Named VT Survivor Trip by our host 1+1 - Zig
4x4 Road Trip to the Top End of Australia.
2 Troup Carriers and 12 Brave VTérs head into the great Aussie outback
Disclaimer. There are photos here that are from my previous travel site Virtual Tourist.
VT has shut down.
Please
ignore that VT flag, thongs, VA's and other paraphernalia that may appear here.
~~oOo~~
THE SURVIVORS
Happy
bunch aren’t we.
What we
didn't know was the full implications of 'survivor'.
Not only
did we survive days of rough 4x4 driving together
in the close confines of our troupe carriers, but we survived
dangerous croc country, getting bogged twice, punchered
tyres, concocting creative tucker, countless mozzie bites
and camping in tough Aussie outback conditions.
in the close confines of our troupe carriers, but we survived
dangerous croc country, getting bogged twice, punchered
tyres, concocting creative tucker, countless mozzie bites
and camping in tough Aussie outback conditions.
What we
didn't know was that we had to survive days without
grog. The biggest test!
Please read on.
I spent
17 years on a fantastic warm and friendly travel site
called Virtual Tourist. Another travel site, Trip Advisor had
a plan. Let's buy out the competition and then axe them.
It was a sad day when VT closed down in February 2017.
But they cannot stop our memories and now most of us
have joined Travellerspoint, our new home.
called Virtual Tourist. Another travel site, Trip Advisor had
a plan. Let's buy out the competition and then axe them.
It was a sad day when VT closed down in February 2017.
But they cannot stop our memories and now most of us
have joined Travellerspoint, our new home.
This blog
is about happy memories in 2008 when a group of us
VT'ers hit the road on an amazing adventure that we all talk about many years later.
VT'ers hit the road on an amazing adventure that we all talk about many years later.
This trip
is favourite for me and I reckon most of us.
~~oOo~~
Below is
a quick capture of some of the amazing scenery we experienced.
~~oOo~~
This meet
consisted of 2 parts, the survivor trip and then
a fun filled weekend in Darwin.
a fun filled weekend in Darwin.
Host Zig
(1+1) did an amazing job in organising everything
including survivor certificates and a pack of info for all
including survivor certificates and a pack of info for all
of us.
Zig is a Ranger and this is his
home ground. It was
very special to have Zig show us around including meeting
his adopted aboriginal family. More about that later.
his adopted aboriginal family. More about that later.
Following
is a day by day re-encounter of our amazing
adventure plus plenty of scenery and tips for you if you
plan to do the same trip.
adventure plus plenty of scenery and tips for you if you
plan to do the same trip.
So please
grab a snack and a drink or 3 and follow along
with me as I relive our unforgettable story.
~~oOo~~
PRE SURVIVOR MEET IN DARWIN
MEET
ZIG. The man that organised this fabulous trip.
Here, at
the final dinner in Darwin, Zig is showing everyone the
mileage that we covered. A lot!
mileage that we covered. A lot!
~~oOo~~
Well this
was a trip of a lifetime!! We had been
waiting a whole year.
Ever since Zig (1+1) offered to show us around his neck of the woods at the big Perth VT meet in 2007. But that's not what he'll tell you. Reckon I twisted his arm or something like that.
😜
Zig did a
wonderful job in arranging this big survivor trip for us.
We all can't thank him enough!! We felt safe in his hands because being a Ranger, Zig knows the area and has also lived in Arnhem land (Aboriginal territory) and been adopted by the locals.
We all can't thank him enough!! We felt safe in his hands because being a Ranger, Zig knows the area and has also lived in Arnhem land (Aboriginal territory) and been adopted by the locals.
~~oOo~~
It was
time for the pre-meet. First to arrive,
yours truly and hubby.
Zig picked us up from the airport and took us to his home where we
set up our tent in his big back yard. Making myself at home with the butterflies.
Zig picked us up from the airport and took us to his home where we
set up our tent in his big back yard. Making myself at home with the butterflies.
~~oOo~~
Next to
arrive, Gillian from Manchester UK. We met at the airport.
