Posted by: Jenn
G'day mates! I thought this greeting was a common misconceived stereotype for Australians, kind of like Texans still ride horses to school, but Aussie's really do say this! Jonathan and I landed in Darwin, Australia after a quick flight from Bali. Our flight from Bali was a red eye so needless to say we were past exhausted by the time we arrived in Darwin at 6 AM. We had absolutely no idea what we were going to do, as in take the next flight out to the East coast, or stay in Darwin for a couple days. So instead of making a decision we slept.
G'day mates! I thought this greeting was a common misconceived stereotype for Australians, kind of like Texans still ride horses to school, but Aussie's really do say this! Jonathan and I landed in Darwin, Australia after a quick flight from Bali. Our flight from Bali was a red eye so needless to say we were past exhausted by the time we arrived in Darwin at 6 AM. We had absolutely no idea what we were going to do, as in take the next flight out to the East coast, or stay in Darwin for a couple days. So instead of making a decision we slept.
We slept for a good two to three hours before deciding that we should go ahead and figure out a plan.
Immediately after wandering the airport for a couple of minutes we started noticing drastic differences in everything! For one, everyone speaks ENGLISH. Second, in the FREE airport bathroom I didn't have to search out the Western toilet after passing all the Asian toilets because they were all Western. Not only that, but I didn't need the toilet paper I had stuck in my pocket for the bathroom run because there was enough tp in each stall for an army! Third, when we needed help figuring out how to get out of the airport all we had to do was ask once. But the best part was that the person helping actually helped! When we asked "How is the best way to get to downtown?" they gave an actual answer instead of saying "yes". So, even though Australia is very Westernized, like home, it is still culture shock because we have been away from Westernization for a year now.
Back to planning. We knew we wanted to get to the east coast as soon as possible because that is where the majority of the sites we wanted to see are located. Flying or driving were our two options so we considered both. Australia has a pretty sweet van relocation system that Jonathan had heard about from other backpackers so we looked into that first. Turns out a camper van needed to be relocated from Darwin to Cairns in six days time and the cost for us would be $1 a day plus fuel. The van sleeps three comfortably, is equipped with a fridge, stove, sink, cookware, and camping chairs. Because we wanted to see the outback instead of fly over it, we opted for the camper van. We booked the van from a borrowed phone in the airport then FINALLY left the airport (at noon) and caught a taxi to a hostel. The hostels in Australia are baller, although very very pricey - $30 for one single bed in a dorm room. I guess you get what you pay for though. Hot shower, air conditioner, and a free BBQ the night we were there so we hit that up like we hadn't eaten in days. Whaaaaaaaat real BBQ!? Asia knows nothin' about that.
Immediately after wandering the airport for a couple of minutes we started noticing drastic differences in everything! For one, everyone speaks ENGLISH. Second, in the FREE airport bathroom I didn't have to search out the Western toilet after passing all the Asian toilets because they were all Western. Not only that, but I didn't need the toilet paper I had stuck in my pocket for the bathroom run because there was enough tp in each stall for an army! Third, when we needed help figuring out how to get out of the airport all we had to do was ask once. But the best part was that the person helping actually helped! When we asked "How is the best way to get to downtown?" they gave an actual answer instead of saying "yes". So, even though Australia is very Westernized, like home, it is still culture shock because we have been away from Westernization for a year now.
Back to planning. We knew we wanted to get to the east coast as soon as possible because that is where the majority of the sites we wanted to see are located. Flying or driving were our two options so we considered both. Australia has a pretty sweet van relocation system that Jonathan had heard about from other backpackers so we looked into that first. Turns out a camper van needed to be relocated from Darwin to Cairns in six days time and the cost for us would be $1 a day plus fuel. The van sleeps three comfortably, is equipped with a fridge, stove, sink, cookware, and camping chairs. Because we wanted to see the outback instead of fly over it, we opted for the camper van. We booked the van from a borrowed phone in the airport then FINALLY left the airport (at noon) and caught a taxi to a hostel. The hostels in Australia are baller, although very very pricey - $30 for one single bed in a dorm room. I guess you get what you pay for though. Hot shower, air conditioner, and a free BBQ the night we were there so we hit that up like we hadn't eaten in days. Whaaaaaaaat real BBQ!? Asia knows nothin' about that.
