Homeward Bound - to freezing cold Melbourne.

Homeward bound - Kakadu to Bundalong in 5 days.

Day 1- after making the most of the warm weather and abundant water we departed Kakadu NP at 2.30pm and drove to 5km before Mataranka where we found a secluded roadside stop and enjoyed our last warm evening.

Day 2 - now the serious driving began! We still squeezed in an early morning swim at the divine Bitter Springs (34deg natural hot springs that we preferred to the nearby Mataranka) before driving over 1200km and camping the night about 60km south of Alice Springs. It was a mammoth day in the car. The kids did really well and we rewarded them with their first McDonald's Happy Meal for dinner. It was 8pm, they were starving and the pasta that we had planned for dinner was definitely not getting cooked! Although I cringed at the disgusting fast food, they were very excited. We didn't get to our overnight spot until 9pm and we were all very grateful once finally laying in bed.

Day 3 - another huge day. Drove about 1000km to several hours south of Coober Pedy and bush camped in the vast expanse of the Woomera. Made a roaring fire to compensate for the freezing wind and tried to enjoy our last sunset in the bush, though both kids, as if on cue, decided they needed a poo just as we had poured ourselves a well earned drink. Daniel dug two holes and I enjoyed the sunset whilst my children did their business next to me! Gosh we have definitely turned into Feral Katz, certainly need some etiquette training on our return to society!

Day 4 - our initiation into the cold weather was rapid and shocking to bodies used to an average temperature of 30deg. Lunch in Port Augusta and the temperature was 8deg, then as we moved further into South Australia we got bombarded with wind and hail (which decided to start when we were at a toilet stop!). We made it to Mildura about 4pm and our lovely rooms for the night (we didn't want to get the van wet on the last day). Splurged with a mouth-wateringly fabulous meal at the Mildura Brewery to celebrate our incredible, life changing trip.

Day 5 - made it to Bundalong (our holiday house) by lunch and spent the next few days unpacking the house, which had been rented whilst we travelled. It was a great way to ease us back into civilisation!

Over the next week we finally met Logan, our nephew born a month after we left, had several family dinners (including a very happy reunion for the kids with their cousins Ruby and Mack), attended Dad's retirement lunch, moved into our new, albeit temporary, home in Corio, had a wonderful catch up afternoon with many of our friends, negotiated pre-approval for a home loan and spent lots of time with our dog Rascal (who was super excited to see us and forgave us for leaving her behind). We also took the kids to their first game of AFL where Dad tried to convert them to Melbourne supporters 

It has been an action packed month since we returned and we haven't had a chance to let the post holiday blues get to us yet. We have made many decisions, and changed our minds many more times! After our initial plan to move to Mansfield asap we looked at many houses there over several days, but unfortunately nothing really appealed us. So after much 'toying and froing' we have come to our final decision. We will move to our holiday home in Bundalong after leaving Corio (we are here for about 3 months for Daniel's work) then we will live there for at least next year and reevaluate. Emilia is enrolled at school in Yarrawonga and Jackson got into kindergarten there too. I am hoping to do some relief teaching and Daniel will continue to do shutdowns away but he won't have to do too many. We have decided a great lifestyle, with lots of time spent together as a family, is the most important thing for us and we are confident we will enjoy living at Bundalong, who knows....we may never leave.

And so the gypsy life has been curtailed for the time being, but without another mortgage to pay the next trip is certain to be in the not to distant future!!!! 

They were so excited to have their first Happy Meals they wanted to keep the boxes.

Dozing away some of the many hours in the car.

Our last bush camp spot - we were trying to enjoy our last sunset in the bush but both kids decided they needed 'number 2' at the same time!!

A roaring fire at dusk was a lovely way to end our trip.

Emilia wandering around the bush collecting firewood - she was VERY sad to be in the bush for the final night.

By day 3 of 10-12hours per day in the car boredom had really set in.

Welcome to the south - a flash storm complete with hail (kids were dumbstruck by it).

The outside temperature hit 4deg and it was pouring - a huge shock to our bodies!

Cuddles with her cousin, Logan.

 Cousins chilling together on a very little couch.

 

 Family photo at Dad's (Inspector Sprague's) retirement lunch.

 Dad enticing the children to become Melbourne supporters - don't know how he managed to get Melbourne to win against Hawthorn!

 It's a grand old flag.......cheering for another Melbourne goal.

 

Not a bad place to live for the time being - this gorgeous part of the Murray is only a minute walk from our house in Bundalong.

 Sunrise on the river at Bundalong - don't think we will get bored of this.

Kakadu - crocodiles, waterfalls and Aboriginal art.

Kakadu covers 20,000 square kilometre and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its natural and cultural value. The area has been inhabited by Aboriginal people continuously for over 50,000 and there are still many residing and working in the park, caring for the land and sharing their culture. We were lucky enough to participate in an indigenous art lesson on our second day in the park. The kids got to make their own ochre paint using the traditional rocks and charcoal and, after watching some local elders paint, have a turn at a painting for themselves. They really enjoyed it and we were given one of the red ochre rocks to make our own paint at home. 

In our 5 nights at Kakadu we managed to see most of the major sites and enjoy heaps of swimming in the lovely waterfalls and plunge pools. We filled our days doing the following:

- seeing the large array of rock art at Ubirr

- walking along the Yellow Waters billabong spotting birds.

