Here are the stats!

The first part of the trip was in a 7 seater van which was for 3 days around Darwin and Litchfield National Park. I don't have any stats for that trip however I do for the Campervan.

In the campervan we travelled 3,326 kilometres from Darwin to Uluru and back to Alice Springs. We consumed 579.18 litres of Diesel fuel at an average of 149 cents per litre (that is AUD$864.31). Overall the fuel economy averaged out at 17.41 litres per 100 Km.

A 2009 Ford Territory gets 12.8 Litres per 100 Km city driving so we were not too bad for a heavy vehicle!

The highest price we saw was 205 cents per litre in Aileron (I didn't need fuel at this point!!).

Sleeping in the Campervan

One of the more peaceful moments...can you find Brent, Dean, Natasha &
Kyle

Memo Club

Memorial club

It was the Alice Springs Memorial Club for dinner as we had run out of
food and didn't feel like cooking. We were all very tired. Kyle was
putting on a show for us.

Caravan Park

Our spot at the Mac Donnell Range Caravan Park.

Alice Springs

After another long drive we arrive in Alice Springs.

Emus at Erldunda

The girls at Erldunda

Erldunda

Stopping for the essentials at Erldunda - fuel and ice creams.

Curtin Springs Cattle Station

We stopped for lunch at Curtin Springs Cattle Station which is over a
million acres in size. They have a wonderful bird aviary as well as a
pet emu that gave Dean a shower. After a chat with some fellow
trsvellers it was time to get back behind the wheel and follow the
broken white line to our next fuel stop at Erldunda.

Good bye Yulara

Time has come to leave Yulara, Uluru and Kata Tjura. It has been a
quick visit and we'll be back soon to see the many other wonders of
the area.

3 wise men

More like 3 pirates! Here we are at the end of the Gorge. This place
is truly amazing.

Walls Gorge - Kata Tjuta

Off to Kata Tjuta for a walk through Walpa Gorge.

Climbing Uluru

A view from the climb to the chain you need to hang on to as you
ascend. Very steep and dangerous for the suburban walker. Great view
and awesome feeling all the same.

Uluru - Mala walk

One of the many caves on the Mala walk.

Climbing Uluru

Kyle was always ahead of the pack exploring every nook and cranny.

"Territory Dirt"

Nothing quite like the rich red earth of "The Territory". Gets into
everything. Kyle gets into it like water in a pool on a hot day.

Uluru 45 mind before sunset

Awesome. Lost for words.

Here she is

This is what we have come to see. Uluru in all her glory. With an hour
before sunset the car park for sunset viewing is full, the chairs and
tables are out and the wine and bikkies are helping savoyr the moment.
Wow!

Still heading South

Taking on fuel at Wycliffe Well

Well known for spotting aliens we stopped here for fuel. Not every
roadhouse and town has fuel so we discovered so planning your trip
based on where you can get fuel is essential.

Lunch in Tennant Creek

We went to explore the Battery Hill mine and visit the Aboriginal
Cultural Centre. All very interesting. Just stopping in the street
next to the Council Chambers for a lunch break. After lunch we are
headed towards Alice Springs. Not sure if we'll get there by night fall.

On the road again...

Reminds me of a song...

Heading for Tenant Creek

More sign posts out here than a wealthy Sydney council.

Tuesday Night at Renner Springs

We reached Renner Springs late afternoon on Tuesday and decided to
stay rather than go another 160Ks to Tennant Creek

Car 1. Bird 0

Our travel buddy for 100ks took out a slow bird that couldn't get off
the road fast enough. No fuel for 200ks..slow down for nothing.

Daly Waters Pub

I guess these sheila's didn't have any money to pay for their drinks...

Daly Waters Pub

Great pub in the middle of nowhere.

Mataranka Thermal Springs - Nice!

Mataranka - Wee of the Never Never

Replica of the house in the story Wee of the Never Never.

160,000 Km and still going

Soon after leaving Katherine the odometer clicked over 160,000
kilometers. We're going to put a few more K's on her before we give
her back.

Good bye Katherine

A last minute shop and we off again...