Darwin airport is small, easy to navigate and welcoming.
Darwin airport is small, easy to navigate and welcoming.
~~oOo~~
Time to
meet the rest of the brave survivor crew.
Kiwi Pam and Ralph from NZ, Deb and Bob from Adelaide, Suzi and Fab from Melbourne, George and Pauline from NSW.
We chose to meet up at the Wisdom Pub in town to discuss our travel plans.
A local resident possum
was there to make sure we didn't stray from the topic of discussion.
~~oOo~~
We needed
to arrange hire of our troupe carriers, food shopping and camping
equipment. There was a lot to discuss.
Our transport
for the next 9 days. Two 4x4 troupe carriers
to be named VT 1 and VT 2.
How nice and clean do they look.
How nice and clean do they look.
Not for long.
We had
two-way radios to keep in contact. Everything
was coming together nicely. 😃
I joined
the fellas in the camp hire shop.
Hiring tents, cooking implements etc.
Hiring tents, cooking implements etc.
Meanwhile,
the other ladies were left to do the shopping.
Zig got a little concerned about how we were going to fit all of this stuff in our 4x4 trailers? Especially as he specifically requested that we use powder milk instead of long life cartons. So what to they do? Buy a whole stack of long life mile that was going to be a bit of a headache for Zig to pack into our limited space. 😒
Zig got a little concerned about how we were going to fit all of this stuff in our 4x4 trailers? Especially as he specifically requested that we use powder milk instead of long life cartons. So what to they do? Buy a whole stack of long life mile that was going to be a bit of a headache for Zig to pack into our limited space. 😒
~~oOo~~
NOONAMAH
Where the
hell's Noonamah? Northern Territory
has funny names.
I think
Noonamah sounds nice. Rolls off the tongue
real well.
Do you know what Noonamah means in Aboriginal culture?
It means "plenty of tucker and good things".
Do you know what Noonamah means in Aboriginal culture?
It means "plenty of tucker and good things".
Well we had plenty of tucker
rofl.
😛
Noonamah
is a small town south of Darwin just past Humpty Doo. Blink and you'll miss it.
However
it has its own selling point. Plenty of
caps, pens, coasters etc with "where the 'ells Noonamah?" I just love it! Our VA's loved it too!!!
VA's? Never mind. 😕 I'll explain that later.
Nezz came to the Perth VT Meet
Allikat from NZ came to Perth & Melbourne VT Meets
~~oOo~~
ZIG'S HOUSE IN NOONAMAH
So here
we are, 12 brave VT'ers, 2 troupies at Zig's house in Noonamah, packing our goodies for the next 9 days and being presented with our survivor certificates.
Zig went over and
above to make us special Survivor Certificates and folders with lots of
pamphlets and information on our coming trip.
I love reading through pamphlets.
Can we
survive this big outback adventure?
All
will be revealed soon.
Australia
has a major problem with cane toads who were introduced a long time ago in Queensland
to kill the sugar cane beetles. Cane
toads are now a major pest because they do not have many Australian predators.
Zig
explained to us that recently cane toads have made it all the way to the
Northern Territory. That is an amazing
amount of miles!! Or did they hitch? Disgusting creatures!!
I
remember when I was young, born and bred in Brisbane Queensland, going around
with the next door neighbours shooting these big fat ugly toads with slug guns!
My mother was worse, killing them by
putting buckets of hot water around the front yard. Go mum!
~~oOo~~
Meanwhile.... in Zig's backyard –
My VA's Tripack from Switzerland and PJ from Amsterdam
were having their last xxxx (good queensland beer).
Knowing that this will be the
last for a few days.
Watch out for the Crocs, dudes.
😲
😲
~~oOo~~
So now
it's time to hit the road on an amazing survivor trip of a lifetime!!
~~oOo~~
NOONAMAH TO JABIRU
Today we
started our big journey today, heading into Kakadu National Park to stay the
night in Jabiru which is the last stop before entering Arnhem Land - Aboriginal
territory.
You need
a permit to enter Arnhem Land. Zig
arranged this for us.
