Friday, 19 June 2015

Adventures with Cousins in the NT

The Big Surprise

It was 1am on the morning of Saturday the 30th of May when we took our two highly excited children to the airport to meet their Uncle Judd.
Little did they know that they were also there to meet their cousins Shakira and Imogen, who they had not seen in over 1 year and missed like crazy!
The look on their faces when they saw each other was beautiful and brought a tear to my eye. 

Shakira, Tori, Imogen and Ella! Together again! <3 

After much noise, many hugs, catwheels, leap frog games and running up and down the airport I finally managed to bundle these over excited girls into my car, whist Gary and Judd jumped in the car he had hired for the drive back to camp.
On the way back I have never heard so much noise! These girls had some catching up to do and they planned on doing it all in this 15min drive!
Back at camp the excitement continued and it was past 4am when I finally managed to get them all to sleep for a few hours.

Waking a few hours later the girls were all keen to get out and have some fun together. 

All ready for a day out in Darwin!
 
First stop... Leanyer Water Park!
With 3 tube waterslides the girls and us adults all had a great time racing each other to the bottom. 
Leanyer waterpark 

Leanyer waterpark
 
After a few hours we decided to head to yet another Water Park.
This time we headed to Palmerston were they have 6 speed slides to race each other down, plus other small pool and slides to play in. We stayed here for the rest of the day racing each other to the bottom. 

Speed slides at Palmerston waterpark 

 Tori on one of the smaller slides 

Imogen and Ella getting wet! 

The next night we had a great time at the famous Mindil Beach Markets. From trying some different foods to watching the street performers and Gary, Judd, Ella and Imogen even having a go at cracking a whip! Great fun!

Shopping at the markets 

Hmmm... What to buy... 

Enjoying some "spiral spuds!" 

Icecream time... Yum!!! 
 
Litchfield National park 
 
Packing up camp and leaving Darwin we headed for Litchfield National Park. Wow we loved this place! 
Along the way we stopped to see some gigantic Termite mounds and were quite impressed. They were a lot bigger than any we had seen on the road so far... And we have seen a lot!! 

Giant Termite Mound

After setting up camp at Wangi Falls, we were soon enjoying swimming in the huge pool beneath the falls and climbing up behind the waterfall. 
Wangi Falls 

Ella and Imogen floating around 

Enjoying some cupcakes to celebrate missed and up and coming birthdays together (any excuse will do when it comes to Choc cupcakes... ;)) 

That night we took Judd and the girls out for a round of "Cane Toad Golf!" The girls loved it! 

Early the next day we headed out to Blueys Waterhole and Florence Falls. Gary visited Florence Falls 20 or so years ago and having jumped from the top of the 15m falls, scaring some tourists in the process.. Decided to yet again jump from the top! Crazy!!

Bluey waterhole
Tori doing her best ninja jump 

Shakira and Tori 

More ninja jumps by Imogen 

<3 

Florence Falls (Gary jumped from the top of the falls on the right hand side.) 

That afternoon we drove down a 30km 4x4 track complete with water crossings and buffalos to chase to check out Secret falls and Tolmer falls.
Secret Falls was brilliant! With 3 very deep pools that flowed into each other to swim in plus great platforms to jump from, we all had a fun few hours here. 

The girls all jumping at Secret Falls 

Ella and Tori 

The view from the second pool at Secret Falls

Having to race against the clock before the sun started to set we quickly made out way to check out Tolmer falls.
Yet again another beautiful waterfall! We only had time for a quick swim across to the falls here but were glad we made the effort. Stunning!

Tolmer Falls 

Adelaide River/Robin Falls

From Litchfield we headed back down to the town of Adelaide River. After setting up camp yet again at Robin Falls and managing to get the same spot we stayed at last time with our own little freshwater pool we headed back into Adelaide River to have lunch at the 303 Bar.