- doing an early morning drive out to Jim Jim Falls where we did the hour hike to swim in the plunge pool at the base of the steep escarpment.

- hiking to the Budjmi lookout to take in views of the escarpment.

- taking a sunset cruise along the South Alligator River and within the Yellow Waters Billabong. We saw heaps of crocodiles and wetlands birds and watched a delightful sunset.

- staying two nights at the Maguk Falls campground where we met a lovely family from Darwin.

- spending two fun filled days at Maguk Falls, frolicking in the cool waters, jumping into the deep rock pools and exploring the many pools at the top of the falls.

- driving the corrugated, dusty 40km long road to Gunlom Falls, then doing the steep climb to the top of the falls only to be very underwhelmed after our magic time at the more beautiful and less touristy Maguk Falls. We only swam in the plunge pool at the bottom of the falls, which was nice.

- following instructions given to us by a friendly ranger and finding a secret local swimming hole and small waterfall. It was a great way to end our 5 nights in Kakadu.

Some culture, a lot of nature, plenty of fun and relaxation and wonderfully warm weather, a perfect finale for our trip.

Some exceptionally preserved rock art at Ubirr.

After looking at the rock art we climbed to take in the view of the surrounding floodplains.

Snap Snap - next to the billabong where we camped on the first night.

 Some local elders showing us two different styles of art.

 The kids watched intensely before trying their own

 Jackson using a rock to grind the ochre paint.

Emilia and Jackson both making paint before doing their own 'art' pieces.

Walking into Jim Jim Falls, the kids did a great job scaling the large rocks.

Daniel dwarfed by them massive rocky escarpment and the falls.

I am laying on a rock on the left of the falls - can you spot me?

This flat rock was perfect to lay on and really take in the 150m high cliffs.

Thumbs down! The road to Twin Falls was still closed due to a flash flood in May.

On Yellow Waters Billabong - the egret stood incredibly still until the crocodile had swum past.

A golden bellied tree snake - only slightly poisonous.

The bird life along the South Alligator River was exceptional - see the Jabiru (or black necked stork to be technical) to the left.

Another boat cruising down the river.

We loved our sunset cruise.

On the top of Maguk Falls - a series of deep, crystal clear rock pools.

Emilia loved jumping into the pools (where we spent two lovely afternoons).

Maguk Falls through the Pandanus palms.

Maguk Falls - we spent most of our time up the top but had a lovely swim in this pool.

The water behind this sign was such a vivid shade of green, it looked so inviting but alas too risky (Emilia is doing her version of a frown as she wanted to swim here).

The series of deep rock pools on the top of Maguk Falls.

Emilia and I doing a jump together.

Daniel showing us how a jump is really done (the kids were very impressed!).

Instead of jumping Jackson decided to slide down a small waterfall.

The kids with the friends they made at Maguk camp area - Nissa and Odin. Their parents were lovely as well and we enjoyed their company.

The rock pools on the top of Gunlom Falls, the view was impressive but the pools were a bit stagnant so we decided not to swim (we had a lovely swim in the plunge pool down the bottom of the falls instead).

As close to the edge of the falls as I would let them go.

A lovely ranger told us about this hidden waterfall, a popular place with local mobs, it was certainly a gem and a great place to enjoy a swim without hordes of tourists.

It was a great way to end our time in Kakadu.

How could you not smile in a place to lovely.

The 'bridge' over and back proved a challenge for little feet though!

'Wicked' Jumping Crocs

After witnessing the some huge jumps from the first crocodile we saw, Jackson couldn't talk from excitement. When he finally regained his breath he called out in an excited voice 'that was wicked!' much to the amusement of our fellow passages. Emilia couldn't stop worrying and did not want to get anywhere near the edge of the boat whilst we had to keep asking Jackson to get his hands inside the boat. Emilia enjoyed seeing them but still didn't trust us when we said the crocs couldn't get in the boat. We saw about 8 different crocodiles and they all displayed impressive jumps for us but by far the most impressive, awe inspiring and scary crocodile was Brutus. Brutus is a 5 metre plus,old male croc who has fought for his territory so often that he now has no teeth left and is covered in battle scars. He was huge. As he swam towards the boat there was a collective gasp as we all took in his length and girth. Being so big he couldn't jump as high as the other crocs but when he did a jump right next to the boat and landed with so much force water splashed in the boat, we were certainly satisfied that we had been close enough to this dangerous creature. It was amazing seeing estuarine crocodiles up so close (from the safety of the boat) and we now have a real concept of their power as hunters (and we certainly don't want to see one in the wild- though Jackson may disagree as he was truly fascinated with them).

I've got my eye on you.

The first of many spectacular jumps.

Getting closer.

"That was so WICKED!"

Someone was VERY excited - he did have to be told so many times to keep his hands in the boat as he was just so excited by the spectacle.

Emilia preferred to stay a little back from the edge of the boat.....just in case!

Snap, snap.

It was incredible how far they could propel themselves up.

Jackson getting nice and close to the action.

Big Bad Brutus - a 5m+ old male croc - gave me shivers.

Brutus jumping - 3/4 of him is still underwater - He was massive.

Jackson driving the boat back.