After a great nights sleep we got up and hit up a grocery store (not a mini mart, a grocery store - like a big one) to stock up on road trip necessities.
We then hit up an Internet shop to read emails before hitting the road. Walking into the Internet shop we saw a bulletin board with a small sign that said "Need ride from Darwin to Cairns ASAP. Will share petrol cost and fun. Stef and Caro" We thought that it would be nice to have others along for the ride and sharing the petrol cost would help out a lot so we gave the number a call using Skype on the computer. I heard the phone ring through Jonathan's headphones and then like milliseconds later a phone rings in the Internet shop. Then I heard a chick say 'hello' through the headphones and simultaneously this chick on the computer across from ours says hello. I stood up and saw Stef on her phone and said "we are calling you!" It was sooooo random! So we chatted for a bit and told them we were hitting the road in less than an hour and they were like sweet we are coming. So the four of us, two Americans and two French Canadian sisters, loaded the van and started the six day, 1,772 mile journey across northern Australia.
The first day we did not make much progress because we wanted to visit Litchfield National Park which is only two hours away from Darwin. The park has several cool waterfalls and huge termite mounds. I had no idea termites built such huge homes!
We then visited two of the many waterfalls and went for a dip in one of the waterfall pools.
When renting the van everyone was telling us to never drive at night because we would definitely hit a kangaroo. By the time we left the park dusk was approaching so we started searching for a place to sleep. Australia is dotted with rest stops that you can camp at so we found one and parked for the night.
For dinner Jonathan and I cooked mac and cheese while Stef and Caro had pasta with tomato sauce.
The 'downstairs' of the van converts to a double bed while the 'upstairs loft' converts to a small double bed. After dinner we settled in for the night. When we woke up Jonathan was so excited because he could have cereal with cold, real milk.
The second day we apparently entered into kangaroo territory because we saw soooo many dead roos. It was like worse than deer and armadillo combined in south Texas.
We made our way to Katherine where we wanted to visit the Katherine Gorge. Again, we did not make much progress this day either because the Katherine Gorge was only two hours away from where we slept. In Katherine we bought some gas for cooking and petrol for the van (who has now acquired the name Ladyboy) while also filling up our water tank for the sink and enjoying some sandwiches in the parking lot.
At Katherine Gorge we went for a swim and decided to take advantage of the fresh river water to shave our legs and wash up a bit. The camper van is not equipped with a shower and the free rest stops rarely have toilets much less showers.
Jonathan and I then hiked up to get a better view of the gorge. And we saw our first wild (alive) wallabies, which is a smaller version of a kangaroo.
We left Katherine Gorge and searched out another rest stop. Once we parked we built a fire and enjoyed dinner over a game of cards.
Day Three: Driving eight hours. The sparseness of the Outback was really cool to see though.
Every time the radio station switched from songs to a commercial break I thought each one was the beginning of an Outback Steakhouse commercial. It took a few commercial breaks for me to catch on to the Australian accent selling something other than thick steaks.
Something we noticed while driving and then driving some more in the Outback was the "Road Trains". The eighteen wheelers in the states don't even know what's up. These "Road Trains" are semi's with up to five trailers and 102 tires - it was quite intimidating to try to overtake one or to be overtaken by one on a two lane highway.
Something we noticed while driving and then driving some more in the Outback was the "Road Trains". The eighteen wheelers in the states don't even know what's up. These "Road Trains" are semi's with up to five trailers and 102 tires - it was quite intimidating to try to overtake one or to be overtaken by one on a two lane highway.
Day Four: Driving eight hours again. We crossed from the Northern Territory into Queensland - our most exciting event for that day.
