#solofemaletraveller – Page 4 – Over 50 Aussie female solo traveller USA road trip and beyond

South Australia

Almost 2 years into the Covid-19 pandemic and a month ago Australia opened to the rest of the world. I was working with the Public Health Response in NSW and so excited that I planned my second retirement. Who knew a week before my retirement a new variation, Omicron, would start causing havoc and uncertainty. New testing and restrictions in place, but no lockdowns. Yet. Everyone testing crazily to ensure they are well enough to spend Christmas with family and friends. I was invited to my daughter-in-law’s for Christmas in Port Lincoln. I said a bittersweet farewell to my work colleagues at The Response, I felt guilty like I was abandoning them at a new level of uncertainty. But I might go back if the world shuts down again. I booked my flight to Adelaide, booked a car so I could do a road trip to Port Lincoln and beyond.

72 hours before leaving Sydney I had the obligatory PCR test. Even though the day before I had a negative RAT test at work. All up so far during COVID-19 I have had 14 negative PCR tests. So I arrive in Adelaide and needed to do the test required within 24 hours of arrival. The testing queue was so long at the airport, my Adelaide son, Luke, took me to a drive through for testing.

After an hour of waiting and then advised there would be a further 5 hour wait, I headed back to the airport and stood in line for a much shorter 1.5 hours.

Traffic queue for covid testing

Then back to my room to “isolate” until the negative result. South Australia has a booking system for COVID-19 testing so while “isolating” I started looking for where to have my Day 6 test in the Port Lincoln area. Nothing. Port Lincoln is over 6 hours drive from Adelaide. It meant I would need to “isolate” for 2 days until I got another negative result, once I was able to find somewhere to have a test. Not looking good for my time with my daughter-in-law’s family. I know when travelling there are always pitfalls and you cannot get too upset with things going wrong. The important thing is how we react to these things and how to fix them. That is what I have learned to be a “traveller”. You have to have a plan A, B and C and if needed D. So on Day 2 of this trip, the best news from the South Australian Premier “no more Day 1 and Day 6 tests”. Yay!! No need for plan B!!

I did not lose any time in going outside to enjoy this fabulous city. It is small compared to other Australian cities and world cities but it isn’t small in its beauty. Luke and I went off around the city on scooters.

Scootering around Adelaide was a lot of fun. I was apprehensive at first and very frightened if there were people around. So I would stop and wait until they passed. But after 30 minutes, I had a lot more confidence. It is a great way to zip around, although stopping to get my travel pics is a little annoying. Great way to zip from your hotel to a restaurant. No need to find parking. Just leave it where you stop. A little pricey at $30 for one hour, although you can pay $30 for a whole week.

Some of my favourite photos were around University of Adelaide.

Love locks on the University of Adelaide footbridge

Rundle Mall has all fancied up with Christmas.

These piggies have been in Rundle Mall every time I visit

Adelaide River and Crocodile Cruise

I started on a bus tour of Litchfield Park at 7.20am and never imagined it could end in such a high note. I had already done a cruise in Kakadu, the Yellow Waters Cruise, the Nitmiluk Cruise of Katherine Gorge. All special cruises with wonderful guides. My photos and videos will show how amazing this Crocodile cruise is. It went for over an hour. Cruise director, Pat in my mind is a real life Crocodile Dundee. He has a wealth of knowledge of the crocodiles, salt water crocodiles in the Adelaide River. On the tour Pat packs a Ruger “in case of an emergency”.

We were carefully seated on the boat to balance it correctly. Pat stressed no limbs or body parts whatsoever past the railings. Only one side to stand at a time.

Then Pat encouraged the crocodiles to come play.

Sneaky getting a snack. 4.6 metres 7 feet of crocodile

Gnasher is a male salt water crocodile and is approximately 4.9 metres metres long 16 feet long and about 50 years old.

Litchfield

I was a little unsure of doing a tour of Litchfield as I am a very independent traveller and don’t like someone else controlling my trip and worried about the type of people on the bus. Offroad Dreaming has changed my mind. Lyn is a fun informative driver and tour guide. With Pat, I will say is a real life ‘Crocodile Dundee’. More on Pat later.

20 people picked up at various hotels around Darwin and my pick up was 7.20am. First stop, cathedral and magnetic termite mounds

Florence Falls has several swimming spots.

Buley Rockhole. We stopped for a dip and delicious lunch prepared by Lyn.

