Just one last Spring stop!

24th August 2016

All the crew left Katherine this morning heading for Bitter Springs, Mataranka.  The weather is so warm and the springs are always so inviting.  Bill and June set up next to us and we had a great day swimming and catching up. 

25th August 2016

Ferg and I got an early start today leaving the others to linger at the springs.  We will catch up in a few days time in Alice Springs.  After a long drive we pulled into Banka Banka Homestead mid afternoon for our overnight stop.

26th August 2016

Moving further south, we topped up with fuel in Tennant Creek then on to the Devils' Marbles.  Wow, what an amazing place.  We were going to stay overnight but decided it was too early to stop for the day.  

Finally found a free camp at the Barrow Creek WWII Staging Camp.  It was one km off the highway, so nice and peaceful.  There were lots of cement slabs left from the old huts which were perfect for our van.  All by ourselves in the middle of nowhere, a campfire and millions of stars, bliss!

Katherine

19th-23rd August 2016

We stopped in Katherine for 5 days, staying at the Boab CP.  The weather has been fantastic.  We took a drive out to Katherine Gorge and did the walk up to the lookout.  There was a lot of stairs but it was worth it for the view at the top.

We finally got to catch up with our other Tassie friends,Grubby and June in Katherine. Debbie and Monty also arrived.  So the six of us enjoyed many hours around the pool and the Katherine springs over the 5 days.

Old mates

Billabongs, crocs and more waterfalls.

16 August 2016

Back on the road again, heading south. We've had a great stay in Darwin.  We turned west at Humpty Doo heading for Corroboree Tavern CP. It was good to have some grass under our feet and a pool to cool off in.  They have a resident old croc named Brutus living there.

"Brutus"

 We booked a sunset cruise on the Corroboree Billabong hoping to see some crocs up close in the wild and we weren't disappointed.  It was a fantastic 2 hour cruise, lots of wildlife and a magnificent sunset to finish.

17th August 2016

We had planned to get up early this morning to check out another bird billabong but unfortunately our fridge started beeping and wouldn't work on 240v power.  Had to pack up and head back to Darwin.  Luckily it wasn't the fridge, only a minor problem with the power cord. All fixed and on our way south again!  Decided to have another night in Bachelor and visit Litchfield NP again.  This time we went to the Buley Rockholes for a swim. Very refreshing, shame about all the tourists!

18th August 2016

Moving on to Edith Falls today, just north of Katherine.  We got a lovely spot in the national park campground.  Spent the day in and out of the large plunge pool below the falls.    

Edith Falls plunge pool

Ferg did the circuit walk to the upper pools while I lazed in the plunge pool.

Upper Pools

Darwin

11th-15th August 2016

Well, we finally made it to Darwin.  Caravan parks are super expensive up here, average $55 p/n and some even charge extra for power used! We stayed at Robbie Robins Reserve for $35 p/n, very basic showgrounds park, no pool.  It was ok for a base.  Went to Mindil Beach Markets on our first night.  The Darwin Festival is on at the moment and there was a big crowd at the markets to see the RAAF jets do a flypast the beach. Quite spectacular and very noisy flypasts. The food was amazing, so many asian stalls, so hard to choose!

Mindil Beach

Visited the Wave Pool on the waterfront in the CBD.  We had a great time, they supply blue rings and boogie boards free for use.  The wave patterns changed every so often which was challenging.

Went to Berry Springs about 30 minutes south of Darwin.  What an oasis in the bush.  The water was a lovely temperature and crystal clear.  Ferg and I spent a couple of hours just floating around.  Could have stayed there all day.

Berry Springs

Had a lovely evening at the Fannie Bay Trailer Boat Club (thanks Ron and Lynn for the recommendation).  Dinner, drinkies and an amazing sunset.

Had another visit to the Mindil Beach Markets on Sunday. Less crowds today, got to see the stalls up close. Had an amazing okonomiyaki (Japanese savoury pancake) for dinner washed down with a mango, banana, lime and passionfruit juice. Yuuummm!

Then topped it all off with another fantastic sunset on the beach.

Last day in Darwin, got up early and headed off for an early swim at Berry Springs.  We had the place to ourselves. Had a great time at the waterfall.

We met up with some old friends from Tassie, Debbie and Monty for a lovely buffet lunch at the Skycity Casino.  It was a great way to end our stay in Darwin.

Hot Springs and Litchfield NP

8th August 2016

It was sad to leave the waterhole but new adventures beckoned.  Decided to stop in Mataranka, staying at the Bitter Springs CP.  It was very dry and dusty but the hot springs made up for it.  It was a short walk to the springs from the park. We hired pool noodles and drifted with the current along the springs. The water was crystal clear and very refreshing.

9th-10th August 2016

Early start driving to Katherine to top up with supplies and yay a bit of optus phone coverage!  Then onwards to Batchelor near Litchfield National Park.  We stopped at the Batchelor Holiday Park and were so grateful for some green grass and shade.  Ferg finally got to wash the bulldust of the car and caravan.  Each afternoon the manager fed the local parrots.

The next morning we took off to Litchfield NP.  Visited Florence Falls first, descending down hundreds of stairs to the base of the falls.  There was a beautiful plunge pool at the base of the falls.

Florence Falls

Not wanting to go back up the stairs we opted for the 1km Shady Creek walk back to the car.  It was delightful, criss-crossing a rainforest creek for most of the way.

Hiking NT style, thongs and all!

Next stop Wangi Falls and time for a swim in the massive plunge pool at the base of the double waterfall.  The water was cold but very refreshing.

Wangi Falls Litchfield NP