Lunch at the 303 Bar
 
 We even got to meet "Charlie" the buffalo who starred in the movies Crocodile Dundee 1/2. As lucky as he is to live within this interesting little bar... He unfortunately is quite dead and quite stuffed after his visit to the Taxidermist! Lol 

"Charlie" who featured in The crocodile Dundee Movies 

After a yummy lunch we headed back to camp and the girls spent the afternoon playing in the water whilst us adults set about making a campfire for the evening.
That night we roasted marshmallows over the fire, had a round of cane toad golf, caught some cute little frogs and I even showed off my Turtle catching abilities.. This time though with all my clothes on! ;)

Our camp 

Fire time at Robin Falls 
 
Catching Turtles 

Funny girls <3 

Edith Falls

The next day we headed down to Edith Falls again. After having such a great time here last time we just had to take Judd and the girls here!
After packing plenty of food we hiked up the 1.6km path back to the top falls were we spent the rest of the day playing in and out of the water. 

Edith Falls 


Gary even decided to have a go at making friends with a 1.5m Yellow Tree Python... Though this one wasn't too happy been picked up by its tail.. It thrashed about wildly trying to sink its fangs into his arm... (Non venomous... Yet I'm pretty sure a bite from one of these would still hurt!!!)

All the girls writing in their Journals 

Douglas Hot Springs 

Next stop... Back to Douglas Hot Springs!
We all had great fun relaxing in the hot pools.
That night around the campfire we had a great time roasting marshmallows whilst Gary and Ella showed off their Poi skills and Judd let off a Japanese fire lantern into the night sky. Wow!! So cool!!

Mmmm... Marshmallows!! 

Letting off a Japanese fire lantern 

Corroboree/Adelaide River Croc Cruise

Heading back towards Darwin we decided to jump on The Adelaide River Jumping Croc Cruise. I wasn't really expecting a lot from this cruise. I had originally decided to book it more so Judd and the girls could see some big salt water crocs in the wild. (Besides I wasn't sure if tour companies should be encouraging crocs not only swim over to boats, but to jump out of the water and be fed...) But WOW!!  What can I say..?? This was a awesome experience and we all just loved it! To see so many huge crocs right up close and to see them jumping up right alongside the boat I must admit was spectacular and something I would encourage others to put on their bucket list if heading to Darwin. We saw countless crocs and some were huge!! One of the crocs we saw measured a massive 6.5m and was 80 years old! 

Our tour guide was very imformative also. We learnt a lot interesting facts about crocs and their habits that we did not know before. He also gave us a demonstration as to how a nearly 6m croc can be lurking in murky waters, nomore than 2m from shore and you not being able to see it till it lunges out the water to grab you!  This was creepy as we had the advantage of knowing the croc was there, yet we couldn't see it till it lunged forward onto the banks to grab the food our guide had placed there for him! If we didn't know before... We certainly know now to stay well away from the banks of rivers that may have crocs lurking in them. 

Ella and Imogen 

Tori and Shakira 

Big croc!!! 

Jumping crocs! 

Whilst in the area we stayed at a great little roadhouse/caravan park called "Corroboree."
What a great place! With big grassy shady sites, pool, friendly staff, country bands playing on the weekend, a great little bar with some fascinating memorabilia and even its own pet 4.7m saltwater croc, 3m freshwater croc, water buffalos and pigs! This place had it all!

Enjoying a slushie 

Cooling off in the pool 

Brutus. Corroboree's 4.7m pet saltwater croc! 

Noonamah

Heading back to Darwin we checked into yet another great little Roadhouse. "Noonamah." Again with a pool, bar, live entertainment, friendly staff and some friendly water buffalo and cattle that like to stop by for a free feed most nights. The kids spent many hours in the pool and had a great time.

On the last day of their stay Judd and Gary went out for a day fishing with Judd and my cousin, Dylan. Whilst they had a great time they unfortunately didn't catch anything.

Whilst the boys were out fishing I took all the kids to The Territory Wildlife Park.
We had a great time catching the train around the park and checking out all the different animals and animal shows. We especially enjoyed the "Birds of Prey" show where huge birds swept down over the crowds before landing on the handlers hands. 

On the Train in the Wildlife Park 

At the Birds of Prey Show 


Having a look at the large Rays swimming overhead.

We also quite enjoyed watching the huge River Rays being hand fed by the Rangers.
All the girls took turns patting baby crocs and huge pythons. Ella even decided to have one drapped around her neck!
After one last action packed day it was time to say goodbye to Judd, Imogen and Shakira. It was sad to see them leave after having so much fun with them. But we will hopefully catch up with them again at some stage on our trip to have some more fun filled adventures together!! 

Make sure you check out the video below that my brother put together of our adventures in the Northern Territory together! 

Xx

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