Batchelor

 30 - 31 May 2022

Batchelor was only an overnight stop on the way to Litchfield National Park, but chosen because of the wild bird feeding each evening in the caravan park. It was only about 200km from Pine Creek so we stopped for a cuppa at a rest area along the way and also at the markets at Adelaide River. We found the fish van and bought some frozen fillets for later. We arrived in Pine Creek in the middle of the day. We chose what we hoped would be a shady spot, but we got it wrong again. Luckily the pool was cool and shady.

We went down to the bird feeding area at the appointed time, but apart from some galahs, there wasn't much action. That's the thing with wild birds, despite your best efforts they don't always do what you want them to. We might just have to come back another time - or maybe not. Batchelor doesn't have much to offer apart from being near to Litchfield National Park.

In the morning we again checked out the bird feeding, but again just the galahs. We drove into the town and had a coffee in the park before setting off for Florence Falls in Litchfield National Park. We had booked a site in the Old 4WD Campground and were very much looking forward to it.

Pine Creek

 27 - 29 May 2022

After a very successful morning near the turn-off to Leliyn (Edith Falls) which saw Mick capture his first ever Gouldian Finch photo we set off for a couple of nights at Pine Creek. Once again it was a bird that prompted the decision to visit - this time the Hooded Parrot. It was only a short drive so we arrived before 11:00am and went to check in at the caravan park attached to the pub. We were able to book a site but had to wait until 12 to be allowed to go in and set up. We spent the time wandering around the grassy parkland nearby and Mick was pleased to spot some of the parrots he was after. We had an early picnic lunch then moved into the caravan park.

Mick had photographed two new birds in the one day, so we felt a celebration was in order. We shouted ourselves dinner at the Lazy Lizard. The food was good and the beer was cold so it was a very nice way to end the day. In the morning Mick went for a walk to take some more photos of the parrots and we then headed off to Umbrawarra Gorge.

The drive to Umbrawarra Gorge took about 45 minutes along a dirt road. There is a campground near the gorge and a small carpark at the day use area. We walked along the short path that follows the creek but it was only barely visible in a few spots due to the vegatation. We continued along after the paved path ended and did a bit of rock hopping to get to a nice sandy spot with views of the gorge itself. We could have gone further but decided not to. There wasn't enough water to make swimming an option but it looked like it would have been nice if we had visited sooner after the wet season ended.

We continued alternating sitting in the shade with swimming - this looked like it was becoming a habit. The next morning Mick spent a while back down in the park trying to photograph the birds but was not as successful. Pine Creek would have to stay on our list of possible places to stop when we head south from Darwin in the next month or so.

We packed up and set off for Batchelor - again in search of parrots.

Nitmiluk National Park - Leliyn (Edith Falls)

 24 - 27 May 2022

We picked up the car and trailer with the new tyres on and set off for Leliyn (Edith Falls). As usual we had booked our campsite through the NT National Parks website and timed our arrival for around lunch time. Unfortunately the site we chose wasn't ideal for us - the size stated didn't give any indication that it was a pull in site, rather than reverse in. We ended up with our kitchen and fridge facing the road and no way to put the awning out. Fortunately there was a great grassed area adjacent, with lots of shade so we spent most of our time under the trees there - when we weren't swimming in the Plunge Pool at the falls.

Once we were over the frustration of the site orientation we had lunch and set up - then it was off to the falls for the first of many swims. It was fabulous, but quite deep in parts so the pool noodles had a good workout. The campground was fully booked by mid afternoon but still people arrived thinking they could just drive in and pick a spot. There were naturally some very unhappy campers!

In the morning Mick rose early and drove back down the road on a mission to try and find Gouldian Finches - without success. We had another swim and considered our options for the rest of the day. We were both keen to go on the Leliyn Trail walk which would take us to the Upper Pool but we needed to do this in a cooler part of the day. So - would we do it later in the afternoon or in the morning before we left? In the end we decided on the only sensible thing to do - extend our stay for another night and go on the walk in the morning without having to rush to get back to pack up. Luckily our site was available for the extra night so our plan would work. More swimming and relaxing in the shade completed our day.

We did get up earlier than usual - before sunrise - and set off on the walk at about 7:30am. The first section involves a steep climb up many stairs, with some great views along the way. We reached the upper pool just after 8:00am and were the only ones there - for a little while. We had forgotten to take the pool noodles but didn't really need them as the pool has lots of shallow parts with big boulders just under the surface. We spent over an hour enjoying the waterfall and pool. It was certainly worth the climb up and the walk over rocky paths and steps.

