sdr00y replied:

Get the kids, the 9 and 7 year old especially, to write a journal of what they did/saw/learnt/experienced each day. Doesn't have to be long, but it will become their own personal story book of what they did. Collect brochures from where you have been (eg tourist mine brochure) so they can link that up with what they write about. Not only does it keep their writing skills up but it becomes a great "news" item when they return to school and also good for looking back at in years to come.

It is important to try and encourage your kids to do this each afternoon or evening, because before you know it a week will have gone by and it is too hard to catch up on a week of memories!!!

Good luck on your journey.

sdr00y

Member - Dunworkin (WA) replied:

Agree with above post, we did this trip in the early eighties with four children and got the eldest three to do a journal, I was going through some old photos the other day and found the journals, I had a lovely read of what we had done, even though the entries were only short it brought the memoies flooding back.

Enjoy your trip

Cheers

Dave & Shelley (NT) replied:

Hi there,

I did some of the same tracks last year with our old camper trailer. We went with another couple with 3 kids under 10 and I was very impressed with the way they operated as a family. The girls (including mum) would collect flowers and press them every stop. They would try and draw whatever they saw along the way and they even had a DVD player for the back (one used a few times on the black top).

As for taking a tinnie up that way I would give the trailer a good going over. Even the Tanami, which is pretty wide and graded got very very average once entering NT. We ended up doing several repair jobs on my mates camper trailer, and he had built that thing to last. (I have a pics of it which show the results better than my words, the axle flying off into the Tanami was rather heart breaking). Tyre pressure even on corrugated roads can kill the best set up in a couple of 100kms. (we didn't lower pressures until it was to late). In fact, since this event, I would ensure that you have dual batteries fitted and welding rods and heavy duty jumper leads so you can do some patch welding if required. A VET course in welding etc is a sound investment if you have not done much welding in the past. It payed off for us.

The tinnie will have to be strapped down very well with lots of "padding" against it. Any metal on metal contact will kill it in minutes. Kalumburu mission can provide charters from what I have heard so it might be cheaper and less heart breaking than taking your own boat.

Hope I haven't rabbited on to much.

Good luck and enjoy your trip, I is great to see more families going out and having fun together.

Dave

Im.away replied:

Leave the kids at home. The rest will fall into place.

Member - John P (NT) replied:

Must agree with above comments reguarding boat trailer. I go to Kalumberu often and always encounter broken trailers. You need a very sound trailer with lots of spares such as shackles,nuts,hub with bearings.Don't put any more weight in boat than nesessary when traveling eg fuel.The Mission does not do fishing tours however Les at Honeymoon Bay does and they can be quite an "experience".You can have a lot of fun with your kids in a boat up there if you are sensible.If you Email me on pomeroys@tpg.com.au I could give you some advice on where to fish up there.
At the Kalumburu Mission Store(next to fuel bowsers) ask about doing a Museum tour With Father Ansel-it's a real blast!
There are some pic.s of trip in Sept. on my picture Gallery.
Main thing up there is to drive to the conditions not a timetable.You will love it!
John.

draff replied:

We did a similar trip in 04 but around the other direction - a great spot on the west coast is Cape Range National Park - there are some spots you can camp and put your boat in but you have to go a distance beyond shore to fish because of marine reserves but the fishing was fantastic. Camping was from memory $10 per night per site, absolute beach front with really clean loos. Absolutely magnificant. Good snorkling within the reef.

Not sure if you are heading to these places, but other good spots on the coast we liked were: 80 mile beach and cape leveque. 80 mile beach good for surf fishing and shell collecting, and cape leveque would also be great with a boat.