Danniel's Travel Diary June-July 2005
13/6/2005 (week 1 start)
At 10:30 we left home and we had lunch at a food caravan at Wandong wayside stop. We went through Shepparton to Tocumwal into NSW. For the night we stayed in a cabin at Narrandera.
14/6/2005
At 8:30 I had a bit of Muffin and at 9:30 we left Narrandera after we brought my wallet and diary. We drove on the Newell Hwy to West Wyalong and had a look at the DC3 plane. We rescued a tortoise at Forbes and at Parkes we had some lunch and listened to the radio telescope and I had a drive of a model of it on display. We slept in a cabin at Nyngan. The guy that owns the Caravan Park has a dog that plays rugby and looks cute.
15/6/2005
At 9:30 I patted a kangaroo then we went to see a helicopter and the museum at Nyngan. Then we went 205KM to Bourke. On the way there we saw an emu then we had lunch there. After lunch we had a kick of the football then headed up to Cunnamulla and on the way there we saw lots of kangaroos and emus. We stayed in a Motel.
16/6/2005
In the morning we stoped of at the IFS roadhouse and had some breakfast and filled the car up. Then we headed towards Charleville. We saw 2 Wedge-Tailed Eagles and several Gray and Brown Falcons. At Charleville we had lunch and fed the geese and the ducks. I collected 2 feathers and 1 rock from picnic table then we checked out the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). On the way to Tambo we went past several long puddles beside the road. Then we went on to Blackall to stay in a Motel for the night.
17/6/2005
First we filled the car up and headed to Barcaldine and looked at the knowledge tree under which the leaders of the Shearers formed the workers union party (now known as the Labour party). Then we headed to Ilfracombe were there is 1 mile (1.6Km) of old trucks and tractors and graders. Then we headed to Longreach.
18/6/2005 (start of trip)
Today we looked at the Q.A.N.T.A.S Founders Outback Museum and saw a giant plane, We were shown under the 747 Aircraft and we even went up to the pilots cabin and got to sit in the Engineers seat. Later on I had a hair cut, then taught some Canadians how to play football.
19/6/2005
Today we spent a day at Stockman´s Hall Of Fame. First they showed us a film of Australian Stockman even showing Craig's Hut in Victoria (from Man from Snowy River Film). Then had a look at different displays.
After that we went to have a look at the old Q.A.N.T.A.S hanger.
20/6/2005 (Week 2 start)
Today we packed up the tent in the rain and got wet all over. We drove to Winton in the rain and looked at dinosaur displays. Then went to an opal shop and got lucky rocks. (We stayed in a cabin)
21/6/2005
Today we went to Alfie's concrete wall with all sorts of stuff in it. We headed to Kynuna where we saw the Matilda Expo. Then headed to Cloncurry. But along the way there we saw a Bustard (bird).
22/6/2005
Today we stayed at Cloncurry and meet some new friends. (So far I have got 11 toots from truckies).
23/6/2005
Today we left Cloncurry then went to Quamby and saw a big foster tank then looked for some beautiful rocks.
Then had maccas at Mt Isa then headed to Camooweal. (stayed in the national park).
24/6/2005
Today we crossed the NT border, drove a long stretch of road to Barkly Homestead to refuel then headed to Cape Crawford.
25/6/2005
Today we left Cape Crawford we drove a long way and saw lots of termite mounds, bustards and roos.
After lunch we headed to Katherine and when we got there we decided that we will go for an adventure to the gorge and was very exciting and stayed in a cabin. (Feed Apostle birds and a Broga [above]).
[The photos here are of giant ant mounds along the road and feeding the brolga at Mataranka, 105Km SE of Katherine -ST]
26/6/2005
Today we left Katherine on to Darwin. Did nothing but drove to Vin & Deb's where we stayed and saw frogs hidden in the back yard.
[We went to look at a local park during the afternoon and checked out some large Baramundi [above]! - ST]
During the late afternoon we went off to watch the sunset over the Mindil beach (looked at Market there).
27/6/2005 (week 3 start)
Today we stayed in Darwin and left Vin + Deb´s place to go to Crocodylas and had a look at a lot of crocodiles and other animals. A whistling kite tried to attack one of the monkeys, but came off 2nd best as the monkeys retaliated.
28/6/2005
Today we went to wildlife park we saw lots of animals and it was all cool.
29/6/2005 Daniel's Birthday
Today it is my birthday and I got $30 and binoculars and then we went fish feeding then went to WarPlane Museum then went to Tim's restaurant.
30/6/2005
Today we spent the whole day at Litchfield National Park looking at Waterfalls and swam at Wangi Falls and then saw the magnetic termite mounds.
1/7/2005
Today we left Darwin and on the way to Katherine we had tread came off the trailer tyre. Got it fixed at Katherine then went to Daly Waters and got entertained with fireworks [for NT Day and Frank's show complete with his "Wild Wedgetail Eagles" - ST].
2/7/2005
Today we left Daly Waters and drove all day to Alice Spring.
[Stopped off to see the Devil's Marbles [above] - ST]
3/7/2005
Today we went from Alice Springs to Uluru then from there we went to The Olgas had dinner watching sunset then headed out in the dark and hit a roo on the way to Kulgera where we slept in the car.
4/7/2005 (week 4 start)
Today we are on the road to Port Augusta and blow [the other -ST] tyre to bits on the trailer and did a wheel bearing [on the car -ST].
5/7/2005
Today we are staying [in Port Augusta - ST] because of the Wheel Bearing.
6/7/2005
The parts arrived at 11:45 while he fixed it, we walked around the town and at 4:00pm we drove towards home we pulled over [to sleep -ST] at 1am in the morning.
7/7/2005 (End of trip)
At 6:30am we drove to Melbourne. [Arrived at Stephen´s Dad´s place for breakfast at 10:30 am -ST].
Love Stephen, Bernie and Danniel.