Once we returned home we headed back to the Plunge Pool for yet another swim. We spent the rest of the day alternating between the shady grass and the cool pool - what a life! We decided to get up early in the morning so we could spend some time at a birdy spot before heading for Pine Creek. Again we rose before dawn, breakfasted and packed up as quietly as we could and were on the road just after 7:00am. We stopped at the unofficial campground near the junction with the Stuart Highway and Mick set off to look for birds while I set up a comfy chair in the shade and read. 

Mick's efforts were rewarded and he managed to get his first look - and photograph - of a Gouldian Finch in the wild. It was right where he expected to find it too. This was cause for celebration so we had morning tea and made our way to Pine Creek.

Katherine

 21 - 24 May 2022

We left Mataranka and continued north towards Katherine where we had a caravan park booking. It was a fairly short drive and we arrived in time for lunch. We were very happy with our choice of van park as there was plenty of shade and a very nice swimming pool too. We settled in and then ventured into town to restock supplies and call in to the visitor information centre. We tried out the pool late in the day too.

On Sunday morning we drove out to Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park. It's about 1/2 hour from town and we arrived around morning tea time. We had a coffee on the large deck overlooking the river. There is really only one short walk so we set off - in the wrong direction. By the time we realised this and found the right path, it was getting very late in the morning and the temperature was rising. We generally try to walk early in the morning but had badly miscalculated this one. We continued on as the path parallelled the river, but some distance from it, until we reached the steps up to the lookout. I didn't go all the way up, but Mick did. We returned to the visitor centre along the path beside the river, which we found to be much nicer. We headed back home for lunch, a rest and another swim.

Late in the afternoon we went down to the Low Level Nature Reserve for a walk and to look for birds. It is quite a lovely spot, but not a good swimming spot due to the possible presence of crocodiles. Never-the-less we did see some people splashing in the shallows.

On Monday morning we drove to the Katherine Hot Springs which are quite close to town. Another very popular spot, these springs are a series of pools joined by narrow channels. We paddled and floated the morning away, enjoying the scenery and relaxing in the just warm water. Later we went into town to do some more shopping and run some errands, including arranging a couple of new tyres for the camper trailer.

On Tuesday morning we took our time packing up and revisted the Low Level Reserve before dropping the car and trailer off for the new tyres to be fitted. We filled in time poking around the shops before collecting the trailer and setting off for Leliyn (Edith Falls). 

Elsey National Park - Mataranka

 18 – 21 May 2022

We left Banka Banka and made our first stop at Elliott. We found a nice park to make a cuppa, and Mick found some birds in the trees nearby. From there we moved on to Alexander Forrest Rest Area where we stopped for lunch. There was a nice view, and a few caravans had already settled in to spend the night there. We continued on to Warloch Rest Area where there was reportedly some good bird sightings at the waterhole nearby. Unfortunately there was no sign of any waterhole so we scratched that off the list of potential overnight stays and continued on.

We debated whether to stay at Bitter Springs or Mataranka and decided we had time for both. We headed to Mataranka Homestead first and checked in late in the day for us – just before 4:00pm. We headed to the section of the park we had been allocated and found a spot that would give us afternoon shade from the awning. There are lots of small trees but nothing that would provide adequate shade for a few years yet. The shady part of the park seemed to be full already.

We set up and headed for the famous springs for a leisurely soak after a long, hot day in the car. It was just what we needed. Because we were in late, we also decided on dinner at the bistro. Considering the remoteness of the location the meal was good, and the prices were reasonable. There was also musical entertainment which we could still hear back at our camp.

In the morning we drove down to Bitter Springs for a swim and to check the area out. The swim was fabulous – jump in and float on our newly acquired pool noodles, get out at the bridge, walk back along the path and do it all again. What a great way to spend a morning.

We headed home for morning tea and another swim at Mataranka. With a forecast temperature of 35° the water seemed like the best place to be. We battled through the heat of the afternoon and had a final swim before the temperature started to drop as the sun started to go down. We decided that we'd spend an extra night at Mataranka instead of moving on to Bitter Springs. Sometimes it's just easier to stay put rather than pack up and move on such a short distance. 

