It flys and swims - what else can our Prado do ? - Day 12, 13, 14

Day 12 (28/5) - North East to Boroloola
After the a very wet night at the Pebbles we headed off on a long day's drive heading East (from Three Ways) towards Queenland then North at Barkey Honestead for a change of pace and scenery.
It was actually a great day with lots of birds and animals to see along the way including many amazing eagles.
Boroloola caravan park was very green and lots of frogs that the kids played with - a great family day.

Barkley Homestead - checkout the reduce speed for kids sign photo

Many amazing eagles along the way

Not another car in sight up the Tablelands highway - yet such informative warnings

  

Day 13 (29/5) Boroloola and then a 366km 4WD only track North
We drove to the Bing Bong (great name) which is a port at the Gulf of Carpenteria for the McArthur mines to ship out their minerals. Also did a fabulous walk in the Caranbirini conservation park to see the Lost City -a heap of 25 metre high limestone structures and a beautiful waterhole.

Then the 4WD fun began as we headed up the Nathan River road.
Due to recent rains we had many river crossings (a couple up to a meter deep & some very fast flowing),  large sections of the track comlpetely washed away, slippery mud again and a lot of challanging driving . The Prado can swim really well, including all the kids having a turn to drive across flowing rivers.

Late in the afternoon we setup camp at a beatiful spot called Butterfly springs, a waterhole with a waterfall, that stays full well into the dry season.

Lost City

Waterhole at lost city (nice photo Trudy)

Fun fun fun - one of the first creek crossings (no crocks as yet)

Day 14 (30/5) - Roads closed or not - here we go risk takers (great IPS teaching)
In the morning after packing we had a lovely swim at the Butterfly springs waterhole complete with beautiful waterfall and numerous butterflies.
Along the road at Nathan River homestead we had a chat to a couple locals who helped explain just how remote this area is: the previous day one of the girls on the station had to go to hospital for a cut ear, just a quick 5 hour drive to the closest medical facility!
It was another fun day of true 4 wheel driving with rugged terrain, the dirt track washed away, and more creek crossings. We didn't send the kids through first to check the water depth on these river crossings because of the possibility of crocodiles! We didn't pass another car along the whole road and discovered that the other end of the road (near Roper Bar) was actually clossed! The scenery and animals were amazing along the way and well worth the risk of going off the main road to head north.

Butterfly Spings

Another washout

We made it thru (it wasn't marked closed the other end)

Finally a big thanks again for the comments , and for the kids teachers and friends keeping in touch.
They are doing their daily journals, not really enjoying it, but getting use to it.
Take care and stay warm
The Schrapels