Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

Outback Australia 2022: Day 12 – Darwin, NT

August 30, 2022

Tuesday 30 August 2022.
Highlights: The Wedding Cake (Parliament House), Hop On Hop Off bus tour, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Bicentennial Park at sunset.

Both Kara and myself were a little worse off for yesterday’s big walking day in hot and humid, probably a little worse for Kara. Today was to be an easy day of the Darwin Hop On Hop Off tour bus. I did first have to deal with an unfortunate situation at home organising replacement options for my cats, but thanks to family and friends this was fixed.
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Australia, Darwin, Northern Territory
Outback Australia – Untamed Kimberley 2022

August 30, 2022

Tour Title: Untamed Kimberley
Tour Company: AAT Kings
Tour Leader: Dave
Bus Driver: Michael
Tour Members: 35 (can be maximum of 48)
Places Visited: Broome, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, El Questro Wilderness Park, Emma Gorge, Kununurra, Argyle Diamond Mine, Ord Dam, Nitmiluk National Park, Katherine Gorge, Darwin
Dates: 19 August 2022 to 29 August 2022 (11 days)
Daily Journal Entries

I took this tour as part of the Wonders of the Kimberley tour that covered AAT Kings Untamed Kimberley (this review) and The Ghan Expedition. While the major focus for me was The Ghan this tour allowed me to see a lot of remote Australia and was definitely worth doing as a stand alone tour.
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Australia
Outback Australia 2022: Day 11 – Darwin, NT

August 29, 2022

Monday 29 August 2022.
Highlights: Exploring Darwin, Darwin Harbour Night Cruise.

Today we went on a small walk before breakfast to figure how to get to Hilton Darwin Hotel. Knowing it would be very warm and humid you want the most direct route. Once we found the hotel I got my Hilton membership attached to the booking, fixed the room from King to Double and organise a very early check in time based on membership status.
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AAT Kimberley, Australia, Darwin, Northern Territory
Outback Australia 2022: Day 10 – Katherine to Darwin, NT

August 28, 2022

Sunday 28 August 2022.
Highlights: Cruising the Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk National Park), Adelaide River, Darwin Farewell Dinner

For the first time this trip both Kara and myself did not wake up before our alarm. The 1.5 hour time zone change I guess has fixed that up. Breakfast at the Paraway Motel was just okay and we were happy to be off to visit the Nitmiluk National Park.

Nitmiluk National Park, NT – Katherine Gorge
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AAT Kimberley, Australia, Darwin, Katherine, Northern Territory
Outback Australia 2022: Day 9 – Kununurra to Katherine, NT

August 27, 2022

Saturday 27 August 2022.
Highlights: Crossing into the NT, Outback landscape, the amazing Tom Curtain Katherine Outback Experience.

Today was our last day in northern Western Australia with Northern Territory our next stop. It was a quick 20 minute drive to the border with a quick stop to capture the moment before losing 1 hour 30 minutes changing time zones.

Time to leave WA and enter NT
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AAT Kimberley, Australia, Katherine, Kununurra, Northern Territory, Western Australia
Outback Australia 2022: Day 8 – Kununurra, WA

August 26, 2022

Friday 26 August 2022.
Highlights: Lake Argyle and Bungle Bungle scenic flight, Ivanhoe Crossing, Mini hike Miriam National Park (including wallaby sighting), Kelly’s Knob lookout.

Today was a very early start (5 am) to an incredible experience flying from Kununurra flying over Lake Argyle, Bungle Bungle, and Argyle Diamond Mine. Both Kara and myself were obviously keen once again up before our alarm. Fourteen of our tour group signed up for todays experience. We were all very eager for our flight on arrival at the airport.

Kununurra, WA – Early morning scenic flight
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AAT Kimberley, Australia, Kununurra, Western Australia
Outback Australia 2022: Day 7 – El Questro Wilderness Park to Kununurra, WA

August 25, 2022

Thursday 25 August 2022.
Highlights: The Hoochery Distillery, Understanding Sandalwood trees, visiting the Argyle (Durack) Homestead Museum, Cruising on the Ord Dam spotting crocodiles, flying foxes, birds and amazing rock formations!

Today we moved into a major agriculture region of Australia around Kununurra all made possible by the Ord Dam completed in 1972 that capture the wet season rains so they can be release over 12 months instead of just 3-4 months. An amazing feat of engineering and foresight that helps nature and people at the same time.
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AAT Kimberley, Australia, El Questro Wilderness Park, Kununurra, Ord Dam, Western Australia
Outback Australia 2022: Day 6 – El Questro Wilderness Park, WA

August 24, 2022

Wednesday 24 August 2022.
Highlights: Exploring the Pentecost River, Chamberlain Gorge, Hiking to Emma Gorge.

We woke up before our alarm to the birds singing and a strong wind blowing. We were later to find out the strong wind meant the cruise up Chamberlain Gorge had to be cancelled. However this gave us more time to explore El Questro Wilderness Park.
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AAT Kimberley, Australia, El Questro Wilderness Park, Emma Gorge, Western Australia
Outback Australia 2022: Day 5 – Halls Creek to El Questro Wilderness Park, WA

August 23, 2022

Tuesday 23 August 2022.
Highlights: The rugged Australian Outback, Learning the history of Argyle Mine and local Aboriginal history, The Five Rivers at Wyndham

An early start to the day with breakfast at 6 am and on the road by 7 am for 346 kilometre drive to Emma Gorge (plus a surprise extra trip to Wyndham). Today’s drive again gain us all a front view to the rugged and beautiful Australia Outback including some burnt and burning areas.
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AAT Kimberley, Australia, El Questro Wilderness Park, Emma Gorge, Halls Creek, Western Australia, Wyndham
Outback Australia 2022: Day 4 – Fitzroy Crossing to Halls Creek, WA

August 22, 2022

Monday 22 August 2022.
Highlights: Exploring Fitzroy Crossing, the landscape at Ngumban Cliff,

Today was a late start not needing to be at breakfast until 7am and not leaving until 9 am. Kara and me decided to take advance of this by exploring the property but some of our fellow travellers suggested walking to the Fitzroy Bridge and this was a very good idea. This bridge is almost 20 metres high but only 6 months ago for underwater. Nature can be beautiful and dangerous in this region.

Fitzroy Crossing, WA.
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AAT Kimberley, Australia, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Western Australia