The following morning we went down for an early walk along the riverside path to Stevie’s Hole. Unfortunately there is no swimming allowed, but it was a very nice 1.5km walk along well defined paths. After morning tea we set off in the car to explore a bit more of Elsey National Park. We stopped at a number of the day use areas and also went to have a look at the campground. The campground definitely looked good to us, with toilets, many big sites and lots of shade. This is one we will have to keep “on the list”.

After lunch we drove down to Bitter Springs again and spent a few hours floating down the creek, walking back to the start and doing it all over again. It was a perfect way to while away the hours. Although this is a very popular spot there seemed to be plenty of room for everyone, maybe because there is constant movement down the creek.

We rose early on the morning of departure so Mick could get down to a spot on Central Arnhem Road, just a short way from the Stuart Highway, to look for a treecreeper he was hoping to photograph. We arrived at the designated spot and he headed off into the bush. After about an hour, he returned happy that he had found and photographed the bird. Satisfied with the morning’s work, we drove back to the Stuart Highway and made coffee at the next rest area we came to. From there it was only a short drive into Katherine where we had booked three nights in a caravan park.

Banka Banka West

 16 – 18 May 2022

Before we left Karlu Karlu we stopped in to use the free wifi at the day use area, where we made an online booking for 2 nights at Banka Banka West Station. We then set off towards Tennant Creek where we stopped for some supplies including fuel. We then drove the short distance to Tingkkarli/Lake Mary Ann where we had morning tea. Back on the Stuart Highway we drove on the Attack Creek for a picnic lunch.

We arrived at Banka Banka just after lunch and were directed to the unpowered section and invited to select a spot. We chose one near a tree, but we had calculated the position of the sun incorrectly and we didn’t end up with much shade at all. Banka Banka is a working cattle station with a tourist park as an added extra. It would have to be one of the best set up and run station stays that we have been to. The booking system was clear and easy to use, and the welcome on arrival was friendly and informative. The camping ground for tents and camper trailers is closest to the amenities and there is a camp kitchen. The bar, which is housed in one of the original station buildings, lovingly restored, is open each night and damper is cooked on the coals of the fire nearby.

Mick was fortunate to be given access to a spot for bird photography, not usually accessed by guests. We headed down there just as the sun rose and he spent about 3 hours watching and waiting, while I sat in the car and read. Each of us doing what we love to do. We returned to the campground and late in the afternoon we walked down to the waterhole. The walk is about 2.5km, on mostly well-made station tracks. The last 500m or so is quite rocky, but still fairly easy if you’re wearing sturdy shoes. The waterhole is seasonal and at the time of our visit there wasn't enough water to swim - but enough to attract some birds to drink there.

We did contemplate another session at the dam but decided against another early morning as we were facing a possible long drive to our next stop. Instead we packed up in our usual leisurely fashion and walked up to the lookout before setting off after 9:00am. We planned to look at a particular rest area where there might be some interesting birds.

Karlu Karlu (Devil's Marbles) Conservation Reserve

15 – 16 May 2022

We had booked a night at Karlu Karlu (Devil’s Marbles) so set off and fuelled up at our usual time of around 9:00am.Travelling north we called into the rest stop at the Tropic of Capricorn marker and now had a reference point for where we were in relation to the latitude of our old home in Townsville, Queensland. Rockhampton and Longreach are both on the Tropic of Capricorn so we knew we were making progress towards the “Top End”.

We found a picnic area along the way for a very late lunch and then continued on. There aren’t many rest areas with toilets along the 400 or so kilometres from Alice Springs. Karlu Karlu campground is one of the many Northern Territory National Parks that must be booked online and we had managed to get a good spot when booking a few days previously. The campground is fairly basic with sites around the outside of what is really just a carpark – but with fabulous views if the boulders and cracker sunset and sunrise views. There are drop toilets and a picnic area. A day use area is in another part of the park.

There are a number of walks and we took the short stroll that started near our site. We left it until very late in the afternoon to escape the heat, but we couldn’t escape the files. When we returned we sat inside until darkness had fallen and the numbers had reduced.

The sunrise was beautiful and we were up early – but so were the flies. We breakfasted inside the tent again, with the back canvas rolled up so we could enjoy the view. From Karlu Karlu we continued north on towards Tennant Creek.

