Litchfield Park

The closer we drove to the top of Australia the hotter it became. By the time we reached Litchfield Park we were so ready to jump into the water. 

There are many spots to stop along the way. We walked along a path and came along these gorgeous rock pools. People were lounging around enjoying the beautiful day. 

There were too many people so we decided to move along to the next place. 

Florence Falls is in the bottom of a valley. We walked down a zillion stairs to reach the bottom. We didn't take any photos of the swimming area because the rocks were slippery and I am clumsy when it comes to cameras and water. It was pretty perfect to be swimming in waterfall fed pool. Some people were climbing up the rocks and jumping off but that seemed both difficult and needlessly dangerous. 

If you look closely you can see some people swimming. Imagine that they are us. 

We then went to Wangi Falls. We swam across this peaceful pond to the waterfalls on the other side. We sat on the rocks beneath the small fall and the water that had collected in the pools and been warmed by the sun was like a hot tub! 

Bobbing around in natural swimming places was the perfect way to end our roadtrip. 

On the road and Daly Waters

We drove the same long road back up to the top of Australia, stopping at little places that caught our interest. 

One place that we were particularly excited to go was to Daly Waters. We had heard that they have a pub there there is a bit strange... and that they serve amazing barramundi. 

Every surface was covered in stuff. License plates, road signs, shirts, business cards, patches, name tags, underwear, bras and even a diaper (eeewww)

Being inside was totally overwhelming. I would hate to have to dust all that stuff. Which is why I'm pretty sure they don't... 

Across the road was a little shack selling outback jewellery made of seeds and berries. And, naturally, there was a helicopter on the roof. 

After a long, hot, dusty day we were happy to stop for a beer and a great barra burger in this tiny town. 

Kata Tjuta

A little ways down the road from Uluru is Kata Tjuta, another amazing rock formation. 

The highest peak is actually higher than Uluru, even though it doesn't seem like it. The rock winds in and out so there are many secret gorges and areas. 

There is a lovely little walk into one of the gorges to a watering hole. Seeing as how the rest of the area around the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is deserty scrub, having the knowledge of where to find water was extremely important. It makes sense why this is a sacred place. 

As we walked farther between the rocks it became more silent and peaceful. I could almost imagine kangaroos and emus coming here to drink and have down under strange animal parties in this oasis. 

Uluru

Uluru was our ultimate destination for this road trip. After driving nearly 2000 km we reached Yulara, the resort town that has popped up to sustain visitors to Uluru. We checked into our campsite which we were happy to have booked ahead and went to see the rock.

It is big. It is red. And truly, it is amazing.  It's bigger than I imagined, and less perfect. It's silent and peaceful and important. There is nothing around the area and then suddenly there is this place. 

There are caves and waterfalls. Rock paintings and sacred sites. I had the overwhelming feeling that as people we need to take care of each other. 

"It's not that Uluru is bigger than you had supposed or more perfectly formed or in any way different from the impression you had created in you mind, but the very opposite. It is exactly what you expected it to be. You know this rock. You know it in a way that has nothing to do with calendars and the cover of souvenir books. Your knowledge of this rock is grounded in something much more elemental.

In some odd way that you don't understand and can't begin to articulate you feel an acquaintance with it - a familiarity on an unfamiliar level."

                  In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

There is something about this rock that you can't stop looking at... 

It was well worth travelling all those kilometres to see and experience this natural wonder. 

We are lucky indeed. 

Devil's Marbles

We stopped at the Devil's Marbles near Wauchope, NT. They are these very strange rock formations in the middle of nowhere. 

It honestly feels like they were just dropped here by aliens... or maybe the devil himself.

They almost look like they want to eat you!

I think that this is the kind of alien landscape that Captain Kirk would have battled a baddie on Star Trek. 

Look what TJ did! He's so strong!

Katherine Gorge

We got to Katherine Gorge, turned a corner onto a deserted trail and spotted this little guy. I grabbed TJ's arm and whispered "is this real life?"

Then we took the "easy" trail up to the top of the Gorge.

It was by no means easy. It was basically climbing stairs straight up a canyon wall. But instead of stairs it was mostly stair-like rocks, no handrail and a plunge to death if you moved 2 mm in the wrong direction. 

But the view was beautiful!

So beautiful that you almost wanted to go swimming. Until you remembered, of course, that those glistening waters are infested with hungry saltwater crocodiles. 

So, uh, maybe not. 

Walking a different way back to the bottom of the Gorge we discovered that it was dinner time for kangaroos! We lost count at about 30! Magic!!