Saturday 12th July - another relaxing day spent in the outskirts of Darwin, with a quick trip back to Berry Springs in the afternoon for a swim.
Then do some shopping to re-stock the pantry for when we leave town tomorrow.
Sunday 13th - we depart Darwin headed for Litchfield NP, and we know we need to get there early to try to get a spot at Wangi Falls. When we finally arrive at about 11.30am, a guy is frantically waving to us to follow him - the spot next to him is vacant and it is the last one in the campground. After many thanks, we set-up camp, then go for a quick walk down to the waterhole and falls - looks magnificent. Back to camp for lunch, and then back to the waterhole for a swim out to both sets of falls, and to sit under the warmer water flowing down the rocks. A truly gorgeous spot.
Monday 14th - before breakfast, we do the falls loop walk (2.6km's), which climbs through the monsoon forest, and crosses the creek above the falls, then descends back down the mountain to the waterhole. After some breakfast, we head out to The Cascades, about 7km's up the road. After a 1.4km walk alongside the small stream, we arrive at the falls, with a small pool at the bottom.
We climb above the falls and find some small rockpools for a quick swim. Then back to the small falls for another swim in the clear water. The force of the water gave a nice massage on the back when you stood under it. Back to camp, and another swim in the main waterhole, before chatting to our neighbour into the evening.
Tuesday 15th - some more exploring today, starting with the magnetic termite mounds, which are all aligned north-south to take effect of the movement of the sun, and to maintain a constant temperature in the nest.
From here we drive to Florence Falls, where we meet up with Marita and Mike, whom we had met about 12 months ago and spent some time with at Lake Tinaroo in the Atherton Tablelands behind Cairns - amazing who you might bump into. The falls were spectacular, with a large pool at the bottom, and lots of decent sized fish swimming amongst the rocks.
A very popular place too, with lots of people. After some lunch, we headed to Buley's Rockholes, which is a series of waterholes as the creek cascades down some rock shelves.
Some are shallow, whilst others are very deep, and you can jump off the rocks beside them - a great spot, and we spend a few hours sampling each of the swimming holes. Again lots of people, but well worth the swim. Back to camp where our other neighbours break out the guitars and perform a private concert for a select few of us.
Wednesday 16th - exploring again, with the first stop The Lost City, which is an area of rock formations that seem to just rise from the ground in a small area - worth a walk around.
Then back out to the tar for a short drive to Tabletop Swamp, but not much to see here really. Then on further to Tolmer Falls lookout, but this was a look only option as the area below the falls was closed due to species of resident bats - but a very spectacular waterfall dropping off the plateau into the gorge.
Then back to camp for a swim in Wangi pool, then some lunch, and then for something different, we went back to the pool for another swim. The evening was finished with a slideshow by the rangers about the Litchfield area.
Thursday 17th - some offroading today, with a visit to the Blythe Homestead which was an outstation hut used when the tin mine was being operated. From here we followed the track down to Sandy Creek, and walked the 1.7km's to the waterhole. What a magic place, with another set of falls dropping off the side of the escarpment into an incredibly deep pool, with a sandy beach area closer to the banks.
This is a more secluded spot, and there are only a few people during the time we are there. We walk back to the car, and then back to camp for lunch, before heading back down to Wangi for another afternoon swim. We also meet another family that we had met in The Grampians in VIC back in March.
Friday 18th - we were going to leave today, but we decide to extend for a few extra days as it is so nice. Today we drive out to Greenant Creek and do the walk to the top of the falls, and have a swim in the small pool just before the water plunges over the edge.
We then do the return walk and drive back to camp, where we have another swim. Our new neighbours are 4 German backpackers, who decide to stay up till 1.30am playing cards and giggling - a bit annoying.
Saturday 19th - a lazy morning with some reading after a nice breakfast. Then we wander down to the pool for another swim and relax.
On the way back, we meet up with Shay and Bruce, who we have met several times (Cape Le Grande in WA in Jan, Maree in SA in Apr, and then Darwin in Jul). The neighbours are noisy again, just not as late tonight. We are also passed by the resident black wild pig as she wanders around camp looking for some scraps to eat.