Alice Springs

 10 – 15 May 2022

We had booked our campsite in Alice Springs so there was no rush to get there. We had plenty of time to be tourists. The first stop along the way was Ochre Pits. Ochre has long been used for ceremonies and other significant cultural occasions and is highly prized. Visitors to this site are asked not to touch the ochre but just looking at the astounding variety of colours is worth the short walk from the carpark.

Our next stop was Serpentine Gorge. There is a relatively short (2.2km return) walk to the gorge waterhole so we headed there and sat quietly waiting for birds to come in to drink. Lunch time was approaching so we set off again and stopped at Ellery Creek Big Hole for a picnic lunch. All through the ranges and gorges are visible signs of recent flooding, and Ellery Creek was no exception. The waterhole is much larger than last time we visited. The volume of water that must have flowed through is evidenced by the many fallen trees and sand scraped off the road, sitting in massive piles by a now dry crossing.

From Ellery Creek we continued towards Alice Springs with one last stop at Simpson’s Gap. We walked down into the gap – with the cold wind blowing – but Mick was rewarded with some good shots of a Kingfisher catching fish. We continued on to the caravan park which is situated out of town, on the south side.

The caravan park is in a lovely location with views of the ranges and a peaceful bush setting which is perfect for us. We were glad to be on a powered site at last as the nights were still extremely cold at 5° so our little electric heater was put to good use. We spent our first full day sorting, tidying, washing, shopping and catching up on emails and social media. We still had some firewood left so we borrowed one of the park’s fire drums and had drinks by a small blaze before dinner.

On our second day we headed off to the Alice Springs Desert Park. This is a fabulous location to observe native birds as well as to gain an understanding of desert habitats. There are aviaries and various animal exhibits including a nocturnal house. We spent a few hours wandering around – Mick looking for wild birds while I took in the extensive interpretative information. There are various talks throughout the day at different locations within the park which help visitors gain an appreciation for the habitat and cultural values of the area.

On our third morning we visited Olive Pink Botanical Gardens, mainly to photograph one of the resident bower birds in his bower, but also to have morning tea at the lovely onsite café. After our visit we headed into town to do some shopping and then home for lunch. We returned to town later in the day to do some more chores.

On Saturday morning we set off to drive down to the Ilparpa Water Treatment Plant. It is possible to arrange a visit and walk with a local guide but this requires an induction and a degree of luck getting someone available when you want to visit. We did that last time we were in Alice Springs, but this time Mick was content to look through the fence. In the afternoon we revisited Simpsons Gap and enjoyed a lovely time in the cool of the gorge. There was a big crowd there filming – something to do with the ABC’s 90^th birthday celebrations. Depite this, it was a lovely peaceful spot to spend some time.

Back at camp we enjoyed the company of neighbours on the first very warm night for quite a while. In the morning we packed up and headed north again, bound for Karlu Karlu.

Tjoritja National Park, Ormiston Gorge

 7 – 10 May 2022

We left Redbank Gorge and headed east towards Alice Springs, stopping along the way at the Mount Sonder Lookout. There is a magnificent view of the ranges as well as a down to the Finke River below. There is camping along the river but there is no infrastructure at all and access is along the sandy river bed. From there we continued on to Ormiston Gorge.

We arrived at the campground just on 10:00am and found there were lots of sites available – although not all were very level. We chose Site 1 – right next to the one we had stayed on last time we visited. It didn’t take long to get set up and a cuppa going – with leftover scones. After lunch we wandered down to the gorge and were surprised to see the amount of water. There had been significant rain some months ago and the creek still had plenty of water. The small waterholes where birds came down to drink were larger and more numerous.

In the morning we set off on the Ghost Gum Walk. The walk goes up to a lookout near a lone ghost gum, and has great views into the gorge. From there we could see just how much water was still in the creek. After the lookout the walk follows the creek line along a ridge and eventually comes down into the gorge. The walk then continues across to the other side of the gorge, except at this time that would have necessitated a swim through some very cold and quite deep water. We opted to return the way we had come making it just over 3km in total.

After lunch we headed back into the gorge again for a session with the camera in the hope of finding the painted finches that were there in numbers when we visited a few years ago. No luck with the finches but Mick happily photographed Little Woodswallows instead.

