Epi(b)logue

We have now finished our lap of Australia and are safely back home. Thank you all for the welcome and your interest in our travels. It is a bit daunting to now face the reality of everyday routines. However, we are now enjoying the space of living in a house and realizing just how comfortable a bed can be.

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.  Lin Yutang

Distance: 22,000km
Punctures: 1
Breakdowns: 0
Highlights: many
Disappointments: few
Days: 112 days
Different camps: 62
Fastest setup: 15 minutes
Fastest pack up: 1 hour (wake up to on the road)
Average weekly fuel costs: $372
Average accommodation cost: $28 per night (a mixture of caravan parks, station stays, national parks and free camps)

Favourite places
Caroline: Karijini NP, Cape Range NP  (both in WA), Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge and any hot springs

Liam: Karijini NP, Cape Range NP, The Kimberleys especially Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek and the Bungles, Cape Le Grande (near Esperence)

Madonna: Cape Range NP, Coral Bay, Karijini, Wyndham (horse riding at Digger's Rest Station), The Bungles, Darwin and Litchfield NP

John: Karijini NP, Litchfield NP, Darwin, Perth, Edith Falls (Katherine Gorge NP), Cape Range NP, Coral Bay, Quobba Point, Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek

David: Karijini NP, Litchfield NP, Darwin, Perth, Edith Falls (Katherine Gorge NP), Cape Range NP, Coral Bay, Quobba Point, Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek

Luke: Territory Wildlife Park, The Warrumbungles

The Patrol (God bless the war horse):Cape Leveque, Gibb River Road and the Bungles

Wind turbine, Albany WA

And that's the wonderful thing about family travel:  it provides you with experiences that will remain locked forever in the scar tissue of your mind.  Dave Barry

Barra feeding, Cape Leveque, WA (note how fast Caroline's arm can move)

The Big Galah, Kimba, SA

Bird feeding, Cannia Gorge, Qld

David's winning boule, Meadowglen near Wilcannia, NSW

Corrugated camels, Norseman WA

Cannia Dam, Qld

NT Queensland border near Camooweal

Monastery cemetery, New Norcia WA

Circular Pools, Karijini NP WA

Corrugations

Windjana Gorge, WA

Fern pools, Karijini NP WA

Two-storey cave, Cannia Gorge NP Qld

Call of the wild

David and dart, Port Hedland WA

The family that snorkels together......, Turquoise Bay Cape Range NP, WA

Geike Gorge, WA

Hamelin Bay, WA

Iron Knob, SA

More planking in the Pinnacles, WA

Jurien Bay, WA

Kalbarri NP, WA

Karijini NP, WA

Our last day

Do all fishermen lie or do all liars fish?

Creaming soda spider

Murphy's Haystack 

The Nullabor

Sand dunes, D'encastreux NP WA

Boolboonda Tunnel, near Gin Gin Qld

Adjusting tyre pressure, Cape Leveque 

The Territory

Refreshments at Daly Waters

It was not without a tinge of sadness that we crossed the border into the Northern Territory. Western Australia had been so good to us and so very enjoyable. Shortly after crossing the border we came to Victoria River and drove past Coolibah station from Keeping Up with the Jones fame. We had to resist the temptation to drop in and see Milton et al. However Caroline was well pleased with the NT speed limits - she had felt so held back in WA.

Lady GaGa

We enjoyed Edith Falls in Katherine Gorge NP,  Litchfield NP and the Territory Wildlife Park enroute to Darwin. Including NT day celebrations in Batchelor - a game of footy with the locals, fireworks and bonfire.

Edith Falls, Katherine Gorge NP

Territory Wildlife Park

Litchfield NP

Litchfield NP

Litchfield NP

Snake Charmer

The highlight of Darwin especially for the boys was a fishing charter in Darwin harbour. John was (as you can imagine) very proud of his 60cm jew fish. David's haul of three was very respectable, mine got away (remind me to tell you about it some day).

The obligatory crocodile cruise on the Adelaide River including more wildlife handling.

Five metre juvenile

The locals say Kakadon't, we now see why. Long drives between park highlights which are twenty minute walks. Then another hours drive to the next.  However, the rock art was impressive.

Nourlangie Rock, Kakadu NP

Ubirr sunset, Kakadu NP

View to Arnhem Land

Aboriginal rock paintings, Kakadu NP

When in Rome.... enjoy scones

Peacock impersonator

Mataranka and Bitter Springs were a highlight - hot springs, palm trees and crystal clear blue water. There was a very big demand for scones in Mataranka. Luke did his best to impersonate the local peacocks.

Bitter Springs, Elsey NP

We camped at the Daly Waters Pub. Known for its eccentric collection of underwear, IDs, traffic infringement notices, helicopters etc, etc. Quirky but now very touristy.

Daly Water's Bra Collection

This is probably the penultimate blog.  We are on our way home now doing some big kms (300-500 per day).  As suspected we have run out of time.  Looking forward to beds you don't have to climb over, home, family and friends.