Northern Territory 2022

You never never know if you never never go so we are going. So we are off touring the sites of Northern Territory. Alice ,Uluru and Kings Canyon back to Alice in a Motorhome. Fly to Darwin and drive to Jabiru, Katherine and then back to Darwin. Read more

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Trip start
August 22, 2022
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Day 1
Monday, August 22, 2022 at 7:00 AM
⛅ 8 °C
Altitude: 19 m
Australia Camperdown Park and Recreation Centre -33.888699, 151.17434133°53’19” S 151°10’28” E
Time to Travel
August 22, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C
We are travelling to the Northern Territory for 17 days and celebrating my 65th birthday. John has been before when he was working for Tourism Australia, but it was more a work trip. I have never been, so I am looking forward to taking in all that NT has to offer, Uluru, crocodiles, red dirt and dust, along with lots of walking and driving. This certainly will not be relaxing holiday like our usual birthday trips.

First stop Alice Springs.Read more
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Day 1
Monday, August 22, 2022 at 7:49 AM
⛅ 9 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Australia Curtin Reserve -33.932389, 151.17989433°55’57” S 151°10’48” E
At the Airport
August 22, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
At the Airport and not crowded here today.

Hardly any people around so check in was good until it was time to bag drop, we had our usual issue with John's bag not being recognised, Qantas staff came and assisted, mine went straight through.

Now for breakfast, thank you Priority Pass free breaky since no lounge pass when flying cattle. We did put in a bid for an upgrade but alas no upgrade. Maybe on our way home. Fingers crossed.

Now to sit and wait for our flight. This is the first time on a flight since our Thailand trip and that dreaded No 19.Read more
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Day 1
Monday, August 22, 2022 at 8:57 AM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 11 m
Australia Curtin Reserve -33.932319, 151.18049833°55’56” S 151°10’50” E
Up Up and Away
August 22, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
On the plane and ready to fly. Up up and away.

Let the holiday begin.

Yeah, middle seat empty, glad we did not win the upgrade. Having 3 seats is better than business on a small plane.
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Day 1
Monday, August 22, 2022 at 12:44 PM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 546 m
Australia Alice Springs Airport -23.801818, 133.90331423°48’7” S 133°54’12” E
Alice Springs here we come
August 22, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Looking out the window as we fly across Australia you can see how arid and vast Australia actually is the words of "I love a Sunburnt Country" comes to mind.

The area around the runway was a parking area for planes not used due to Covid, looks odd and funny at the same time.Read more
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Day 1
Monday, August 22, 2022 at 1:00 PM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 540 m
Australia Alice Springs Airport -23.80733, 133.89880423°48’26” S 133°53’56” E
Alice Springs Airport
August 22, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Arrived in Alice Spring after a very easy flight. The airport is very small, so it is easy to get around, locate our bags and find a taxi.
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Day 1
Monday, August 22, 2022 at 1:11 PM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 576 m
Australia Billy Goat Hill -23.700725, 133.87686823°42’3” S 133°52’37” E
Alice Springs
August 22, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Alice Springs is a remote town in Australia’s Northern Territory, halfway between Darwin and Adelaide, both 1,500km away. It’s a popular gateway for exploring the Red Centre, the country's interior desert region which is why we are selecting Alice for our first stop.Read more
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Day 1
Monday, August 22, 2022 at 1:43 PM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 578 m
Australia Perta Hill -23.691667, 133.87666723°41’30” S 133°52’36” E
Pick up our Wheels and Home
August 22, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Straight from the airport we went to the rental place to collect our wheels and home for the next 8 days.
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Day 1
Monday, August 22, 2022 at 1:43 PM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 576 m
Australia Perta Hill -23.692239, 133.8773923°41’32” S 133°52’39” E
Ready to Drive
August 22, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
After watching a short video on the do's and don'ts it is time to test this monster out. Ready, set, drive, first issue blinkers on the wrong side.
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Day 1
Monday, August 22, 2022 at 2:48 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 574 m
Australia Ross -23.696667, 133.8923°41’48” S 133°53’24” E
Discovery Park Alice Springs
August 22, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Well that short drive was fun. Took John a little while to get used to driving the Apollo Van but all sorted now.
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Day 1
Monday, August 22, 2022 at 3:02 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 560 m
Australia Mount Blatherskite -23.733799, 133.86951523°44’2” S 133°52’10” E
Home for 3 days
August 22, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
We are plugged in, unpacked and set up for the next 3 days. It is quite a good caravan park, lots of facilities. It's a shame it is so far away otherwise a great place for family holidays.
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Day 1
Monday, August 22, 2022 at 5:37 PM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 562 m
Australia Ross -23.733915, 133.87015623°44’2” S 133°52’13” E
Walk Around
August 22, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
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Day 1
Monday, August 22, 2022 at 6:29 PM
🌙 20 °C
Altitude: 561 m
Australia Ross -23.733333, 133.87166723°43’60” S 133°52’18” E
Sunset in Alice
August 22, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 20 °C
We thought it was a nice sunset today which can be incredible here sometimes but today, just ordinary, according to management.
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Day 1
Monday, August 22, 2022 at 6:31 PM
🌙 21 °C
Altitude: 565 m
Australia Ross -23.732459, 133.87088623°43’57” S 133°52’15” E
Hmmm a tad disconcerting
August 22, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 21 °C
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Day 1
Monday, August 22, 2022 at 7:56 PM
🌙 17 °C
Altitude: 563 m
Australia Ross -23.733723, 133.86965323°44’1” S 133°52’11” E
Yum Pancakes
August 22, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 17 °C
After dinner it was time for a treat, strawberry pancakes.
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Day 2
Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 8:37 AM
☀️ 8 °C
Altitude: 561 m
Australia Mount Blatherskite -23.733139, 133.86948323°43’59” S 133°52’10” E
Our first night in the Motor Home
August 23, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Our first night was quite good, the temperature dropped to 3 degrees but with the air-conditioning and a doona we did not notice.
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Day 2
Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 9:25 AM
☀️ 9 °C
Altitude: 560 m
Australia Mount Blatherskite -23.733799, 133.86951523°44’2” S 133°52’10” E
Breakfast
August 23, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
Now to cook breakfast.
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Day 2
Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 10:35 AM
☀️ 10 °C
Altitude: 561 m
Australia Mount Blatherskite -23.73309, 133.86946223°43’59” S 133°52’10” E
Sightseeing
August 23, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C
On the downside we had booked ballooning over the McDonald Ranges for this morning but it was cancelled yesterday due to high winds.

