The NT has taught us a few things: firstly TLC were wrong, you should always go chasing waterfall’s.
We’ve been reminded once again that awesome places are made better by the people you experience them with and friends who go above and beyond for you are truly special.
And… In the NT you can get away with nearly anything and the innuendo is next level.
We’ll switch it up this month – let’s look at the numbers first and then the month in review
- 4,340 kms travelled (39,604kms) + approx 860km on the Spirit of Tas!
- Fuel bill for the month: $1,385 ($12,714)
- Cheapest fuel: $1.92
- Most expensive fuel: $2.57
- Most expensive campsite: $62 per night
- Accommodation costs: $1,101.20 ($10,389.61)
- States & Territories visited: 2 (7)
- ParkRuns completed: 1 (15)
- Playgrounds visited: 3 (100!)
- Big things: 4 (22)
- audiobooks listened to: it’s been a David Walliams fest this month – we’ve listened to Gansta Granny and Gansta Granny Strikes again (funny!) and Awful Aunty.
So what did we get up to this month? Here’s the low down.
The NT sure delivered, again.
We started the month off with a literal bang! Territory day was an experience not to be missed. Not unlike the good old Bonfire nights of old, almost anything goes here on 1 July.
Officially Fireworks are sold from 9am – 9pm that day. They can then be let off – almost anywhere – from 6-11pm.
And they really are.
Officially any unused fireworks then have to be handed in by midday on 3 July. Yeah… sure.
A massive thanks to Briony, Ben, their family and friends for welcoming us into their home for the night – it was definitely one we won’t forget.
We also ticked off the Palmerston parkrun, a play at one of the free water parks (there are multiple and are super cool), a random catch up with the lovely Sarah and Glenn and some exploring Darwin (the war tunnels were great) before time had finally come for our big NT treat…
The de Kalbs arrive!!! Honestly we cannot express how grateful we are that this beautiful family spent their time and hard earned money to fly all the way up here and trek around the NT with us for a week and a half.
Boy did we make the most of it! First we explored Litchfield National Park (wow), had an amazing night under the stars with Sean Liang from Stars’ Childs, and cruised Corroboree Billabong looking for crocodiles and birds.
Then we finished it off with three amazing days in Kakadu National Park. Bucket list item right there!
I (Hayley) loved travelling with this amazing women — at Ubirr, Kakadu National Park 
Kids discovering tree sap — at Ubirr, Kakadu National Park 
Tree sap — at Ubirr, Kakadu National Park 
Cahill’s crossing – this was taken 1.5hr before high tide. Note the river is flowing left to right (and is full of crocs) — at Cahills Crossing E Alligator River 
High tide – the river now flows right to left! — at Cahills Crossing E Alligator River. 
The crocs wait for the change in tide to feast on the Barra who are waiting for the change in tide to feast on the bait fish that are washed up. This croc was our fav – they look so silly with their little legs out! — at Cahills Crossing E Alligator River. 
Stunning seeds — at Kakadu National Park 
Ubirr sunset over the floodplains 🧡 — at Ubirr, Kakadu National Park 
Weaving with traditional owners at one of the two Tourist Info Centres in Kakadu – they are both well worth visiting. — at Kakadu National Park 
We all have a better appreciation for the time and effort it takes to make woven items. — at Kakadu National Park 
Family lunch before our hike! — at Jim Jim Falls 
The definition of a true friend is one that will hold the pit toilet door shut for you! — at Jim Jim Falls 
This is the hiking path! Hard work but such fun scrambling over the boulders — at Jim Jim Falls 
Kakadu you stunning beast you — at Jim Jim Falls 
The reward for all our scrambling – croc-free swimming (we hoped lol) at the base of Jim Jim Falls — at Jim Jim Falls 
The face of one very happy lady who has wanted to do this since she was a teenager! — at Jim Jim Falls 
The most stunning places can also be the ones you might get eaten! — at Jim Jim Falls 
More epic paths to negotiate — at Jim Jim Falls 
Look at that place! — at Jim Jim Falls 
Look but don’t dip in! — at Jim Jim Falls 
The lowlight of the adventure… seems the window decided to self destruct while we were hiking. Thankfully nothing stolen and nothing we couldn’t fix later on. — at Jim Jim Falls 
Dirt roads, waterfalls and sunsets – what more can we ask for? — at Jim Jim Falls 
“Family” dinners were the best! — at Kakadu National Park 
The best place for coffee in Jabiru and the art was amazing! — at Marrawuddi Gallery.
After sadly saying goodbye to our travel buddies we headed south to Katherine where we parked up at the fabulous Katherine Farmstay, explored the gorge and swum at Katherine Thermal Springs.
