Into The Territory

We made it! Pretty easy really, we had only 12 kms from Camooweal to the Northern Territory border, and we just drove straight through, although the sign did say we had to make sure we had all our 'paperwork' in place.

So it 'Welcome to the Northern Territory' - the Barkly Highway is like most roads in the Territory, long, flat and straight, with a speed limit of 130km/hr.

Our first night's stop was half way across the Barkly Highway at the Barkly Homestead, which most people stop at as the 'run' across to the Stuart Highway is 400 + kms of nothing! We have been amazed at the number of caravans and camper trailers that are plying the highways, but due to Covid and people not being able to travel overseas, it seems a lot have purchased vans & trailers and headed off discovering their own 'backyard' - they are everywhere. Thank goodness we had booked most of our sites along the way.

Once across the Barkly, we headed into Tennant Creek as Des had a minor problem with one of the tyres on his van, but seems to be OK now he has changed it. Our spot at the caravan park there was lovely - camping (sort of) under the Coolibah trees.

It was here at Tennant Creek that we took some time out to fill in - online - our border passes for Western Australia. What a headache that was. There were the three of us sitting under the coolibah tress, each with a mobile phone trying to fill these forms in. Well, as you can imagine both Peter and Des required help, but we managed to get them done OK. Me, well ...... now that's another story. Trying to do mine at the same time just did not work, and the phone was using pre-emptive stuff in the various boxes and causing all sorts of issues. Of course two attempts were wrong, and I ended up ringing the Police (that is who is doing the forms in WA) to find out what I should do. You see, you have to have a seperate email address for each application, and as I had used both my email addresses up, the nice policeman suggested I create another and try putting my full name in and see if that works. Yes!! Got approved to enter WA - we are all good to go! I was exhausted after all this, but relieved. Then just on Happy Hour, Des heard that there were two cases of Covid on the Sunshine Coast - silence ....  and a countback of days, and we felt that we were still all good for WA.

Back on the highway we began our trek north up the Stuart Highway towards Katherine where we will turn left and head for the WA border. Not only were we finding lots more caravans etc on the highway, but quite a number of road-trains as well. Not the easiest thing to pass when you have a caravan you are towing.

This road-train with four barrels of fuel was a welcome site, as several of the roadhouses on the highway were out of diesel, however thankfully for us, we were able to continue up the highway as far as Daly Waters - we were staying the night at the camping area attached to the roadhouse and were able to fill up with fuel the next morning to continue on our way. Whilst there we managed to check out the famous Daly Waters pub where we had a drink - interesting place.

Peter managed t park at the right angle!

Next came the traffic lights and a parking meter which actually does take money, and it is donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

To say this pub is a qwerky place would have to be an understatement. This is the sign if you want a horse ride or whatever.

Our current stop is at Mataranka, which is famous for it's hot springs, which we will go and check out this afternoon. We arrived here yesterday, and oh my goodness, what a night we had. To begin with we indulged with a wonderful afternnon tea .....

Then dinner was at the restaurant attached to the caravan park -the 'Territory Manor', AND there was a free show on too. The music was wonderful, country, dixie and roll & roll. They went for 2 1/2 hours without a break - just great.

This morning we wandered over to have a look at the lake that had a fountain in the middle along with some absolutely beautiful water lilies.

Yes, this is one of my photos taken with the zoom lens - lovely isn't it?

Well, think it's time to go have a break and get ready for the thermal pools this afternoon.

'Til next time,

June