We awoke on Monday morning to overcast skies and cooler temperatures. We decided to wait and see if the sky would clear before making our minds up about going out for a drive. We waited until morning tea and with no improvement we headed down to the café for a very nice morning tea. The sky remained overcast until well after lunch time. A patch of blue appeared but didn’t last long so we spent the rest of the day at camp.

We packed up and set off from Ormiston Gorge at 9:30am the next morning, with plenty of time to stop along the way to Alice Springs.

Tjoritja National Park, Redbank Gorge – Woodland Campground

 4 – 7 May 2022

We set off from Kings Canyon along the Mereenie Loop road which was not in great condition this time. Last time it wasn’t too bad, but this time it was quite corrugated and there were quite a few small washouts as well as a couple of patches of bulldust. Nothing too drastic, but it did make for a slow and challenging drive. We stopped at the only designated rest area for a late morning tea then continued on. Instead of going into Alice Springs we took the turn that would take us into the West MacDonnell Ranges and our next destination – Redbank Gorge.

Before entering Tjoritja National Park we stopped and collected some firewood which we knew we would need with forecast lows of 6° overnight on two of the nights we would be there. We had booked our campsite in the Woodland Campground for three nights and arrived mid-afternoon.

In the morning we headed the few kilometres down the road to the gorge for the walk. It’s an out and back walk, rated Grade 3, with some walking on sand in the river bed, as well as some fairly serious rock hopping. We stopped for a while at a small waterhole before continuing to the large waterhole at the end of the walk. We returned to the carpark and made coffee at the picnic area before driving back to camp.

We returned to the gorge the following morning and again went for the walk then had coffee at the picnic area. We enjoyed some beautiful weather but the nights were very cold. We lit the fire and sat around enjoying the atmosphere with very few people around. Friday was my birthday so we cooked dinner over the fire and Mick made date scones in the camp oven. It was a lovely way to spend a birthday.

On Saturday morning we packed everything up, cleaned up the barbecue plate over the firepit and headed off to Ormiston Gorge. You cannot book camping sites there so we just hoped we would be there at the right time to get a spot.

Watarrka National Park - Kings Canyon

 1 – 4 May 2022

Rain drizzled down throughout our final night at Yulara – not heavy, but for long enough to wet the canvas. It was still raining when we started packing up but had stopped by the time we finished. We set off back the way we had come, along the Lasseter Highway and stopped at the dune view rest area to make a cup of coffee. We also stopped briefly at the Mount Conner view rest area before turning north onto Luritja Road which would take us all the way to Watarrka National Park and Kings Canyon.

We found another nice rest area – but again without toilets – to have lunch. Like many of the others we had stopped at, camping is permitted for 24 hours only. There were picnic tables and rubbish bins and lots of space for campers to spread out. If we were self-contained we would definitely take advantage and stay at some of these spots.

There is no camping in Watarrka National Park, so we stayed at the nearby caravan park. Our site had a lovely view of the ranges. Visitors are warned about the resident dingoes so we were careful not to leave food, scraps or shoes outside when we weren’t there. They don’t seem aggressive, but would certainly be opportunistic feeders.

We wanted to do the Rim Walk, so set the alarm to be able to make an early start. When we woke up and checked the weather forecast we saw that there was a chance it would be windy, but not so much the next day so we made a quick decision to put it off for one day, and went back to sleep.

Over breakfast we decided to drive down to the national park and walk the Kings Creek track. This is a very pleasant and easy short walk. The bonus was that there were heaps of birds about. Walking past the start of the Rim Walk, I realised that no matter how much I wanted to go on that walk, I was never going to be able to – I had a mild panic attack just thinking about it. The start is such a steep climb, with nothing to hang on to and a very long way up (and down). Because it is a loop trail, you can’t even turn back. I’m confident I could handle it physically but there was no way I was going to attempt it.

Late in the afternoon we drove down to Kathleen Gorge and completed the relatively short walk to the waterhole. The flies were dreadful but the walk was lovely – expecially as everything was so green. From there we went back to Kings Canyon to look for some birds again and finished the excursion with drinks at the sunset viewing picnic area. The sunset wasn’t great but being on our own in such as place definitely was.

We contemplated what to do about walking in the morning and decided that instead of the Rim Walk, we would go on the South Wall walk. This one is only 4.8km and rated 3, but the description indicates it is a strenuous climb. There had been some light rain overnight and it was still sprinkling when we climbed out of bed, so we took our time to see what the day would be like. Once we were ready and the rain had settled to a very light spit we set off for Kings Canyon.