Oh, we also had to herd some cows off the road.
Along with the live cows on the road we came across dead horses, dead cows, and dead pigs. At home sometimes you see a cow that got out of the fence but here there are signs saying "Unfenced cattle next 5 km". They know their cows are roaming the streets...um ok.
After herding cattle we put on a concert in Julia Creek where we stopped to get more food. It was Sunday afternoon and the town was so dead but there was music blaring from speakers in the town center and there was no one around to hear it. It was really strange. So we danced.
After herding cattle we put on a concert in Julia Creek where we stopped to get more food. It was Sunday afternoon and the town was so dead but there was music blaring from speakers in the town center and there was no one around to hear it. It was really strange. So we danced.
That night we couldn't find any free rest stops and it was well past dark so we parked by a cemetery in the back of this tiny town. It was so creepy when we parked and went to sleep but it was so pretty when we woke up.
On day five we drove through a town that had a McDonald's. Yeeeeah! Except McDonald's in Australia is sooooo expensive - $8 for a breakfast meal. The girls and I got breakfast sandwiches. While we were eating the lady behind the counter was talking to another customer and started laughing and pointing outside and says "of all places to cook your breakfast".
Ooooh budget boyfriend...what am I going to do with you!?
Later that day we arrived at Paluma Range National Park.
Disclaimer: So before you read anymore and want to judge just remember that Australia is expensive and we have been in a camper van for five days without a shower.
Paluma Range National Park has several swimming holes so we grabbed our shower things and thought we might try to rinse off some if could find a good spot. We hiked along the creek and came to a spot that had some swimming holes with rocks that had slippery cuts through them perfect for sliding. First we showered. Actually the 'natural bath' was quite nice and refreshing. I felt cleaner.
Later that day we arrived at Paluma Range National Park.
Disclaimer: So before you read anymore and want to judge just remember that Australia is expensive and we have been in a camper van for five days without a shower.
Paluma Range National Park has several swimming holes so we grabbed our shower things and thought we might try to rinse off some if could find a good spot. We hiked along the creek and came to a spot that had some swimming holes with rocks that had slippery cuts through them perfect for sliding. First we showered. Actually the 'natural bath' was quite nice and refreshing. I felt cleaner.
Then we enjoyed the natural water park and it was soooo much fun.
P.S. As we were leaving the park, guess what we saw. Free showers in a building...hahahaha
That night we stopped at a grocery store for a little more food and some beverages. Party at the rest stop...wha whaaat.
Day six: We finally hit the east coast and wanted to see a beach before returning the van to Cairns so we stopped at Mission Beach. It was very different from the beaches in Southeast Asia which was actually super refreshing.
On the way to mission beach we kept seeing the signs shown below. I must say that Australia has some pretty funny signage. But it was disappointing because we never saw the birds after seeing a million and one signs.
After visiting Mission Beach it was a straight shot to Cairns so we could return the van by 3 PM. Although there wasn't too much to see, the road trip was a ton of fun. Having Stef and Caro along was a blast and we enjoyed having our own mode of transportation and having the freedom to do whatever.
So after driving 1,772 miles we ended up spending $600 on petrol (fuel) for Ladyboy. The most we paid for fuel was $1.90 Australian dollars per liter which works out to be $7.50 USD per gallon. We have noticed that the fuel in the states is so much cheaper than every where else that we have been.
Once in Cairns we returned Ladyboy and headed for a hostel to sleep in a real bed for the night and decide how we are going to attack the east coast...probably by another camper van!
Budget is up for August!
So after driving 1,772 miles we ended up spending $600 on petrol (fuel) for Ladyboy. The most we paid for fuel was $1.90 Australian dollars per liter which works out to be $7.50 USD per gallon. We have noticed that the fuel in the states is so much cheaper than every where else that we have been.
Once in Cairns we returned Ladyboy and headed for a hostel to sleep in a real bed for the night and decide how we are going to attack the east coast...probably by another camper van!
Budget is up for August!