Britz Barbie Perth to Darwin

Jade the operator of the camels asked if we would ride a camel each , but I wanted to ride together so once we were sitting on Tiny we started to worry , although we have done lots of walking this trip we have also eaten our heads off so our concerns were that once Tiny stood up that he’d go splat to the ground with all four legs spread out like when Bambi stood on the ice !!!!!!!!! But that didn’t happen luckily and we then realised why we were assigned Tiny and why he was called Tiny , he towered above all the other camels ....... And our second treat was a very exciting Sunset cruise on the Intombi, one of the rare original wooden luggers still afloat today. This was just amazing and the highlight of our whole trip and again an experience we will treasure forever.

We were picked up at our Caravan Park in a mini bus at 1.30 pm and driven to the very top of cable beach then the 18 of us were ferried out from the beach to the Intombi in a speed boat in 3 loads. Once everyone was aboard we set sail and spent the next 6 hours sailing up and down Cable Beach in the beautiful sunshine and crystal clear water until that magic sunset once again. The staff , Ryan , Tania and Lockey were so friendly and served canapés all afternoon and there was an open bar so needless to say like the Queen Mary2 and the Arcadia there was no Sav blanc left by the end of the cruise hahahaha. With such a small crowd ( it only takes 20 passengers , 18 on our cruise ) we meet everyone on board , 4 other couples from Victoria and we instantly clicked with 2 lovely ladies from Perth who have been together one month less than Frank and I have........









So our lovely time in Broome has come to an end and we head off early tomorrow morning for the last leg of our trip , we need to be in Darwin by next Monday so we will be doing long day drives and one night stay overs for the next 5 days but once we reach Darwin we have 3 lovely days in a plush hotel. Hope all is well with everyone , so until Chapter 8 ( the final chapter ) Take Care xxxxxxx Travelling Barbies P.S.... A very Happy Birthday on June 1st to our lovely Karen , Love and best wishes , Lyndon & Frank xxxxx P.S.S.... Bon Voyage to Sherrol & Phil for June 2nd , Have a FABULOUS and safe trip xxxx P.S.S.S.... To David and Sarah , Congratulations on the sale of your farm xxxxxx



Chapter Eight Hey Everyone , our fabulous trip has come to a close , so here is the last instalment of the Britz Barbie Adventures....... When I left you last we were just about to head off from Broome for our trip inland to Darwin.... As we had spent extra time in Broome it meant that we didn’t get to see a lot of the next few places , just to camp overnight ..... Welcome to Fitzroy Crossing , Halls Creek & Kununurra ..... The home of Boab Trees , some planted by Rolf Harris , Baz Luhrmann & Nicole Kidman , and the Greatest Diamonds in the world.....

When we rung ahead to book a spot at Fitzroy Crossing we were told “ No bookings , first in first served , suggest you be here at 10am !! “ ALSO we had been told by some Fred & Ethel’s “ Don’t leave your van because when you return it will have no wheels” so we didn’t want to risk having to stay on the side of the road so we left Broome at 6am for a 4 hour drive to Fitzroy Crossing. Once we arrived we found our Caravan Park was a long way out of town , so nice and safe and also empty !!! so lots of worry for nothing and in fact it was one of the nicest sites we have stayed at , shady and grassy and V quiet. PLUS it had a 5 star restaurant which we had the most delicious meal of this whole trip !!!! ( except all the ones Frank has cooked !! )

The next day was the day of the longest haul of this trip , 8 and a half hours on the road !!! We had been recommended not to stay at Halls Creek so hence we had to do the trip from Fitzroy Crossing to Kununurra in one leap , we did however have to stop for fuel at Halls Creek and we can see where that recommendation came from ( thank you R,A,J&P )...... So once in Kununurra we had a bit of extra time so we wondered into town and went to a Diamond factory and saw the most beautiful ( and expensive ) jewellery we have ever seen .... We learned about the 4 C’s ( Colour , Clarity , Carat & Cut ) and we also saw a rare Champagne Rose Diamond , the size of less than a pin head and a steal at only $165,000 !!!!!!!