Katherine

We have just spent 2 nights in Katherine. We went on a 2 gorge boat
cruise of the Katherine Gorge. Kyle was sick so we stayed an extra
night to make sure he was okay. We are now headed towards Tennant
Creek. We expecto to be somewhere Tenant Creek on Wednesday. Today is
Tuesday (I think) and we will go to the Mataramka hot springs on the
way through.

Dinner in Pine Springs

We had dinner at the pub in Pine Springs from 6pm to 7pm then a quick
drive to Katherine where we are staying the night.

Leaving Kakadu

We left Kakadu today

Greetings from Kakadu

Greetings from Kakadu where it is really HOT!

On the cruise

Natasha & I on the Crock cruise.

Jumping Crock Cruise

We stopped on the Arnem Highway at the Adelaide Queen River Cruise.
Apart from this crock we saw a number of crocks jumping for pieces of
cut up pig on the end of a long bamboo stick. Awesome!

Out of one and into another

Today we swapped our Thrifty van for our Apollo Campervan. Today's
destination is Jabiru in Kakadu National Park.

Leaving Darwin

On our way out of Darwin we were the first car to be stopped to allow
the Navy to march past. Natasha called them "the white men".

Cheers from Darwin

Our last night in Darwin and dinner at the hotel... so we can have a
wine and not worry about driving. We're having Kangaroo for dinner as
you do in the "Top End".

Weather Report

We've just heard that Soccer this week-end in Sydney has been
cancelled due to the wet. The only wet where we are is the pool that
we are swimming in and the drinks with umbrellas that we drink!
Loverly :-)

A Day in Darwin

We spent the whole day in Darwin today. After breakfast we went to
the marina and saw a Customs ship that protects our borders as well as
walking through the pearl exhibition telling us about the pearl trade
in the region. We then went on to see the World War II oil storage
tunnels that were never used. We then went on to the military museum
to learn about the attack on Darwin on February 19th 1941. When we
came out of the museum we saw 3 FA-18 jet fighters circle and land at
the nearby Air Force Base.

Crocodile country

A timely reminder about what lhed in the surrounding waterways.

First Falls

Here are the first falls we came across. The water was quite cool and
really refreshing on the skin.

Along the way

Along the way to Litchfield National Park we saw literally hundreds of
these termite mounds. Amazing!

Off we go

Off we go down the long flat roads of the "Territory".

Breakfast in the Darwin Mall

Front Page News

Front page news today is a ban on climbing Uluru. Oh no! This holiday
is about a walkabout through "the Territory" to Uluru and a climb on
the Rock. Stay tuned.

Check In

When we arrived at our hotel our first surprise was finding out that
our booking for 3 nights was recorded as only 1 night. Bugger! With 6
people running around reception the person checking us in took refuge
in the back room to sort it out. We asked the other person what the
occupancy rate was for the next few days... It was full. We were
finally allocated 2 rooms opposite each other on the first floor.
Amanda, Natasha & Dean in one room and Kyle, Brent & I in the other.
Each room has 2 Queen beds.

Hi from Darwin

We made it to Darwin. The flight was about 5 hours and everyone
behaved themselves. Some lovely photos from the air which I will post
when I can get an Internet connection. Swimming in 30 degree heat
watching the sun sink to the horizon.

8:17am - The Shuttle will be here shortly to pick us up and take us on the first leg of our journey. Oh it will be so good to escape the Wet, cold Sydney weather. I was awake from 3:30am and there was no sound of rain for an hour...When I woke up again at 6am it was pouring. Not long now..

"Twas the night before holidays...when all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. Shhhh! All the bags are packed and it is time to get a few hours sleep before the mice wake up. He He he.

The first leg of our trip is a shuttle bus to the airport which is not really exciting...so the next piece is a flight on a Qantas 737. We have checked-in online and have our seat alocation all sorted out. Just need to finish packing the bags!

Welcome!

Hi Everyone,

This is my first attempt at blogging so we'll see how we go. This blog has been created to record our upcoming Walkabout. Our walkabout will take us from Darwin to Uluru and the Olgas. We're camping all the way and hope to share some wonderful experiences with you.

Cheers!