Sunday 20th - today we are leaving Litchfield, and have spent 7 days exploring this amazing area, and doing lots and lots of swimming - so much so, that I have a blocked ear and will need to get some drops to clear it. We leave via Batchelor, after stopping for some supplies and to make some calls. We follow the highway south to Adelaide River, where we stop in at the war cemetery
and wander around looking at the magnificent gardens and reading some amazing history. We are heading for Douglas hot springs, and decide we should follow the scenic route rather than the highway - well I am sure that "scenic route" really means "bumpy, windy, narrow road", but it does take us via Robin Falls,
where we stop and go for a walk, but this time no swim as the water is too cold. After our week at Litchfield, we need to recharge the batteries, so we book into Douglas Daly Tourist Park for 2 nights on a powered site. Nice to also have a hot shower.
Monday 21st - we head out the back of the caravan park, along a dusty track, and explore along the river, stopping at some waterholes, a weir, and then some rock formations called the Arches,
where the river has worn a path through the rocks similar to a channel. Back to camp, and then along some more dirt tracks to take us to Butterfly Gorge, where we walk up the hill, and then down the ravine to the small gorge below.
We swim across the pool, and climb out via the small waterfall and over some rocks. Then through another pool, climb out some more rocks, then up some rock steps, before we find another larger pool with a very dark bottom - it is so deep you cannot see where it ends. We swim across this to the other side, and climb out to find yet another pool, this one only about 8 feet across, but also very, very deep. We retrace our steps / swims, and arrive back at the sandy beach, and walk back to the car. Now for the 18km's of rough, rocky track, encountering several large patches of bulldust along the way - wow, is that stuff thick!!! We turn-off to Douglas hot springs, where 2 small streams join together, one of them hot water which bubbles from the ground at 65 dgerees, whilst the other is cool water.
The water is only a few inches deep, so we dig some holes in the sand and lay in the water in several places, trying out the hot side, and then the cooler side, before selecting a spot where the 2 meet and the water is warm. Back to camp for another hot shower.
Tuesday 22nd - on the way up to Darwin we noticed a place called Unbrawarra Gorge, but decided to leave it until we were travelling back south. So after leaving Douglas Daly, we stopped in at Pine Creek where I greased the trailer bearings and got some ear drops from the medical centre, before heading 3km's south and turning off for the 22km's out to the gorge. We decide to go for the walk before we set-up camp, and have a swim in the pool near the end - very relaxing but not too deep.
Back to the campsite, where it went from just us for the night to another 3 vehicles turning up later in the afternoon.
Wednesday 23rd - we are up early and make our way to Edith Falls, where we had been about 5 weeks ago - such a magic place we just had to come back. We arrive at 10.30am, get allocated our spot and get set-up. We relax for an hour or so, and then visit the kiosk for what turns out to be one of the very best barramundi burger either of us has ever had - yummo. Then we wander down to the waterhole for a swim.
We then sit in the shade for the afternoon, before a cooler evening.
Thursday 24th - Matthew's birthday today - no longer a teenager, as he is now 20. We pack some things in our backpacks and set-off on the walk to the upper falls to spend several hours swimming and relaxing.
This is one of our favourite spots and we stay for several hours, with a couple of swims around the pools, and I climb the falls and explore around the pools and rocks at the top, before climbing back down for another swim. We walk back to camp for the evening slideshow by the rangers.
Friday 25th - we say goodbye to Edith Falls, and make the massive journey down to Mataranka, after stopping in at Katherine to hit Woolies and do a food re-stock. As the bottle shops do not open until 2pm, we have to wait until we get to Mataranka to buy some grog, and then we set-up in the caravan park near Bitter Springs. Once parked, I climb under the trailer to replace the spring shackles, as they are very worn, with greatly enlarged holes for the pins.
Saturday 26th - after toasted muffins for breakfast, we wander down to Bitter Springs for a relaxing swim and float along the channel. Again, we were here only weeks ago, but it is such a nice place we wanted to come back. Back to camp for some lunch, and then off to the homestead and the thermal pools for another swim in the warm water. We join our neighbours for happy hour drinks under the trees and watch the little wallabies race through the campsite.
Tomorrow we head towards Roper Bar and across the Savannah Way and back into QLD.
More to come soon.
Di and Hammo
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