Top End Magic
Submitted: Saturday, Jul 25, 2009 at 15:56
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Member - Min (NSW)
We have just returned from our much awaited Top End trip which was all we could have hoped for. Contrary to many other people I like to do lots of research before setting off and I really believe it's the way to go. There are still some lovely surprises and fewer nasty ones.
Our granddaughters (10 & 14) joined us in
Darwin for eight days and we all had a great time. We were pleasantly surprised at their enjoyment of
Kakadu - they loved everything about it from the great day with Steve from Top End Tours at Jim Jim and
Twin Falls to the amazing view from the top of Ubirr. They were also entranced by the Aboriginal art sites, especially Ubirr where they spent ages reading the signs and searching for and photographing the artworks mentioned. Of course
Litchfield was also much appreciated for its great swimming holes. Berry Springs was also a favourite.
After the girls flew home we set off along the Roper Hwy, Nathan River Rd, etc. and enjoyed every moment. The road was not daunting at all and our little AussieSwag only let a very small amount of dust in - the first time ever.
It was a lovely surprise to see
Leichhardt Falls still running beautifully.
Thanks to all who answered my questions way back when I started planning. They were very valuable.
Min
Reply By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Saturday, Jul 25, 2009 at 18:29
Saturday, Jul 25, 2009 at 18:29
Good on you Min, glad your trip gave you all the rewards of your planning, a bit of thought by way of planning certainly pays dividends. You had an added bonus by way of linking up with your grandchildren which by the sound of it was a real bonus.
Actually you had another bonus you did not mention! We also have grandchildren & you can send the blighter's back home to Mum & Dad when they become a bit much! Not really, we love em & would not be without all seven!
How long were you on the road for & when are you setting off again.Cheers
AnswerID:
376190
Follow Up By: Member - Min (NSW) - Saturday, Jul 25, 2009 at 23:55
Saturday, Jul 25, 2009 at 23:55
Hi Barry,
We were away exactly 7 weeks, drove 12,500 km, found many wonderful
places, and met many lovely people. As usual there was a deadline but we couldn't have stayed much longer anyway because we are setting off again in the first few days of September for WA. That leaves 5 weeks to do all the medical and dental stuff, clean and repair the ct (she's 10 years old and can do with some tlc and sprucing up), clean and have the Prado serviced, make some adjustments to the great storage cabinet John made, and get new tyres.
We want to head to
Shark Bay in WA and work our way south, visiting friends in
Perth along the way, so will go via the Great Central Rd from our home near
Canberra .
Wildflowers are the focus for this trip and as yet there is no deadline to be home. Hope it won't be too cold.
Min
FollowupID:
643613
Follow Up By: Rod, Sydney - Sunday, Jul 26, 2009 at 07:34
Sunday, Jul 26, 2009 at 07:34
And you have to write a new blog entry :-)
FollowupID:
643625
Follow Up By: Member - Min (NSW) - Sunday, Jul 26, 2009 at 13:13
Sunday, Jul 26, 2009 at 13:13
Hi Rod,
Will do if time permits. I wasn't as diligent at writing it up as we went along as I have been in the past so it'll take a while.
Min
FollowupID:
643651
Reply By: Member - Rick P (NT) - Saturday, Jul 25, 2009 at 19:39
Saturday, Jul 25, 2009 at 19:39
Good to hear some positive feed back from your trip to the Top End. We live here and we know it gets busy this time of the year, that you can't get a caravan
park to stay at and that every where you go it's full on, but unfortunately it's the place to be this time of the year and everyone has woken up to the fact so with a bit of planning ahead it can still be a once in a life time time experience.
We recently had friends from Canada stay with us for about 5 days, now these people have been all over the world and they are still raving about the afternoon cruise on Yellow Waters at Cooinda and put it down as one of the most wonderful
places they had been to in Oz.
See you up here and enjoy
AnswerID:
376204
Follow Up By: Member - Min (NSW) - Sunday, Jul 26, 2009 at 00:07
Sunday, Jul 26, 2009 at 00:07
Hi Rick,
You are not wrong about the crowds, the cv parks were packed. Thank goodness we had booked for
Darwin.
In
Jabiru we stayed at the Lakeview Caravan
Park which was excellent - beautiful big grassy sites all with ensuites, and $30 for up to 4 people. We just called ahead a day or two before. This place had been mentioned on this
forum as being very good and certainly was.
Min
FollowupID:
643614
Reply By: milly & us - Monday, Jul 27, 2009 at 14:10
Monday, Jul 27, 2009 at 14:10
we just recently stayed at Leichhard Falls on the way to
Burketown. No moon that night and staying on the floodplain rocks with no trees around gave us the most amazing view of the stars. The outback stars at their best.
AnswerID:
376411