Adrenaline @Gold Coast

We have just spent a couple of days exploring Movieworld and Seaworld. It's always interesting to rediscover your inner child and we have certainly done that.
Most thrilling- Green Lantern spinning and upside down three times over the 2 minute ride.
Most Scary- Scooby Do spooky coaster. I came out with a squeaky voice from screaming... Going fast backward in the dark is not my thing.
Most cute- the carousel. Abigail smiled the whole way around with such delight.
Highest ride- Batwing space shot. Straight up in the air and then freefall down again. Oliver was just tall enough for this one so went on it twice. I see an adrenaline junkie in the making.
Shortest queue- Arkham Asylum. If you weren't crazy before this ride you may be questioning your senses when you get off. Wild and rough and more upside down spinning.
Most Unusual- Ice Age 4D as the 15 minute movie progressed our seats jumped, twisted, wind blew around our ankles and water/ other fluids to match the movie squirted us. A lot if fun was had by all.

Seaworld was more civilized and the sea lions and dolphins were so enchanting to watch. Mum and dad have joined us for a few days, so for a few of the rides/sky rail we had a boys and girls team.
Oliver would like a giant pool and a pet polar bear... Could have watched them for a long time.
We survived the jet rescue ride, although mum and I were regreting going on it by the end with dizzy heads. The Sea Viper looped upside down a few times and was a lot of fun. As we had an uneven number of riders in our group Bruce was placed in the very front seat... He loved it!

Oliver @Lawn Hill National Park

We have spent the last few days in a beautiful mix of places. Where we camped was a dry and hot spot (not much shade), but when we went on a walk we saw a waterfall, fern trees and wet moss.
The sign said be careful of crocodiles but I wasn't worried. We swam for ages and it was so nice in the water.
While walking we saw lots of birds and some lizards. Can you see them in the photo?
Emily and Abby found some red seeds when they were playing. We couldn't believe how bright they were.
Today it was so hot we drove to a camp ground that had a shop so we could buy an icypole.
In the hot afternoons we have been playing yahtzee. I hadn't played before and got two yahtzees in one game!
Dad and I went on an early morning
walk today to a lookout and we looked through a telescope to see a very rare Sandstone strike thrush.
There was a lovely green frog on the bathroom floor at night.
We leave tomorrow and head further south in Queensland.

Dobsons@Daly Waters

We drove the 600km today from Kakadu to Daly Waters. We stopped at Bitter Springs for a swim on the way. Oliver spotted the sign below and said, "There must be lots of kangaroos here as you can't have boomerangs"! Still working on his reading skills!
The water was almost too warm, but oh so clear. There is a spot to hop in and then float 100m along to steps to get out and do it again. Warm water, colorful water lilies and fern trees above it was a special spot.
We are now in Daly Waters, a locality with not much more than a historic pub, but what a great pub it is. We (the adults) enjoyed barra from the BBQ while the kids (who ate earlier) enjoyed a quiz book about the pub and got free ice cream when it was completed.
There were many things for them to find, count and history to discover.
Thanks Daly Waters for a fun night and camping fee only $14 for all of us. (Of course more than that spent at the pub)!

Paintings @Kakadu

We have enjoyed the last few days exploring Kakadu. We quickly worked out that any outdoor activity is best done before 11am and after 4pm when the heat is not as intense. In the middle of the day we sat in the shade and did school work or played games and tried to stay cool.

The park rangers give talks about paintings or other info at various sites in the park which we really enjoyed hearing.
The first site we visited we saw a drawing of the rainbow serpent at a site used for educating girls in early adulthood. Emily has written the story down for future reference.
The next site was a rocky overhang traditionally used as a school room. Oliver enjoyed the story about two sisters who played string games by the river and were eaten by a croc- a story told to warn children that crocs can be in any water. He got to hold a crocodile skull too.
There were great 360 degree views from the lookout over the wetlands. It must be quite a sight at the end of the wet season covered in lilies.

Later that day we went down to the Alligator river for a touch of croc spotting. The growth along the river was like a very dense rainforest. It was quite spooky as the trees were full of Flying Foxes making an enormous racket! There were also lots of colourful butterflies and mozzies! We spotted lots of crocodiles as they headed up river for feeding time at high tide- they were very big!

We started one morning with a visit to the crocodile shaped Holiday Inn for buffet breakfast. Kids ate for free and ours certainly made the most of the opportunity. We all laughed when a very full Abigail asked, "If I do 100 jumps will there be room in my tummy for some grapes?" as she began jumping.

Bruce and Oliver went on a Yellow Water cruise yesterday and saw lots of birdlife and more crocodiles up close. Bruce took lots of great photos too.

Today we visited some more rock galleries and saw paintings of people dancing, animals, The Lightning Man and others and heard some more stories about the results of breaking tribal laws.
It has been great to see and learn a little of the history and culture of Kakadu.

Oliver@Darwin

We went to Darwin for the day and did lots of fun things. First we went to the museum and saw lots of Aboriginal spears and hunting tools. There were also paintings, mats and baskets made by weaving. There was even a car made all of straw and weaving. It had metal weeks and a real numberplate.

Upstairs we saw a show and lots of pictures about cyclone Tracy. We went into a dark room and listened to the noise it made. It was much louder than thunder.
In the afternoon we went to a water park. It was fun. There was a playground with water squirting out on everything and a big bucket on top that filled up with water and fell over when it was full.
There were three big slides to go on for big kids. The blue slide was my first one and it was fun. On the yellow slide, there were lots of turns and it made you turn from side to side very fast. The funniest slide was the red one. Two people sat on a blow up number 8, with the biggest at the back. Dad and I did it and when you go into the water slide tube it is pitch black. At the bottom there is a big splash and it goes up your nose (see Dad's feet sticking out?)
After swimming we drove to the Charles Darwin National Park and saw lots of war bunkers which couldn't be seen from a plane in the sky. We went inside and learnt that bombs were stored in them for wartime.

We went to the wharf for dinner and had fish and chips. We watched the tug boats working and saw 3 big navy ships. It was then time to go back to the caravan.