Once again as time was limited we headed off for our next stop ... BUT not until I purchased my government allowed ONE bottle of wine at Coles Liquor Land at only between 2.04 and 2.13pm only if I stood 10 centimetres to the left of the cash register and only if I had strawberry blonde hair and only if my middle name was Charles !!!!!!!!! Oh Dear the drinking laws are VERY strict up here !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to Katherine .... The home of Crocodiles , Simon the pilot , and the Greatest Gorge in the world.... We left Kununurra nice and early for our last long drive to our final destination....... About one hour into our trip we crossed the border into Northern Territory and I have to say this was the most picturesque drive we had done so far , with surrounding mountains and Boab Trees , which beats just flat nothingness that we have had in the past. The roads a little bit rougher but no animal pedestrians. Once again we had a beautiful set up in the caravan park , although peak season has now started and the caravan park full , all was Ok ......



We got talking to brother and sister Fred & Ethel next door and they were shocked to learn that we only had one night in Katherine and assured us that Darwin was only 3 & a half hours up the road if we went on the Stuart Highway and not the 8 hour drive with a stop at Jabiru which we had planned. So with a quick trip to reception an extra night was booked...... We headed off the next morning to Katherine Gorge and did a 4 km loop walk around the gorge and saw some amazing sites from various lookouts and then had treat # 3 a helicopter ride and saw the whole lay out from the air , and the first ride in a helicopter for the both of us , just amazing........

Our pilot was Simon from New Zealand and he was fabulous and very informative giving us full report on the Gorge and what we were flying over and also details of the helicopter and reassured us that all was OK when we turned sideways !!!!!! hair raising but exciting. So after our fabulous time at Katherine Gorge we headed home to do the chore that we had been dreading for 5 weeks , The Pack up !!!!! We pulled our packed away suitcases out and filled them up and tore all our beloved things down from around BB from the last 5 weeks then scrubbed her cleaner than she was before we picked her up.....









Welcome to Darwin .... the home of the multi cultural capital , Charles Darwin ( Discoverer & Naturalist , and whom I was named after ) and the Greatest ‘after 5 weeks camping ‘ LUXURY APPARTMENT in the world..... We headed off early from Katherine with a sparkling BB for our last leg and in 4 hours we arrived at the Darwin Britz depot at 11am. With the troubles we had during our 5 weeks with the BB the change over took over an hour but with some compensation in our pocket and a sad Farwell to BB we cabbed it into the city to be dropped off at ONE30 on the Esplanade and this was a little surprise from Frankie to me for roughing it for 5 weeks.........

OMG we have a top floor apartment with an en suite that is bigger than our unit in Melbourne plus 2 lounge rooms , dining room , kitchen with an island and a glass door wine fridge and not to mention a massive balcony with 180 degree view of the Darwin Harbour...... And a further surprise the following morning , while having our coffee on the balcony this happened right in front of us........ We enjoyed half an hour watching the Dawn Princess sail in and dock further down the Esplanade....



ONE30 Esplanade Serviced Apartments Darwin

We spent the day exploring Darwin city , it has a very Bali feel about it and is very picturesque along the Esplanade and wharf area ( especially with The Dawn Princess berthed there ) , tonight we are catching up for dinner with an old family friend from North Epping Karen Johnson who now lives in Darwin , very exciting , I haven’t seen her since I was 14 . Tomorrow we check out from our penthouse in the sky at midday and have 4 hours before our flight back to Melbourne so we are off to Crocosaurus Cove ( it’s like an aquarium for crocodiles ) and we will see feedings and get to nurse a baby one !!!!! Then we fly home.

I hope you have enjoyed the journal , we have had an amazing time and “ I Did It “ I drove all the way from Perth to Darwin , 5638 km !!!!!!!!! Hope you are all well and we’ll see you soon , signing off , The Travelling Barbies xxxxxxx P.S for those who have never heard my name before , Well I’m quite famous over here......... ( Sarah & Olivia , even what you call me.... LYNTON)