8 - "on the road again" Off to Cairns!

Before I drift too quickly into the details of the road trip, I want to briefly bring you up to date:

Hands: almost healed, left fist even closes

Car: Yes, a 1993 Pajero with barely 250,000 km

Passengers: 2! Being alone "I spy with my little eye.." doesn't shock!

Route: just under 3000 km from Darwin to Cairns.

Day 1:

We were supposed to start at 12, but that would be delayed for some time.

After a nice "Safe travels" in all directions, we finally headed south at 2 pm.

When I wasn't driving, it was trying to transfer the Play Store voucher I acquired in Australia to my German mobile phone - in vain!

The loyal reader may draw parallels here to the Samsung code debacle in my first weeks in Australia.

But until late at night it was all about driving, driving, driving.

Then finally a campground! Mataranka! (south-east of Katherine)

So quickly set up the tent (only the inner tent, of course), because there was a breathtaking starry sky to admire.

Apart from the sky (and there are skies everywhere here, usually even with an ozone layer), there wasn't much to discover.

Day 2:

We started today at 10 o'clock, quickly had coffee and hit the road.

But not too far, around the corner lurks a sign that says "Hot Springs"

There we go!

First off, cool down in the termal springs, watch peacocks, and then start the day comfortably!

Here you become aware for the first time how big Australia really is.

Looking out the windows, in front: road, straight to the horizon; left: nothing; right: still nothing.

We camped at the Heartbreak Hotel, but amidst thousands of flies, so we had to somehow occupy ourselves in the mosquito net until nightfall.

Day 3:

Spontaneously changed the rroute, as even with 4-wheel drive the road is not in a passable condition.

We're going down the 11 to the Tablelands!

Except for flies, cows, and the occasional kangaroo, there's nothing here! Absolutely nothing!

Day 4:

Queensland! Half the distance almost done!

The landscape is noticeably changing, the incredible vastness, sparsely dotted with grass or undergrowth, is giving way to the first small "green pasturelands".

But here too.. nothing but countryside in the countryside..

But that's how it was planned.. this almost endless size can't really be grasped any other way.

(Maybe also on foot.. but that's a bit too hard for me)

Day 5:

After many more hours of mindless driving westward, we're now heading back north!

Route 62, but today only as far as Porcupine Gorge National Park.

We had to explore that first, so we hiked in, looked around, marveled, and then unfortunately walked the same 3 km back out of the gorge.

More exhausting than expected after 4 nights in a tent, which were also no walk in the park thanks to tender ribcage.

At least the flies are becoming less and we're almost on the homestretch!

Day 6:

Today we settled in Mount Rosey Resources Reserve.

Many tours are offered here as well, but we opted for a quiet evening with a modified version of City, Country, River and observing possums.

The little rascals even walk under the dining table and startle you there with their wiry fur - yikes!

But they're quite cute..

Tomorrow we should make it. Then we leave Mount Surprise behind and make the final 400 km to Cairns.

It's about time, we hardly have any food left..

Day 7:

"A city in a garden" that's how everyone in Cairns is greeted.

So we're finally here.

First stop at "Hungry Jacks", the Australian BurgerKing, use the free Wi-Fi to find a hostel and here on the east coast the choice is much bigger than in Darwin or the Outback.

Then it's back to job hunting, I urgently need a job for longer than 1 week..