, if you have a spare shirt/bra/thong you can pin it on the wall with all the rest, from her it was on to Banka Banka Station where we stayed the night.

Next day we called into Tennant Creek for some supplies and top up with fuel for the long run into Queensland, we had to return shortly after when a coolant hose split 50km from town but we made it back and luckily the car shop had something I could use and we were back on the road. After another roadside stop we did a big day and arrived on the Gregory River just south of Gregory Downs, this gave us an easy run into Lawn Hill National Park the next day, it also allowed the kids to play about in the river which was nice.

 

 

 Lawn Hill National Park is somewhere people always talk about in the travel articles and it did not fail to impress, we only hired canoes and paddled up the gorge but it was enough to show of how pretty the area is in the flesh, we stayed at Adels Grove which is the private campground, this I was not so happy about at $45 for unpowered site but is the only option if the National Park campground is full.

 

 

We now had a quick run across to Cairns as Kellies parents where coming in for a surprise visit, we still managed to see Normanton on the Gulf coast and stayed a few days at Ravenshoe whilst Liam recovered from man flu.

Once in Cainrs we stayed at a van park for the first couple of nights we then surprised the kids by moving into a nice house with pool. That evening Kellie met her parents at the airport and we surprised the kids when they arrived home, the next week was just spent laying about the pool, a trip to the Great Barrier Reef and checking out some of Cairns other sights.
Our trip to the Great Barrier Reef was with Reef Magic Cruises, this was one of the best value tours and included a buffet lunch, with a one hour transfer out to the pontoon we took in the views of Green Island and Fitzroy Island, even seeing some whales. Once alongside the pontoon it was into our swimmers and fit up for snorkel and masks, being first in the water meant you saw more fish according to the guides so we were keen to get wet. One regular visitor at this pontoon is Wally the Giant Maori Wrasse, as soon as you get in the water he swims over to check you out, by the end of the day we were playing with him like a big puppy dog, great fun for all. Other activities to do included a glass bottom boat and a semi submersible which took you out over deeper water where sharks and barracuda could be seen, a great way to finish off a brilliant day out on the reef.

After our week in the house was over the inlaws returned home and we left the van at a local park, Cape York was our next destination and tents would be our accommodation for the next couple of weeks.