What can I say 🤷 these things always happen to the Hopwood's.

We have rescheduled for tomorrow, fingers crossed 🤞.

It was too late to book a tour. So, we rented a car for the day so we can drive around and check out what is on offer in Alice, rather than drive the van.Read more
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Day 2
Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 11:40 AM
☀️ 12 °C
Altitude: 570 m
Australia Billy Goat Hill -23.704273, 133.87819923°42’15” S 133°52’42” E
Royal Flying Doctor Service
August 23, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Using hologram technology, you see and learn from Revered John Flynn the founder of RFDS. He tells you about the origins and growth of the Royal Flying Doctor Service which started in 1939.

We learnt the importance of the RFDS to outback Australians and the medical care required to service isolated regions.

We also used VR technology to see a nurse care for a heart attack patient in flight and sit in the cockpit with the pilot.Read more
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Day 2
Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 12:11 PM
☀️ 13 °C
Altitude: 568 m
Australia Billy Goat Hill -23.704171, 133.87797323°42’15” S 133°52’41” E
Royal Flying Doctor Service
August 23, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Then it was time for the museum where you meet Alf Traeger and Nurse Kathy using interactive technology.

We stepped inside a replica RFDS aircraft I was the pilot John the patient.

This tour was excellent and extremely informative.Read more
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Day 2
Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 12:55 PM
☀️ 13 °C
Altitude: 580 m
Australia Campbell Park -23.677848, 133.86586823°40’40” S 133°51’57” E
School of Air
August 23, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
The School of Air was interesting but we were only able to watch a video of a class, I was thought we would be sitting in during a class.

The School of Air was established in 1951. It was the inspiration of Ms Adelaide Miethke to provide educational resources for children living in remote areas of Central Australia.

The School of Air broadcasts lessons across 1.3 million sq kms allowing students to study in a virtual classroom. The School of Air offers an education to students in preschool, infants, primary and middle school. For senior years, the students leave home and attend boarding school or continue with correspondence studies.Read more
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Day 2
Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 2:01 PM
☀️ 15 °C
Altitude: 603 m
Australia John Flynn’s Grave Historic Reserve -23.697901, 133.81943123°41’52” S 133°49’10” E
John Flynn's Grave
August 23, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
The grave is on a low hill at the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges. The plaque expresses a lifetime achievement in just a few lines "His vision encompassed the continent".

He established the Australian Inland Mission and founded the Royal Flying Doctor Service and brought to lonely places a spiritual ministry and spread a mantle of safety over them through medicine and the radio.Read more
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Day 2
Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 2:39 PM
☀️ 14 °C
Altitude: 768 m
Australia Alice Springs -23.722121, 133.46944923°43’20” S 133°28’10” E
Standley Chasm
August 23, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Standley Chasm is traditionally known as Angkerle Atwatye (the Gap of Water) and is an important cultural place of indigenous Australia that is sacred to the women’s dreaming of the Arrernte people.

The trail is 1.25km each way along a natural creek bed which was currently dry. At the end of the trail, you find a dramatic 80 metre sheer rock face of the chasm.

It was spectacular, a shame it was so windy and cold.Read more
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Day 2
Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 4:00 PM
☀️ 15 °C
Altitude: 655 m
Australia Alice Springs -23.67388, 133.7195623°40’26” S 133°43’10” E
Simpsons Gap
August 23, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Simpsons Gap is located 18 kilometres from Alice Springs, it features the towering cliffs of Simpsons Range, a permanent waterhole and opportunities to spot resident wildlife.

Simpsons Gap is also located on the Larapinta Trail, a 231 kilometre walking track through the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Simpsons Gap was the mythological home of a group of giant goanna ancestors and several dreaming stories cross at this spiritual site.

We chose the short trail of about 30min return.Read more
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Day 2
Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 6:12 PM
☀️ 12 °C
Altitude: 568 m
Australia Mount Blatherskite -23.732443, 133.8711223°43’57” S 133°52’16” E
Back at the Caravan Park
August 23, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
That was a full day of sightseeing. We are now back at the Caravan Park for nibbles and drinks put on by management.
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Day 3
Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 10:16 AM
☀️ 10 °C
Altitude: 618 m
Australia East Side -23.687104, 133.90940723°41’14” S 133°54’34” E
Telegraph Station
August 24, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C
Guess what, still too windy for the ballooning so we did a little more sightseeing.

The Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve marks the original site of the first European settlement in Alice Springs. It was stablished in 1871 to relay messages between Darwin and Adelaide along Australia’s Overland Telegraph Line. This connected Australia’s population in the centre with the north of the country, it also connected Australia with the undersea telegraph network of the British Empire. Prior to 1872, a message back to England would travel by boat and take 3 to 4 months each way. However, after the telegraph line was built, morse code messages travelling through Alice Springs could reach London in as little as 5 hours.Read more
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