Once we had all our gear – camera, water, snacks and hiking poles, we set off for the climb up to the south wall. This walk is actually the last section of the Rim Walk, and is an out and back walk. The start certainly was a strenuous climb but we both managed it relatively easily – with lots of stops to have a drink of water or take some photos. The views are stunning but the path is very uneven and rocky in most parts, with lots of steep stairs close to the edge so I found it necessary to watch where I was walking most of the time, and only really enjoyed the view when I was stationary, which was quite often. 

Late in the afternoon we walked up to the dune sunset viewing area – along with way too many other people. This is on the edge of the caravan park, and boasts a bar, but you can also BYO, which we did. The sunset wasn’t great but it was still a nice way to end the day.

In the morning we packed up and returned to reception to purchase our permit to drive back towards Alice Springs along the Mereenie Loop. Central Land Council permission is required to drive through Aboriginal Lands. The permit costs $6.50 and includes a small guide booklet and map. The road is recommended for high clearance 4WD vehicles only. The first 15 km from the resort and caravan park is bitumen, then the next 150 or kilometres is gravel road. There is one authorised rest area and camping along the Mereenie Loop is not permitted. We headed off around 10:30, bound for Tjoritja National Park. The road was in much poorer condition than last time we had driven it, possibly due to recent flooding rains which caused some wash-outs and deep ruts where vehicles had been driven on the wet road. We took it easy and reached the bitumen without incident.

Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park, Yulara - Ayers Rock Campground

 27 April - 1 May 2022

We left Curtin Spings after a slightly early morning tea, to travel the 80 or so kilometres to Yulara. Along the way we pulled into a rest stop with a dune walk that provided great views. Camping is permitted at this rest area but there are no facilities.  We arrived at Yulara around 11:00am and were able to check in to our powered site in the camping area. We had requested a specific section at the base of a dune, where we had camped last time we visited. We settled onto site 22 and enjoyed not having any rear neighbours apart from the birds. Many people only stay a day or 2 but we booked for 4 nights this time. Last time we visited we went on most of the walks at both Uluru and Kata Tjuta but this time the one thing on our list was the base walk.

In the afternoon we headed into the national park and to the sunset viewing area. Park passes can be purchased online or at the entrance to the park. We took our chairs, drinks and snacks with us and set up at the far end of the carpark where we knew we would get the best views. Unfortunately the sky didn't oblige with the best cloud cover but we did get some nice photos anyway.

The following day was well over 30° so we decided that any serious walking was out of the question. Instead we occupied our time in and around the resort - tidying, washing, shopping and going for a swim. Late in the afternoon we walked to the Naninga Lookout at top of the dune behind us to check on the clouds but decided against a return visit to the sunset viewing area. We had another 2 nights and hoped we might still get a good one.

Looking at the weather forecast for our second full day, at 27° maximum and cloudy we decided that would be the perfect conditions for the base walk. We set the alarm for 5:45am and were at the start at the start of the walk at 7:15am. As suggested, we set off in a clockwise direction carrying snacks and plenty of water, and wearing hats and good walking shoes. The walk is quite easy, but is rated moderate probably because of the distance. It was so interesting to see the chaging shape and features as we walked. There are a number of seats along the way, the first being at about the 3.5km mark. There is also a toilet at about half way although it is not signposted - it is back up on the road, not far from a sheltered seating area.

The walk is about 10.8 kilometres and took us about 2½ hours with plenty of stops along the way. Signage explains some of the Dreaming associated with Uluru and also those sacred and sensitive places where photography is not permitted. We started the walk at the Mala Carpark and did the short detour to Mutitjulu Waterhole. It is hard not to be awed by the experience of being in this very special place.

After a quiet afternoon we again climbed the dune behind us and liked the look of the sky so we headed back to the sunset viewing spot and this time Mick did get some craker shots. When we went down there on Wednesday there was hardly anyone there, but on Friday there were heaps - all enjoying the mild temperatures and fabulous views. 

We did contemplate going out to one of the sunrise viewing spots for Saturday morning, but the  forecast wasn't great so we had a lazy morning at camp instead. We did go for a walk up to Imalung Lookout which is on a dune in the middle of the resort, before doing some grocery shopping and fuelling up ready for the next leg of our journey which would see us away from shops (and phone signal) for 9 days.