Leaving Lake Argyle, we swiftly crossed into the Northern Territory where two immediate changes caught our attention: the speed limit increased to 130 km/h, and the road quality noticeably deteriorated. This combination wasn’t ideal, so we maintained our usual lower towing speeds and continued our journey. Initially, we planned to stop an hour short of Katherine at a free campsite, but as the afternoon slipped away, we decided to stop earlier to avoid night driving. When we arrived at our new spot, we noticed a car departing after initiating a controlled burn. Assuming it would remain small, we were soon joined by the Deuchars, and given that Grant is a firefighter, he advised us that it seemed ok but just in case we opted for a quick dinner before driving a bit further to a safer campsite, which everyone agreed was a good idea. We settled in for the night, enjoying a good chat once the kids were asleep.

The next morning, we bid farewell to the Deuchars as they headed directly to Darwin, and we set off for Katherine. The drive was short, and we were soon at a farm stay on the outskirts of town. Excited to have a powered site for the first time in over two weeks, we unfortunately encountered a couple of issues: the 240V charger wasn’t functioning, leaving us reliant on solar power, and the air conditioner wouldn’t cool. Despite these setbacks, we made the best of it by cooling off in the pool before enjoying an afternoon of animal feeding. The kids were thrilled as they dangled bread from their mouths to feed cows, adored a camel named Toey, and interacted with donkeys, emus, pigs, and even a 4-meter crocodile being fed a whole chicken. They also had the chance to handle some reptiles.

The following day, we explored Katherine, starting with a visit to the serene Katherine Hot Springs. These naturally occurring hot springs, surrounded by lush greenery, provided a perfect spot for relaxation. We had the springs mostly to ourselves, enhancing our enjoyment. Our next destination was Katherine Gorge, where a short walk led us to a lookout offering views of the impressive gorge sections and the river running through them. After returning to the farm, the kids were eager to repeat the feeding experience, especially Lily, who spent time gathering leftover food for Toey.

That night, after enjoying remarkably good weather during our trip, we experienced a torrential downpour of 200mm of rain. The van remained dry, but we awoke to find it in a large puddle. After packing up, we set off for Darwin to meet with an air conditioner repairer Robyn had found. The drive, despite some minor flooding, was mostly straightforward. Upon arriving in Darwin, we secured a campsite next to the Deuchars and headed to the pool while waiting for the repairer. He promptly identified the issue: a crack in the piping had caused a gas leak. Removing the unit for safety, he managed to fix it swiftly, restoring cool air to our relief in the humid climate.

Later, we joined the Deuchars for a trip to the marina, recalling Grant’s fond memories of feeding fish with chips during a previous visit. The spectacle did not disappoint, as a school of spotted trevally eagerly competed for our offerings. Dinner at the marina seemed unappealing, so we headed off to a Dawin tradition that Robyn had also experienced when she was there 8 years ago visiting her friend Sarah: wood-fired pizza by the water at Nightcliff Beach. The “Pizza Man,” renowned for his booming voice and after about 10 minutes we finally heard “Fourteen, Pizza” so we quickly collected our delicious pizzas. We ended the evening with a stroll through town and a stop for ice cream, marking a wonderful start to our time in Darwin.

The next day began at the Darwin Museum, starting with the lively feeding of fish, tortoises, and yabbies. We also explored exhibits featuring “Sweetheart,” a 6.5-meter crocodile, and the Cyclone Tracy experience, which provided a chilling audio simulation of a cyclone. Lunch was a treat, as we indulged in dumplings for the first time since leaving home, followed by fun at a free water park with slides and play areas—a great alternative to beach swimming. That evening, the famous Mindil Markets beckoned, offering diverse food choices, including local laksa. Some of the purchases included and amazing vanilla slice, crocodile jerky, dresses, Ollies wooden chess set and Lily and Holly used the money they earnt selling cards to buy matching linking bracelets. As the sun set, we shared a delightful evening with the Deuchars and some other travelling friends, concluding with an entertaining whip show before returning to the caravan park for final drinks together since it was to be the last time we would see each other.

Our last day included a visit to the botanical gardens, where we enjoyed a stroll amid a giant crocodile statue, dinosaurs, and a massive rope seesaw. A different water park with a thrilling speed slide provided more fun before our final dinner in Darwin at the sailing club, where we watched a stunning sunset, an even more breathtaking farewell to our time here.