Australia 1

The target of our interest was Western Australia - which stretches from the bottom left of Australia right up to the border with The Northern Territory. It covers 250 million hectares and has a coastline stretching over 12,500km. It is the biggest Australian state by far.
To be more precise, The Kimberley Region - that part that adjoins the Northern Territory was where we were heading because that is the location of the amazing Bungle Bungles ( Purnululu National Park) we had read so much about.
We also wanted to see and experience the famous Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk). It is located at Katherine - a few hundred kilometers away in the Northern Territory.

It was our intention to drive from Darwin in the far north to Perth - the WA State Capital - in the south - a distance of approximately 4000 km. In the event we actually drove over 5000 km. and also managed to see a little of the beautiful Southwest Region of W.A. although we didn't actually get as far as Augusta or Margaret River. The furthest west we achieved was an attractive place called Busselton - famous for its 2km long jetty.

To get to Darwin, we decided to fly first to Melbourne, then to Darwin via Alice Springs hoping for fine clear weather as we flew the up the centre of the Continent. We were not disappointed on either account.

Our brief visit to Melbourne proved to be a very happy occasion and a bonus because we were able to pay a day visit to an old friend I had not seen for about 60 years when we joined the Royal Marine Band Service as boys in the Isle of Man.

Myself and Bette with Iris and Don Flounders