Road Trip Australia Day One And Two

Road Trip Australia

Everyone always goes on about just how vast Australia is. Just a peak at any world map gives you some insight. However, seeing and believing are two very different things. Before I undertook the BBM/Wicked Campers 20 Day Challenge, I was aware that every Australian I talked to seemed to stare at me in disbelief. ’20 days to drive from Darwin to Melbourne via the East Coast, you must be brave or rather stupid’, would be the common response, followed by, ‘well you won’t see very much in that time.’ Yet, despite the negativity, there seemed to be a positive undercurrent.

Many claimed I would be seeing more of Australia within 20 days than the average Australian does in an entire lifetime, while others seemed slightly green-eyed to have missed out on discovering what they called the ‘real’ Australia.

Though my trip had been met by mixed responses, my own excitement could not be quelled. Having lived in Melbourne for a total of 9 months, it is rather shameful that my own knowledge of Australia was so minimal.

Barely able to get past the cafes of Streets Fitzroy & Windsor, I had only ventured to typical tourist spots Noosa and Sydney off my own back, while my appetite for South Australia had been wet by a similar article to this for BBM. So, as I left the relatively cool 18 degrees of Melbourne for the steaming 40 of Darwin, I could scant contemplate sleep despite my flight not leaving till the audacious hour of 2 in the morning.

Alas, my body clock succeeded in conquering my mental anticipation and before I knew it I was collecting my bag from the already heaving Darwin airport. With Darwin centre all of a 20 minute bus ride from the airport, I discovered soon enough that there is very little to do in Darwin at 630 am.

But with the temperature already surpassing the one I had left behind in Melbourne, I decided a stroll along the esplanade was the first order of the day. Yet it was not long before the pangs of exhaustion set in and I soon find myself resting my head at Mindil Beach. The next thing I knew it was gone 8 am and I was breathing in fresh sea air in my wake up yawns. I knew in that instant that this was going to be far from a bad trip.

With my lungs freshly filled, I took a quick peak at googlemaps (where would we be without technology?) and figured I could find my way to the Wicked Campers depot via a leisurely stroll through the botanic gardens. With my route taking slightly longer than anticipated (do not forget I have yet to offload my luggage) and the temperature gauge being thrust up a good 10 degrees, I am sadly a ball of sweat when I present myself at the Wicked Campers depot.. With the super friendly staff politely turning a blind eye to my less than presentable self, I get asked if I like Marilyn.. Well, the words like and Marilyn are an understatement in my case, I made my pilgrimage to her former home at scant the age of 8! No doubt grinning like a cheshire cat I nod my head and almost scream YES!

Thus, it is no surprise that the charming girl was a little taken aback by my expression of confusion upon being presented with my van. To give her credit, it was a Marilyn, just not the one I was expecting.. My campervan for the next few days was to be adorned with not just one Marilyn Manson – but five! Unsure as to how she didn’t twig which Marilyn I meant, we gave the campervan a quick once over and I hit the road…or rather I drove two streets away and went to investigate a little bit more of Darwin. Now, of Darwin, I had been told to have very few expectations so it is fair to say that they were all exceeded. While slightly on the small side, Darwin is nevertheless an overly pretty city.

With a custom made swimming pool just out of the centre and an array of enticing cafes and bars, it was with a dissapointed sigh that I hit the supermarket for supplies before heading off for my campsite of the night somewhere in the all too distant Kakadu…

After what seemed like forever, I finally reach a sign stating Kakadu National Park and I know I am not far from a much needed sleepn. But before I get close to my chosen campsite of the night at Malabqnjanjdu I smell fire and spot out of the corner of my eye a small bush fire.

It is somewhat strangely breathtakngly beautiful. Lost in the moment I finally snap back to it and jot down where I was so I could inform someone…The minor delay in my journey means that by the time I finally reach Malabqnjanjdu darkness has fallen.

As I park up, I realise that I have forgotten an essential – a torch and as a result I am slightly scared as I make my way to the small toilet house. Realising that a hunt for wood would be silly, I quickly cook some pasta, gulp down a slice of mudcake (naughty non essential I know) and decide that sleep is the most sensible solution…

Read Day 3 of this road trip adventure

Planning a road trip Australia and hire a vehicle?  by following few simple advise on Everything You Need to Know about Fuel Efficiency from experts out there, you might be able to save gallons !