Back in Darwin and then out to Mataranka

Well weren’t we excited to be back on Australian soil, and once we got past the cranky customs officer who obviously just wanted to ruin everyone’s day we made our way to the nearest place for breakfast.  Of course at that time of day the only place open was McDonalds and whilst we thought it would be great to let the kids have a play we ended up sitting in the car and eating it as both kids were fast asleep.  I was quite envious of them to say the least. 

As soon as the Coromal dealership was open we headed straight to the caravan park to see if we could check in.  It was a no go until around 11am so instead we went and picked up the caravan and moved it to another part of their yard (so they could use their service shed) and just decided to wait out our time until we could get into the caravan park.  Of course by now the kids were wide awake and full of energy and we were two very exhausted parents who between them probably only managed 4 hours sleep.

Just as we were about to head to the caravan park Dometic call!  Of course we had left the van in Darwin for eight days and were willing to pay their call out fee and of course they still didn’t manage to come out and do the work.  So now they wanted us to drive the one kilometre to their service centre so they could fix the toilet issue.  Honestly I was not a happy lady as their service has been terrible and their speed to fix things non-existent.  Jason of course was keen to drive down there and get them to fix it to save the $120 call out fee.  I however just wanted to plug into power and rest. 

So down we drove to sit in the car whilst the guy looked at the van.  The kids were bored and I was tired and cranky thinking this was the worst idea ever.  Things did not improve when Jason came to break the news to me that they didn’t have the part to fix it!  Oh my gosh I was mad, we had given them a weeks’ notice of the problem and then eight days to fix it and they couldn’t get their act together.  So needless to say someone will be getting some bad feedback very soon on their terrible customer service.  After about an hour of just sitting in the car the guy semi put the toilet back together (so we couldn’t use it) and we headed to the caravan park.  Later in the day he returned with the part and installed it for us so now we have a fully functional toilet again. 

Once we were in the park and set up with the aircon on and things seemed to relax a fair bit more so whilst we were still tired we were in better spirits and could start the mass production line of washing.  I then ducked out for a quick appointment, well it was meant to be quick but of course it was going to be one of those days and it took an hour longer than expected.  So I didn’t food shop on the way home, instead I went back to the caravan, swapped with Jason so he could have a break and go out food shopping.  Even that seemed to be not as simple as expected with the pure number of people out shopping.  Honestly though a lot of it wasn’t that bad but when you are tired everything just seems like it is hard.

I must say though we all slept well that night, in nice big deep sleeps and we didn’t get up until quite late, however it made such a difference.  Our plans were to go out to Berry Springs, do a lure tour and have lunch at the local Berry Springs Pub.  Then we would catch up with a friend in the afternoon before having dinner with my cousin’s family that night.  Of course my late notice for my cousin meant that they already had plans so we changed it to lunch which meant we simply re-arranged our day so that most things were the next day and Thursday we would focus on catching up with people and doing school.

So that is pretty much what we did; school all morning before heading out to meet Sandy, Nat and Cooper for lunch.  We got the added surprise that my other cousin Toby was also there so it was great to catch up with them and meet Cooper.  Talk about a well behaved little bubs who seemed very content indeed.  Afterwards we returned to the van and sorted out some stuff that we needed to evict from the van and have sent back to Jason’s Mum on the bus.  We then did a quick little bit of school before heading off to the Howards Springs Caravan park to meet a fellow travelling family who also happen to have the same type of Coromal caravan.

It was so great finally meeting people you have talked to online and see the differences in vans and we even got a little Thermomix demonstration.  Thank you so much for having us over Karli, it was great to meet you and your two little ones.  By now it was time to head back to the van and start to pack up in preparation for our departure the next day.  It was hard to get back into the rhythm of what needed to be packed up and where it belongs but we eventually got there and got the kids into bed.

Friday morning was another slow start but I really wasn’t in the mood for moving on.  We have seen everything we really wanted to in Darwin but still as we hadn’t moved on for a while I was certain there was going to be something we would forget to do so it probably took us twice as long to get going as we double checked everything again and again.  Our first stop was Berry Springs for a quick swim in the warm waters before back tracking a bit to do the Riley’s lure tour.  It is a free tour so you can’t complain about costs and it certainly gives you an understanding on the cost of the lures as it is quite a manual process.  Unfortunately the painting machine wasn’t working so we didn’t get to see the demonstration of all that.

Such nice and warm water.

Jason and Hamish getting closer to the waterfall.

Looking back up the creek.

Once the tour was over and we had finished shopping up a storm it was back into the car.  I mean we need anything to help us catch a fish it seems so why not try some lures.  We had a long drive of about 10km down the road to the Namboonda pub that did $10 lunches.  I couldn’t get over the fact that it was already lunch time and we probably hadn’t gotten more than 50km from our starting point of the day.  Not that we had planned to go much further, probably only another 120km to a free camp.

Where they individually paint the lure.

Hamish and Kayla were really into it.

Demonstrating how they individually test each lure.