See on
the map Garig Gunak Barlu national park?
That is where we are headed.
Right up the top end of Australia.
~~oOo~~
BARK HUT
INN
The Bark
Hut Inn is located half way between Darwin and Jabaru, a good place to stop for
a snack and xxxx (best beer).
The Inn
was built by hand by a bloke called Baldwin who came from New Zealand seeking
adventure along with the crocodiles, buffalo and barramundi. Business boomed when the Arnhem highway was put
through in the 1980's.
Today the
Bark Hut is an iconic halfway house.
~~oOo~~
ENTERING KAKADU
Next pit
stop and leg stretch - the gate entering
Kakadu National Park.
~~oOo~~
BOWALI VISITOR CENTRE
Bowali
Visitor Centre is a must stop at in Kakadu. Here
you can find a wealth of information on the area, places to see, things to do,
accommodation and tours.
~~oOo~~
JABIRU CAMPGROUND
Our first
camp stop for the night and good old Aussie bbq.
Zig's
Aboriginal family joined us. It was no
nice to meet them.
Zig gave all of us aboriginal names and shared some stories of how aboriginal families live. This was really interesting.
Zig gave all of us aboriginal names and shared some stories of how aboriginal families live. This was really interesting.
The real
aboriginal culture is built around close knit family life, something I treasure
myself and admire when I see others with the same values.
My
aboriginal name is El Bangardi. Kiwi
Pam and I are both sisters of zig. I
feel very privileged.
~~oOo~~
STOCKING UP IN JABIRU
Last minute stock up as we were about to enter Arnhem Land with no grocery stores for the next 5 days. Zig needed to buy more ice for the frozen roasts that he had stored in the camp ovens. We didn't want them thawing too fast.
Meanwhile
the VT 2 crew were storing up on casks of water. Casks of water? Huh?
😧
😧
It's not like we will be driving for days in the big Australian desert!? Lol.
There is fresh drinking tap water in the NT - land of plenty of water haha VT 2 were
also stocking up on mozzie repellent. Poor Rosie got attacked the previous night by a ton of pesky NT mozzies.
~~oOo~~
CROSSING INTO ARNHEM LAND
This is
the exciting bit.
Cahill's Crossing is where we leave Kakadu National Park and enter into Arnhem Land.
The
adventure is about to start. We were a
little excited and apprehensive at the same time.
See the
green bits in the map? That's National
Park. We were heading up to the National Park up the top end.
Technically, you cannot stop for the night in Arnham Land. So
most people travel straight through to Garig. However Zig had
arranged for us to stay over-night at Mt Borradaile which has a camp site and special sacred caves with Aboriginal art.
We were all looking
forward to seeing that.
Arnhem
Land is also dry, meaning no alcohol can be consumed here. This is the true meaning of our 'survivor' trip! Us VTt'ers had a challenge to survive for a few days without grog!!
😵
😵
Can we do it?.....
Later.
~~oOo~~
CAHILL'S CROSSING
This is a
very dangerous crossing. There have
been quite a number of deaths here, not only from silly tourists trying to
cross without a 4x4 drive.... but with a 4x4 drive and no experience. And let's not forget about the crocs.
😮
Quite a
number of people both tourists and locals have been taken here by huge salt
water crocodiles. Zig has had to hunt
them from time to time following a croc killing here.
The
danger signs are there, but some people are just stupid! Don't
mess around. Know your 4 wheel drive and
if in doubt, don't do it!
Because
you need to have a special permit to enter Arnhem Land, a lot of people just
come here to cross at Cahills and then cross back. Silly really, but that is the mentality of
some.
No, he didn't do it.
Yes, he did but then crossed back.
😉
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VIDEO CAHILL'S CROSSING
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~~oOo~~
INJALAK ART CENTRE - GUNBALUNYA
Gunbalunya
is a small aboriginal town with a great little art and craft centre where the locals take pride in making and selling unique homemade gifts,
paintings and authentic Aboriginal articles.
I really liked it here watching the locals paint out the back.
