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.
4 comments:
Beautiful photos - loved the synchronized swimming....were they your legs in the air Ronnie? And the look on Arnolds face as Jen tries to get on his shoulders makes me laugh every time I look at it!! Be safe xx
Hi well as allways the Photo's are so good.
and you look like you are all having.
happy travil's
from Maureen and Pat
Wow, what a wonderful trip of a lifetime.... and really enjoyed reading about what you had been doing, even though I don't know you!! LOL Love the photographs ....
Hi Sandie just noticed your comment. Thank you for your lovely words. We are heading off again in 3 weeks so I hope you enjoy the journey with us again.
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