Lunch was nice but now we were really full and could have just rested all afternoon.  Poor Jason was feeling a bit under the weather but was happy to drive on.  However as we further went he really wasn’t feeling the best and decided that we should probably pull up at Camoolie Creek where we know it is only $20 a night for a powered site.  That way we could put on the air-conditioner and Jason could have a rest in more comfort than a hot free camp.  He just wasn’t up to driving any further and that is fair enough.

So whilst Jason tried to rest that afternoon I managed to do some school and take the kids for a walk to see the emu and pig.  I don’t know if Jason really got much rest as a caravan isn’t exactly the largest of space to obtain peace and quiet in and our bed seems to be the most popular hangout during the day if we are inside!  I did also catch Kayla lying on top of him at times, such a sympathetic little one we have there.  Thankfully that evening he was feeling a bit better, and was in his element as he caught up with the other travellers who had recognised us as we drove in.  Yes Peta they were all grey-haired!

Saying hello to the pig and emu again.

It was so nice waking up Saturday morning to the sunlight coming into the van and the sound of nothing but the birdlife outside.  Still we had to drag ourselves out of bed as we had a fair way to go since we hadn’t gotten as far as we thought we would the day before.  Jason was still feeling a bit under the weather but was determined to continue on.  I opted to just leave school until we had pulled up for the day.  The place we wanted to stay doesn’t take bookings but they said that if we got there before 3pm then we would be fine.  Sweet I thought, we should easily make it there by then. 

I had forgotten how much of a long drive it was and it probably didn’t help that we had done that first part of the road twice already so this was the third time we were on it.  We had a quick morning tea and toilet stop in Pine Creek and then another stop in Katherine to stock up on more supplies, hopefully enough to get us to the next big shopping centre.  From there it was new territory to Mataranka and we managed to pull into the Bitter Springs Caravan Park just before 2pm and thankfully they still had some powered sites left.  The plan is that this will be our last powered site until we get to QLD so we want to leave here with everything charged and all washing done so that it isn’t such a big pile when we get to QLD.

We set up so easily as we both got into it and worked like a well-oiled machine and before we knew it we were sitting down outside with our afternoon cuppa and an array of fresh fruit to nibble on.  The rest of the afternoon was spent doing the school work that we wanted to have done, just trying to stay ahead as when we leave Mataranka we have some big driving days ahead of us.  Eventually we did venture out to walk around the caravan park and find where fellow travellers “The Birds On Tour” were.  Both being from Brisbane and on our final leg home it is quite good sharing stories about our trips and what we will do next.  We stayed and chatted to them until the mosquitos drove us away.  So we haven’t been fully left behind just yet!

That night we attempted to do our tax returns but that was way too depressing so we got to the final point and just saved it, hoping that when we next log in that it might miraculously be better.  I think we both thought that we would get a lot more back having pretty much earnt a lot less this year, but yet the government still finds a way to get it out of us and Jason actually has a tax bill!  Oh well guess we will just have to spend more and earn less as that seems to be the way the tax department cuts you a break.

Again it was nice waking up knowing that we didn’t have to rush around anywhere and could just ease into the day.  I got up and started to catch up on all the things that I have now fallen behind in, determined to be ahead by the end of the day!  I mean most of us always start the day with good intentions.  Jason was up just after us and got started on a treat of a delicious cooked breakfast.  Of course the kids were up and all ready to enjoy the delicious breakfast.  It is nice to have the beautiful mornings where we can sit outside and enjoy the peace and quiet, it is certainly going to be a lot harder when we head more south.

We jumped straight into school and then got dressed into our togs and headed down the road to the Bitter Springs thermal pools.  This place is awesome and really a short walk from the caravan park but we cheated and drove so the kids wouldn’t complain.  From the carpark it was a short 260m walk to the entry point and getting Kayla into the water wasn’t as hard as I expected.  Well I guess she had no choice as the three of us were all hoping in.  Even though it was early morning the water was nice and warm and we started the drift in the natural current down to the exit point.  Once you got out it was a short walk back to the entry point, but it is along a rocky path so a bit hard on the ole feet.  It took about two drifts down the creek for Kayla to settle in and start to enjoy the experience.  I think the reeds freaked her out a bit but I would just catch them and show them to her and let her touch them so she realised they weren’t going to harm her.

All excited to be going for a swim.

 

Off on our first swim.

This is when I noticed some nomads drifting down the creek with their thongs attached to their noodles!  Now that is smart and obviously they have done this before.  Others were even smarter and were wearing the water shoes, but of course we weren’t that prepared.  We proceeded to do the drifting down and walking back up four times before calling it quits and heading back to the caravan for morning tea.  Then some more school and chores, eventually lunch, more school, relaxation and more relaxation.  Well as much as you can with two kids! 

Hamish charging ahead.

He really did love it.

Kayla and I trying to keep up.

