From Broome we drive with a 4WD to Darwin where we change to a regular car and continue to Darwin. From there we fly back to Sydney for one week before returning home.
Sydney in winter welcomes us with a wild mix of rain and shine
We stay one night at the D-Lux backpackers hostel on Kings Cross - well...
In Broome we stay at the very classy "Beaches of Broome" backpackers hotel for two nights while we organize our 4WD and supplies.
We have enough time for the beach...
...and the girls swim in the Indian Ocean for the first time.
At low tide, small spider-like crabs dig out holes in the sand and dispose of the sand in small pellets 2..5mm in diameter all around their burrows.
This is our 4WD, with roof tent and our own family tent. We test-camp at Willies Creek just out of Broome to see if all works out.
Dusk at our bushcamp in Willies Creek
On our first night out in the bush hundreds of hermite crabs visit our campsite...
...and a stick insect pays us a visit.
We have everything. Loaded to the brim including 100l of water and supplies for 10 days in the outback.
When we see other peoples campers we feel kind of humble.
Along the Gibb River Road through the fabulous Kimberleys the landscape is dotted with Baobab trees.
In the middle of the dry country beautiful gorges with lots of water can be found (Geikie Gorge)
Trees without leaves flower (Windjana Gorge)
Tunnel Creek has created a 1.7km long cave right through a range. With torches it is possible to wade all the way to the other end.
Bell Gorge (upper pond), probably the most magnificent gorge we have visited along the Gibb River road.
Bell Gorge lower pool, where we swam and jumped down from the lowest step of the waterfall.
Imintji store, one of the few outback supply points, where we stock up our supplies and petrol.
The wind pump, quintessentially Australian
Swimming at Adcock gorge.
At Manning Gorge eskis (coolers) are provided to transport your hiking gear across the river.
Mount Elisabeth station (farm) is so large that they have their own gorge with beautiful Aboriginal paintings.
Typical red dirt along the Gibb River road
"Just a bit of water would be nice" was Peters answer when we asked him if whether needs anything. He carries his own 100+ kg and two trailers and seems to be on the road since years already.
Echidna Chasm in the Bungle Bungles (Purnululu NP), another very impressive gorge but in winter without water.
The Bungle Bungles (Purnululu NP) are a really mystic place.
The Bungle Bungles (Purnululu NP)
Termite mounds come in all shapes, colors and sizes. This is the tallest we have come across. (Litchfield NP)
VIDEO: River crossings were the greatest fun. The girls made me go back and forth several times (Reynolds river crossing in Litchfield NP: not the longest and not the deepest, but the most beautiful one)
In Darwin we change to a smaller and less expensive car. It gets a little crowded ;-)
We still find beautiful bushcamps along rivers (Gregory Downs, near Lawn Hill NP)
Before we enter crocodyle country we visit a croc farm, to get the proper respect.
The birdlife is extraordinary. Every morning we wake up early to a different concert. (Thousands of Magpie geese in Kakadu NP)
This harmless one properly scared Sylvia.
“Lick the ants” is lots of fun, as they squirt out vitamine C (scorbic acid) for their defense. We let the free after the lick...
Katherine gorge can only be explored by tour boat or canoe. We had our fun, paddling in zigzag and circles.
In Mataranka a hot spring fuels a beautifully clear and warm creek along which you can drift through pristine palm forest.
Flowers of the dry country
Normanton on the Savannah road along the Gulf of Carpentaria is a lively small town which time has just forgotten.
The Gulflander still runs from Normanton to Croydon and is a nice change after the long distance driving.
The Purple Pub, an important Normanton landmark
And the Albion hotel which serves the best food in town.
Corellas invade Normanton in large numbers at dusk
190 million years ago, a volcanoe has left large caverneous lava tubes underground in Undara.
Inside one part of the 160km of lava tube in Undara
The vegetation changes from dry country to rainforest within 500m when crossing the edge of the Great Dividing Range along the east coast.
We explore a banana plantation.
Curtain Figtree near Atherton.
A different kind of animal crossing for the climbing critters.
The wildlife we could observe was really spectacular. Here a harmless (for humans) freshwater crocodile.
Tame rock wallabies at Granite Gorge near Mareeba.
Young rock wallaby at Granite gorge
The cassowary, a strange and large flightless bird which lives in the rain forest of northern Queensland.
A nosy Rainbow Lorrikeet in the Kuranda bird park
A parrot is very interested in Sylvias hat.
A possum comes for a night visit at Granite gorge camp ground.
We learn more about the rainforest Aboriginal culture at Mossman gorge.
Snorkeling around Beaver cay (Great Barrier reef) would certainly be much nicer withoug 30 knots wind and rain. We didn't quit hit the nicest day.
Cape Tribulation campground: paradise found! Even doing the homework is more fun when you can sit on the beach.
The tides expose sandy flats which invite for a stroll. The sea is free of stingers (jelly fish) and crocodiles in winter. So there is also good swimming.
Back in Sydney we have one more week to explore the city.
The sunsets and evening skies are extremely spectacular. On the ferry to Manly where we stay in at Manly backpackers.
