DOUGLAS HOT SPRINGS TO DARWIN

In the morning we left our spot on the side of the road and made our way to Litchfield National Park.  We booked in at Batchelor Big 4 and spent the rest of the day setting up, having a swim etc.  In the evening when going to the loo Jen told me about a tree frog in one of the bowls. I rescued it, put it on this tree and took a couple of pics.

  The following day, Mothers' Day, we were treated to bacon and eggs for breakfast. 

 We then left the caravan park to spend the day going from one waterfall to another.We decided to go to the furtherest one first, the Cascades, which has just recently been opened.  Wherever you go in the top end there is always smoke in the sky from burning off.  We came across this poor pandanus palm at the start of our walk to the Cascades.

It was only 1.3klms to the Cascades but there were some parts that were a bit tricky.

Arnold & Jen walking the path to the Cascades

From the Cascades we went to Wangi Falls.  We were told we couldn't swim there because of the volume of water and also because of crocs.  I have never seen so much water coming over the falls.  We could feel the spray from the other side.

The steps into the pool are well and truly under water

Our next stop was Buley Rockhole.  There were heaps of people there, it being the weekend.

The depth on the edge was just my style although the water was flowing very fast further in.

Jen couldn't stop from slipping so Arnold helped her.  I think it would have been easier if there was less laughing by Jennifer lol

We left Buley after a little while and drove on to Florence Falls.  We all walked to the lookout and took some photos.

Arnold and Jennifer decided to walk the 135 steps down to the base of the falls for a swim.  I decided not to.  I kept thinking of the 135 steps back up. 

Jen on her way down

So I waited by the car.  They were only gone half an hour or so.  I took a few photos of a bird while I waited.  It's some type of dove I think.

We drove back to the caravan park very weary, and hungry.  We hadn't planned to be all day so didn't take lunch.  Some fruit and corn chips just doesn't satisfy.  Our meal that night was pork chops, roast potatoes and vegies, all cooked by the three of us.  It was sooooo yummy!  And, of course, a cold bottle of bubbly ......

We left Batchelor and drove to Howard Springs (Darwin) Caravan Park.  The following day Jen and I went to Crocodylus Park which is a crocodile farm.  They have over 8000 crocs in all stages of growth.  We took heaps of photos.  We both got to feed a croc and Jennifer got to hold a small one (with its mouth taped of course).  We also saw some other animals.  I will just list a few photos.

He was watching me

It was awesome seeing all the different size crocs and watching them being fed and also feeding them ourselves.  It was a very hot day so an icecream was in order, and then back to the van.

I will leave it here for now.  More of Darwin in my next post.  Bye for now :)

DALY WATERS PUB TO DOUGLAS HOT SPRINGS

We got to the Daly Waters Pub about 11.00am and set up.  We booked for the Beef & Barra meal for the 6.30pm sitting.  About 5.30pm we went over and ordered a bottle of wine.  And a very nice drop it was too!

Ronnie & Arnold after the 2nd bottle of wine - feeling very mellow lol

The following morning we drove on to Mataranka Thermal Pool.  We would stay at the campground for one night.  After setting up we walked down to the pool to have a look.

Arnold walking down the pathway to the pool

Arnold & Jen checking out the pool

The thermal pool is feed by a spring.  The water rises from an underground aquifer at a rate of 30.5 million litres per day. The temperature is 34 deg C.

The spring which is the source of water that feeds the pool and then run down to the Roper River.

The Roper River

We went back to the van, had some lunch and then went back to the pool for a swim.  It was heaven! We also did some syncronised swimming.

The following morning we left the campground, parked in the carpark and went to have a look at a replica of the Elsey Homestead which was used in the movie We of the Never Never.  Very interesting.

Arnold sitting on the porch

Arnold and I looking out one of the windows

Jennifer taking a photo of me taking a photo

We left Mataranka and made our way to Katherine.  We would stay at the Low Level Caravan Park where we have stayed quite a few times now.  It has a great atmosphere.  Jennifer and I went to the pool for a little while as it was so hot.  We didn't swim but sat in the spa.  So relaxing!

The following day we looked around town, then went to the local hot springs.  We all agreed it was as good as Mataranka.

Arnold and I floating

 

Arnold and Jennifer had a great time being kids again.

After we had been there a short time a couple of aboriginal girls came down for a swim.  They allowed me to take a photo of them.  A couple of cuties aren't they. 

The following morning we left Katherine and would make our way to Douglas Hot Springs as we were told that the road into Gunlom Falls was closed because of the massive amounts of rain they had during their wet season.  A lot of the areas in the Douglas Daly area were signed as closed but the hot springs road seemed open until we got right to the turnoff.  There it was signed as closed.  We decided to push on and see for ourselves. We firstly had to navigate some water over the road.

 Then, when we got halfway down we couldn't go any further because a gate was across the road, padlocked together. 

 Well, it was too late to turn back so we decided to stay on the side of the road for the night.

It was an real experience.  We still had our happy hour, cooked Chow Mein on the stove outside, used the genny to charge all our batteries, had a hot shower and had a good nights sleep.  It was the most isolated spot we have ever freecamped!  And to top it all off we had a wonderful sunset.

  I will leave it here.  The next post will be Litchfield National Park and Darwin.  So bye for now.

ALICE SPRINGS TO DALY WATERS PUB

We left Alice Springs on Saturday morning and drove as far as an historic site where Ned Ryan was commissioned to dig a well.  You can see from the diagram, information and pic below how it was situated.  It was over 100 years ago.

Base of well built of stone and mortar.  This would have had a wooden structure on top.  It is now all filled with soil.

Foundations for the watertanks

Across the road was the ruins of a homestead.  It was most likely on the same land as the well before the highway was put through.

After our morning tea we drove on to a freecamp. It was a great spot.

Van parked with the door facing away from the road..There were about 7 vans there that night. 

We had a beautiful sunset.  They are always so awesome in the outback.

The following day we stopped at the Devils Marbles.

We left the Devils Marbles and drove on. We stopped at the Tennant Creek Telegraph Station Museum.  Very interesting.

From here we drove on to the Stuart Memorial Freecamp, just passed Threeways.  (We wanted to get to Daly Waters Pub early to get a powered site in the caravan park.)  In the early hours of the following day (about 6.00am) we left.  It was a beautiful morning.

My next post will be Daly Waters Pub and beyond.  Stay tuned :)