Litchfield National Park

After so much driving and stopping last week we finally stopped here at LNP for three nights. We have been at a peaceful, lush caravan park. It has only been us and another caravan for the three nights. The best place to 'camp' so far, and we had our own ensuite.
I think this place is somewhere you should all try and come to one day. I am not someone that endeavors to see a lot of this country but I am so glad we have been here and that Andrew included this on our itinerary (thanks AC x). We have spent the last three days visiting different waterholes, waterfalls and rockpools. Ned, Audrey and Sam have LOVED it. Sam has jumped off every rock that the others have, I have held my breath watching him but there was no need, as usual he mastered it all as if he were nine years old like Ned!
There will be lots of photos here...and tomorrow we are in Darwin....woohoo....a capital city! Also, we get to see some familiar faces and collect our packages of mail from HOME...I am very excited!
Xx

Fitzroy crossing to the Bungle Bungles.

We got back in the swing of camping pretty quickly...left Fitzroy Crossing by 7.30am...think AC was impressed with us all. We drove for almost two hours and then stopped at an Aboriginal community 120km out of Halls Creek. Around 300 aboriginals live in the Yiyili community. There is a school and the Laarri Art Gallery. A friend told us to stop there and we thought it was very worthwhile. At the gallery you can meet some of the artists who will talk to you about their work, we also saw some who were painting at the time we were there. A social worker from the Mornington Peninsula runs the gallery. She is also the school bus driver and drives over 200km a day picking the children up and taking them home from surrounding communities. While we were there she was also acting on behalf of some in the community who were needing some explanations and correspondence done with their banks. You get the feeling that she is 100 different things to these people and she seems to enjoy what she does as she has been there for five years.
We bought a painting while we were there, we couldn't take photos in the gallery so you'll have to check it out on our wall at HOME sometime!
Another 200km+ and we arrived at the Bungle Bungle caravan park....not too sure what to say about this one? We were planning to stay for two nights but now only one. From this place you can get helicopter flights over the Bungles ( massively expensive) and you can also drive into the Bungle national park. Since arriving we have discovered that the road is very bad and it takes two hours just to get to the information stop. For us to go we would have to let some air out of our tyres, which is not a problem, the problem is there is nowhere here to pump them up again when you come out. This and the four hour drive minimum was enough for us to decide we'd give it a miss. A bit disappointing but it's our only one so far so onwards and upwards from here.
Xx
Ps the five star 48 hrs ago seems so far away, you'll get the idea when you see the pics!

Relaxed...

Ok. Last year I followed the blog of another family that did a journey around Australia... They travelled for six months. When they arrived in Broome they did they same as we have...shouted themselves to some five star luxury. I remember reading in their blog that during their five star luxury, she, the mum, missed the caravan? I wondered (briefly) if I would too? For the record... I have not!
We have been totally spoilt and we have totally loved staying here( it's a long way from camping at Devils Marbles!). We adore Cable Beach and Broome and are thinking about returning next year (flying though)!
We have spent our days at the beach, by the pool, hanging in the bungalow and shopping. The kids have loved having a bath for the first time since we left home. I have loved having an ensuite again (lots of showes and have used EVERY lotion in sight and the red dirt stain on my feet had gone...back tomorrow) and Andrew has loved the air conditioning and his wife's smile (he thinks I have returned back from the dark side! Not a great picture painted of me and camping...I think I am very happy!)
Andrew has spoilt all of us and it has been very special. He even bought me a pearl : )
The only time we left here was yesterday afternoon when we drove 20 km to go to the mango farm that we had heard did great pizzas on a Sunday in their pizza oven. They were without doubt, the best pizzas we have ever eaten...YUM.
So tomorrow we have to leave. Back to the caravan and life on the road...it will be good...I'm sure...we are heading to the bungle bungles and then on to the northern NT...and Darwin which I am really looking forward to.
Our old van is spick'n'span. We have washed all that we have and I have cooked up a storm in the kitchen here to restock the freezer.
Enjoy the pics...there are a lot... You may get the vibe that we LOVE this coast.
Please note... Ned wants everyone to know that we are missing them! ( I second that)
Xx