We had a lovely dinner with an old friend (so good to see you Anna!) and marvelled at the incredible animal behaviour knowledge of Tom Curtain and his staff at the Katherine Outback Experience. Matilda has since declared herself a country music fan and Tom’s music plays consistently in the van (thanks for the Eeyaw song Tom).
As always we have added things to the to-do next time list – here it was the Top Didj Cultural Experience which we missed but the art gallery was a great one to visit.
From Katherine we headed south to Mataranka – another bucket list location although sadly Bitter Springs was closed due to a crocdile sighting (whhaaaa).
We still thoroughly enjoyed our stay here, with multiple daily wanders to the thermal springs and nightly entertainment at the Nathan “Whippy” Griggs show (a must!!).
Katherine Farmstay has a menagerie – including this emu chick (and eggs in the incubator) — at Katherine Farmstay 
Thanks Tom Curtain for the CDs! They take out collection in the van from 1 to three! its great to have some new tunes to listen too. The Katherine Outback Experience was excellent. — at Katherine Outback Experience 
Katherine Gorge 
Dinner with the lovely Anna was so good for the soul — in Katherine, NT 
We all loved the Nathan “Whippy” Griggs show – Til loves her new hat and Em had been waiting for a whip (lord help us!) since she made friends with young Bae (who has one) in December! — in Mataranka, NT 
We finally got to do 130! We’re limited to 100km/hr with the van (and even if we weren’t there’s no way we would tow any faster!) so the 130 signs were always a tease, until now! — in Mataranka, NT 
Mataranka Hot Springs 
We could share so many photos of how clear the water is here – but it’s near impossible to take photos without other peoples legs in it (and lets face it that’s not cool) – so you get just one 🙂 — at Mataranka Hot Springs. 
Loving the thermal pools — at Mataranka Hot Springs. 
More thermal pools becasue… stunning — at Mataranka Hot Springs.
We trekked further south with a stop over at the quirky Daly Waters Pub and then two nights at Banka Banka Station (loved it!) before heading east – eek!
We stopped in a the newly rebuilt Barkley Homestead (which is stunning!) and spent the night at a free camp before crossing the boarder into QLD and making it to Mount Isa.
All the girls had been down with a head cold since Daly Waters so we didn’t get to do a lot in Mt Isa (unfortunately, as the info centre was amazing and would have been worth a few hours spent exploring) – but it provided us with a good spot to top up the groceries and get the car window replaced.
We left Isa and headed just out of town to a free camp at the abandoned town of Mary Kathleen. This was an awesome stop and would be our #1 pick for a stop over around Isa if we came again. We even got to explore the old uranium mine at the site.
We turned north again and headed to Normanton and then the fabulous town of Karumba – where we explored the Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre (so good), caught up with an old friend by chance, met two awesome families and got up to just a little mischief with them before watching a spectacular sunset over the Gulf of Carpentaria together.
After sad goodbyes (and many attempts to convince us to change direction) we headed to a super cheap camp at Croydon and along the Savannah Way to finish the month in the little town of Mt Surprise.
The girls also started their own little business this month – selling a few of our favourite things from a little stall outside the van. They are killing it!
Highlights
E: Territory Day, swimming in the really cool waterholes and hot springs, hot weather, travelling with the de Kalbs, Mummas birthday and seeing crocodiles in the wild!
M: Territory Day, seeing MATINKA (and the rest of the de Kalbs), NT’s epic waterholes, Sean’s stargazing night, Karumba and crocodiles!
G: Territory Day, swimming in waterfalls, crocodiles, Daly Water pubs, Karumba and without a doubt spending time with the de Kalbs.
H: oh man it’s too hard! We’ve had such a great month. Once again the people are a highlight – being warmly welcomed into Briony and Bens home, having the de Kalbs travel with us (and the mammoth effort that required), hanging with Sarah and Glenn, spending time with Anna again and meeting so many great families on the way are all special moments in my heart.
The NT National Parks have been something I wanted to experience since I was a teenager so to swim in water holes and underwater falls in Litchfield and Kakadu was something special. Not to mention the rock art and sunset at Ubirr and the weaving with the indigenous women at the info centre at Cooinda.
I loved the thermal pools at Mataranka, particularly when Garth and I got there early morning in the relative quiet. Next time we won’t be missing Bitter Springs as well.
And I can’t go past Karumba – what a fabulous spot! There was something special about seeing the Gulf, especially at sunset and it was nice to have some old fashioned fun with the great families we met here (even if that included a winch and crocodile spotlighting for the boys and a very late night for the ladies!).
Knee Deep Travels 