Round The Kookaburra 2017

  SNAPSHOT As the chief travel agent, financial advisor and  navigator on our big adventure, there isn't a day that goes past without me questioning all of our decisions, it isn't just a simple case of going where we want, staying where we want or doing what we want! We are limited by our van which isn't off road, our budget which although reasonable, isn't limitless and most importantly by time itself, which is ticking by at an alarming rate! And then we have to fit in fun!!! Hah hah To be honest it all comes with a reasonable amount of stress, followed by a considered amount of "devil may care" attitude - the latter of which has seen us make some interesting and yet valuable choices this week! I follow other travel pages with interest, comparing all of our individual choices of roads to travel - and it isn't with jealousy at all!!! Mostly with curiosity ......and have quickly come to realize that everyone's journey is theirs and theirs

SNAPSHOT There was a whiff of anxiety from me driving into Darwin - my memories of this place are mixed and range from happy-nostalgic to happy-sad.......but I have to say that on arrival, reality was not even close to what I expected - Darwin has executed somewhat of a magical change over the last 20 years - everything that was rough around the edges is now smooth and shiny, however it has managed to lose none of its chillaxed atmosphere......in some ways it was like coming home and it made me super happy to see my family embracing all things Darwin, the good, the bad and the unusual! We are halfway through our adventure and as planned, a long time before departure, we celebrated in Darwin the fact that  a) shit-a-brick we actually made it halfway and b) Leigh and I are not getting a divorce - I should mention that the last owners of our van set out on their adventure and only made it to Darwin before getting divorced ....: the girls felt like it was an omen and nicknamed

SNAPSHOT It was 1996 when I first stepped off an Ansett flight, fresh from New Zealand, ready to take on Australia at a naive 20 years old.....my destination? Darwin. The "why's" and "what the hell were you thinking's" is a story for another day but suffice to say nine days later as I had passed my millionth termite hill, wild camels, played eye-spy with every dangerous, human attacking species you could think of, and cringed at the seering sun - this little kiwi was trying to work out how to pay for a flight home with my tail between my legs 😂 But then! An oasis in the outback......Mataranka and the beautiful Bitter Springs......I still remember the feeling of peace and tranquility it gave me then and 21 years later nothing has changed! This week has been hilarious, surprising and exhausting - we've clocked up approximately 1800km, I had a crack at towing the van (much easier than I imagined!), we've been on a wifi and phone ra