Then late in the afternoon none of us weren’t in the mood for much more so decided it was time for another swim.  This time we hopped in the car and headed to the Mataranka Thermal Pools which is about a 15 minute drive away.  The walk in was longer, mainly because it is at the back of a caravan park, so you have to park outside and walk all the way through to get to the pools.  I must admit that it made me grateful that we chose to stay at Bitter Springs as these pools, whilst they were warm, it just wasn’t as big and more man-made than the ones closer to us.  Still we enjoyed our time there and Hamish continued improving in his awesome swimming so it was a great way to end the afternoon.

Mataranka Pools.

It was a bit deep but Hamish loved swimming back and forth.

Not as tropical as Bitter Springs.

Back home it was showers, dinner, finish off school and then chill.  Such a great day and the kids will sleep so well from all the swimming and activities.  Yeah, yeah famous last words, Kayla did not sleep well but we put it down to the fact that it did get cold overnight so we have admitted defeat and will put away the summer pjs and pull out the winter ones!  Still it was nice to lie in and not rush about again.  We just spent the morning chilling around the van, doing school, on-air lesson and then the reading lesson before heading out to the Bitter Springs creek again. 

Of course we weren’t off to a good start as we had forgotten to put our towels in the car!  Jason decided to take a few photos and then duck back and grab our towels whilst I took the kids for a swim down the creek.  Hamish was trying to achieve it in record time so I had to work hard to keep up with him whilst balancing Kayla on my lap.  When Jason got back he had also grabbed the snorkel gear and that certainly added a whole different perspective to our float down the creek.  The water is so clear and it is amazing to see underneath.  Hamish even used his snorkel gear properly for the first time and loved it.  There were turtles, fish, plant life and lots of logs on the creek floor to look at.

Another beautiful day for a swim.

So miss this place.

It is like we had the place to ourselves.

Jason and I looked at each other and just knew what the other was thinking, so we discussed if we wanted to stay another night and it looks like we will be, well as long as the owners let us.  It is just so relaxing here and it will work better with school if we push back the big driving days by one day.  Maybe we also just want to delay returning to the big smoke, not that we are going there any time soon but the reality is that we are nearing the end of the trip and we just aren’t ready to stop, although we know we have to. 

After our swim we headed straight to the local motel that did Barramundi feeding.  Hamish was all keen to feed them until the guy joked that it only bit him once and showed him half his finger.  It was a joke as the other half was just bent back out of sight, but that was enough to scare Hamish off it and he was too scared to try and feed them.  By now we were all starving so we headed back to the van for lunch, relaxation and a bit more school all in the comfort of our air-conditioning.  I love these slower days where we go out and do a few things but aren’t totally rushing around everywhere.

Feeding the fish.

Friendly local.

One of the turtles from the pond.

In the afternoon I took the kids to feed the cows and get some advice on where Jason and Hamish could try their luck fishing.  Of course there is a river at the back of the caravan park so we went back and told Jason the good news and he set up the rods and off we went for a fish.  Finding a spot on the river that was cleared enough to cast and had room for the kids was the hardest part and the only spot free was right near a log.  Luckily we didn’t lose any of our new lures but we also didn’t manage to catch anything either.  At least no one else was catching anything either!

Calling the cow over.

Kayla feeding him some apple.

Hamish wasn't too sure about it.

Once back at the van Hamish and Kayla met the kids from a van that had pulled up that day and were happy playing in the grassed around between all the vans so were happily entertained which allowed us to sit back and relax for a bit.  I am so glad we are staying just one more night here as it will allow us to catch up on a few more of the things we need to do, mainly blogs and updating spreadsheets, not to mention finally finish our tax returns.  Not that we got that far through it all as the tax returns were quite depressing so we got to the point of finishing them and then just saved them and left if for another day.

No luck this time.

I am glad that we decided to stay another day as it gave us a bit more time to catch up on the jobs and check out some more of the sights around town.  After school we headed into town and went through the Never Never Museum which didn’t have much but there were quite a few interesting stories.  Jason did joke that a lot of the old farming equipment could be found on his Pop’s place, and probably out the back of my Dad’s shed too.  After that we headed to the local café and enjoyed a delicious morning tea of milkshakes/ice coffee/mango thick shake and some local scones and apple pie.  All was absolutely delicious and was in such a great setting with lots of blue honey eaters coming to join us.

Enjoying a nice morning tea out.

Someone wasn't happy we didn't share.

Afterwards we headed back out to Mataranka Hot Springs to check out the old Elsey Homestead replica for the movie “We of the Never Never.”  There really wasn’t much to it but it did make you appreciate living in the modern luxury we have today, especially in the extreme heat that they would have experienced.  From there it was straight back to our caravan for lunch, a bit of a rest and then our last lot of swimming back down at Bitter Springs.

Replica of Elsey Homestead.

Part of the Never, Never Museum.

Then before we knew it, it was time to return to the van and start to pack up and put everything back away where it belongs.  The kids and I returned the extra noodles we had hired and went and fed the cows for one last time.  Such a wonderful place to visit and so peaceful being just out of town.  Not to mention it certainly beats the cold that everyone back home seems to be experiencing!