Lawn Hill

After getting across the NT/QLD border, we headed north on fairly rough dirt roads towards the Gulf and Lawn Hill National Park. Justin and Lisa had been there years ago, and really wanted the kids to see it. Fortunately it was as good as we remembered.

We camped at the National Park campground right near Lawn Hill Gorge (yes, ANOTHER GORGE). Only the occasional freshwater crocodile here, so we could swim. But the real highlight of Lawn Hill is hiring a canoe and taking yourself up through the gorges. We were a little nervous about doing this with all the kids (particularly Pia), but everyone traveled safely with their life jackets on and really loved it. With 3 people to a canoe, we paddled against the wind up through the main gorge and then had to drag our canoes up past the rapids to the upper gorge. It sounds like hard work, but everyone pitched in and made it great fun. We rewarded ourselves with a swim at the top, before heading back with the wind behind us. We didn't see any crocs, only a few turtles sunning themselves on rocks.

What a wonderful place. Highly recommended.

Photos below are-
1: the road up to Lawn Hill
2: bush walking
3: in the gorge
4-7: canoeing up the gorge
8: turtle on a rock
9: the halfway swim
10: on the way back, with a tail wind