I was looking forward to buying something to support the local community.
I bought
a stick..
Ok. You can stop laughing now. It's not that funny!!!...
Hey, I like my stick .
😛
Hey, I like my stick .
😛
It has
beautiful art work and I just took a fancy to it.
They arranged the shipping back home for me.
Zig had heard that the local Elders were having a special Ceremony in the hills so he could not take the shortcut, so we had to hightail it out of there if we were to make Mt Borradaile before dark.
~~oOo~~
WASHOUTS
Washouts
are water crossings. It is important to
not take chances when dealing with washouts.
If in doubt, hop out and walk through first.
Believe me, you are better off getting your
leg bitten off by a croc than gunning it through a washout too deep and being
swept away into the river and being eaten whole by a croc.
As you can see, Zig here is looking out for crocs before any of us attempted to get out of the Troupe.
PJ from Amsterdam comparing canals to washouts
OH_DK from Denmark is a bit scared
Elodie from UK feels safe with her BF Reno
Some French actor.....?
Gillian from UK feels super safe
as Zig checked the washout for crocs ?
Hubby is not so sure, but has to check it out
just to make sure the 4x4 is safe to cross.... ;)
Big long
washout on the road to Mt Borradaile.
Below also
is a video of this washout. You can see
how good 4x4 driving skills are needed here.
VIDEO LONG WASHOUT TO MT BORRADAILE
MT BORRADAILE This was
something special. This camp site is
remote.
People pay thousands of dollars to come here by private plane.
Zig did a
fantastic job organising this.
We were
prepared for the next few nights of totally roughing it in the middle of nowhere.
But
instead we got to spend the night in these flash tents.
 ~~oOo~~DAY OUT AT MT BORRADAILE
We had a
fabulous day out at Mt Borradaile.
We did a
swamp cruise, croc spotting, bush walking and saw some amazing aboriginal rock
art in caves as well as a sacred burial site.
My highlight
was the swamp cruise. I love swamps.
😊
             ~~oOo~~SHHH..... VT'ER TIP
VT'ers
(well ex VT'ers now that trip advisor shut down Virtual Tourist) are well known for great travel tips.
There's one
in the photo below - can you guess...?
 Dinner at
Mt Borradaile Campsite.
If you
saw beer and wine at the table, you are right!!
Yes....
Arnhem Land is 'dry', but this campsite somehow dodged the rules and has
permission to sell grog!!
So no
need to bootleg grog into Arnhem Land.
Just head to Mt Borradaile camp site.
Hubby and
I spied it as soon as we arrived and entered the dining room. Wasn't long before the others figured out our
discovery lol.
And we
were all happy campers.
😍
BOGS
Going in
and out of Borradaile was tricky. We
had to traverse a big long washout. You
saw the picture and video last blog.
We also
had to contend with a really huge boggy bit.
And both vt1 and vt2 troupies got bogged going in and going out.
The boys
even had to use winches and tie them around trees to get us out. What an adventure.
Tip, if
you use a winch, stay clear. If that
thing breaks or slips off, it'll zing around and believe me!! Your head won't want to be in the way! Some vt'ers were a bit too
close for comfort. Most of us stayed well away!          ~~oOo~~OUTBACK CONDITIONS
Outback
australia is tough. The trip from
Mt Borradaile to Cobourg Peninsula in Garig
Gunak Barlu National Park up the top end of Australia was around 6 hours. We were running late due to the boggy
situation.
This part
of the journey was the roughest, traversing more washouts and also dry dirt
roads. We also passed some bits where the locals were doing a bit of back
burning. This is smart.
Aboriginals have worked it out over many years of harsh Australian living conditions that spot burning helps renew growth, better for animals too. But also assists in clearing a lot of undergrowth and spreading out burnt bits so that it's less likely that super fires can take hold and destroy hectares of nature.      ~~oOo~~GARIG GUNAK BARLU NATIONAL PARK
So we had left Mt Borradaile and passed through Arnhem Land and now we finally made it to Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, top end of Australia.
We made it! 😄
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