Wangi Falls. No swimming allowed yet as the rangers haven’t found and relocated a crocodile spotted on 19 April 2021. Shame as this spot looks glorious to swim up to the waterfalls.

Introducing Pat. My real life Crocodile Dundee. Complete with a Ruger. In case of emergency. Check my next post for a section devoted to Pat and his Crocodile Cruise.

I love this weather rock from Humpty Doo

Edith Falls

On my way back to Darwin from Katherine. Leaving reluctantly as my trip is nearing the end with the last few days of delicious weather in the 30s. I am dreading going back to Sydney and 8 degree weather.

Hot Springs

There are so many beautiful oases to be enjoyed in the Northern Territory of Australia. All free. First is Katherine hot springs

My favourite is Bitter Springs in Elsey

Floating down Bitter Springs

Mataranka Thermal Pool

These signs are everywhere in the Northern Territory

Rainbow Springs Mataranka. You cannot swim in this one

Rock Art

Started the day with an 86km trip to Ubirr to see Aboriginal Rock Art. Advice to everyone. Before leaving your hotel in the Northern Territory, check to see if the places you plan to attend are open. As many of the tourist and heritage sites are owned by the indigenous Aboriginals, they observe mourning of elders and close various sites as a sign of respect. This was the case this morning with Ubirr. It was disappointing but when travelling the unexpected occurs and in this instance it is important to follow and respect the traditions. I went to the next stop on my way to Katherine, Nourlangie (Burrungkuy)

There is a track which is well signposted. The Shelter is a little steep but not too difficult. Just make sure to take lots of water for these walks

I was so excited to see sacred rock art and the stories are thousands of years old.

My favourite piece is this which represents singing and dancing

The walk up to the lookout looks more difficult than it is and worth doing.

Kakadu

It is thanks to South Australia once and twice to Tasmania closing their borders in the past year that I am in the Northern Territory. NT have been much more sensible to Covid19 management, much like NSW who did not close their border to everyone for one case. Today I drove the 2.5 hours from Darwin to Kakadu.

Drove from my hotel Mercure Crocodile Hotel to Cooinda Lodge to get the tour for Yellow Waters. These signs deter you from stopping to look for crocodiles? I expect instead of catching lunch you may become dinner.

Yellow Waters Cruise and I recommend the sunset cruise is a must do in Kakadu. Our tour guide was Lily who is very knowledgeable and humorous. She loves what she does. Every time something caught someone’s eye she would steer the boat back for us to get the best vantage point. This is the proof. Thank you Lily.

Darwin 20 May 2021

Aquascene in Doctor’s Gully is a sanctuary for fish. They come in at high tide. You can feed the fish which include barramundi, catfish, mangrove jack, mud crabs, stingrays and others.You can stand in the water and they swim around your legs. No crocodiles or sharks here. The harbour fisheries remove any sharks and crocodiles which come into the harbour as soon as they are spotted. Around 200 crocodiles are removed each year.

End the day with a Mindil Beach sunset

Darwin WWII Museum

The first time I realised Darwin, well, anywhere in Australia was bombed during WWII was in Baz Luhurmann’s epic movie “Australia “. I knew Japanese minisubmarines entered Sydney Harbour but I never learned any of this at school!! It’s a disgrace we weren’t taught this important history. The museum shares Darwin WWII stories of people from all walks of life and embarrassingly made me aware of my lack of historical knowledge of my country. Sure I am first generation Australian born of Italian parents but this history should be mandatory in school. This museum is set in pretty grounds with lots of equipment salvaged from the bombing.

More than 270 people perished on 19 February 1942. Luckily the government evacuated women and children following the bombing of Pearl Harbour. But Darwin was taken by surprise.

List of enemy aircraft and what was attacked

Here is a statue representing The Digger and all who have served, past and present, to pritect our freedom and Gunner the kelpie who alerted allies when Japanese aircraft were approaching.

On my travels I have also learned about Japanese and German boats and mines along the New South Wales coastline during WWII. These maps from the Fisherman’s Cottage Museum in South West Rocks NSW show the positions of mines and the loss of life and vessels

Darwin Day 3

Oh the weather here is fabulous. Funnily the locals told me it was cold at 25 this morning. Darwin city is so pretty with an area called the Waterfront. Lovely cafes and restaurants and an area to swim which is protected from crocodiles and Box Jellyfish.