Darwin.

WWII oil storage tanks, we are in tunnel 5. Length 171m, Width 4.5m, Height 5m, Capacity is 38475 million Litres.

                                                                      Me in tunnel 5.

                                                                  Steve in tunnel 5.

Darwin.

In Darwin, we have been to the East Point Reserve & Lake Alexander, very pretty, relaxing area. Also went to Stokes Hill Wharf, NT parliament house, the wave lagoon and waterfront Precinct. Went to the WWII storage tunnels - these were constructed to protect the Navy's oil supply from bombardment during WWII. These 5 tunnels run from the wharf and go under the city.

                                     Me at East point reserve with Darwin CBD on my head.

                                                           Steve at of Darwin SLSC.

                                                      The beach at Darwin SLSC.

Litchfield National Park.

More of Litchfield NP......

                                                             Steve at Wangi Falls.

                                                   Next the Cascades - Litchfield NP.

 

                                                     Me being silly at the Cascades!!!

                                                             Me swimming just!!!!

What a fantastic time in Litchfield National park, I don't think Kakadu will compete with this, however we will see. I recommend everyone to visit Litchfield and experience what we have - Fantastic!!!!
As we left LNP they had controlled burns scheduled, however we were having 50klm wind gusts, surely they wouldn't be silly enough to start the controlled burns, oh yeh, of course they did and guess what the fires got out of control, it wasn't to bad for us and we made it out safely.
We are camped at Howard Springs 20K outside of Darwin, we will be here for several days and have full signals!!! Amazing!!! We have a lot to see and do here.
We have been to visit the 3 surf clubs, however they don't start patrols until next week - so we will see what happens.

Litchfield NP.

Next Florence Falls its hard work, visiting & swimming at all these stunning waterfalls!!! These spectacular falls cascade into a plunge pool, set in a pocket of monsoon forest. Yes we both had another great swim here!! We camped at Buley Rockhole for a few nights which is a series of cascading waterfalls and rock holes.

                                                                  Florence Falls.

                               Me swimming back from Florence Falls- with my best hair do!!!!

                                                        Sunset at Buley Rockhole.

                    Steve doing some resistance training early morning at Buley Rockhole.

                              Buley Rockhole, this picture does not tell the true story. Fantastic.

 Wangi Falls The most popular falls in Litchfiel NP. I wouldn't say they are the best because all the falls are different and all are stunning for different reasons. This is me before our swim, where something bit my toe and I swam a lot faster!!!!!

More to come!!!!!

Litchfield NP.

Still in Litchfield National Pk we went to the historic Blyth Homestead, which is the location of an old tin mine, the homestead has been untouched since 1960's. The history of this place was amazing the parents lived at the main station and the children lived here and worked the mine, they were up before daylight and after a days work still had all their chores to do.(A bit like Aldinga Turkeys)!!! We had to do another water crossing to get here and it was a bit scary as the water crossing was round a bend!

Sandy Creek Falls.

                                                       Me at the Blyth Homestead.

                                     The water crossing on our way to the Blyth Homestead.

Litchfield NP.

Litchfield National Park and next we went to the look out at the Tolmer Falls which cascades over high escarpments into a deep plunge pool, the plunge pool at the bottom of the falls is restricted access to protect the habitat of colonies of ghost bats & orange horseshoe bats. Still a fantastic water fall.
On to Sandy Creek (Tjaynera) falls, we did another 4wd (9klm) track with 2 water crossings and then a 1.3k walk, a very pretty walk between Paperbarks and a rocky stream, to get to these absolutely stunning waterfalls. We had a great swim to the falls here and most people do not go here, so we had the place to ourselves and a picnic lunch here it was awesome.  A must do for any visitor going into Litchfield.

Tolmer Falls- Litchfield Nat Pk.

The topography from Tolmer falls.

Sandy Creek Falls.

Steve at the bottom of Sandy Creek Falls.

Adelaide River.

Next at Adelaide River War Cemetery & Civil Cemetery, this is the final resting place for 434 Australia, British & Canadian service men & women who lost their lives in the top end during WWII. This was a very sad place as they were all so young, most of them only 19 & 20 years old.
We moved on to the Adelaide River railway Heritage Precinct-this is a must see and you need a few hours here, so much history starting from 1888, with the construction of Palmerston to Pine Creek railway, Adelaide River had the tea rooms and the largest bridge (500ft) in length.  During WWII Adelaide River was a major supply base and had a large military presence.

Onto Litchfield National Park and we camped at Buley Rockhole. We headed out to the 4WD track to The Lost City, a very pleasant drive, very scenic and the Lost City was a larger area than expected and well worth the trip and you can imagine people did live here?

Me in the Lost City. 

Steve in The Lost City.

Douglas Daly.

Whilst at Douglas Daly, I forgot to mention, we heard our first barking owl!!!! It does sound so much like a dog-it was funny!!!
We was driving through the Douglas Daly Area, Dorat road, a Dingo ran across the road, I wanted to shoot it - I don't like them. We hear Dingos most nights now and they don't worry me anymore, but I still don't like them! European roos everywhere, these seem very small compared to what we have in SA.
We stopped off at Robin Falls (9am) and no signs to how far from the car park it was, we headed off and a little way in, guess what another snake on the path, lucky Steve saw it and we let it cross before we moved on. The snake was long (5ft)(I know that's long, because that's how tall I am). It was green and yellow or gold and very thin. So much for being first on the tracks in the morning. Anyhow we eventually arrive at the falls and very,very nice it was to! We climb up abit and there was a big swim hole, no signs to say safe swimming, we figured crocs wouldn't climb up there! So Steve went in and I watched (see everyone thinks he's the smart one)!!! Apparently it was on the fresh side - well worth the visit and we saw no snakes on the way back, although I'm sure many snakes saw us!

Steve taking his morning shower.

 

Robin Falls.

In Adelaide River we stopped and saw the Ghan(Railway that transverses from North to South of Australia) go by.

Douglas Daly.

After Pine creek we took a drive North to the Douglas Daly area. A lot of this area was still flooded 5 weeks ago, so many of the water holes are not open for swimming yet as they are still checking for CROCS!!!!! Butterfly Gorge is unfortunately closed, however we camped at Douglas hot springs, here thermal springs create an oasis in the surrounding dry woodland. These springs are very hot in places and cool in others. The bird life is great and very active, along with the water monitors.  A fantastic place to while away the day.  Steve made me go down the rapids here and now I am cut and bruised as I got washed over the rocks!!!!

Steve in Douglas hot springs.

Boiling an egg at the hot springs

Steve at the arches.

A Goanna sunning himself at the Hot Springs.

Next we took a drive to The Arches and the water hole, this was a lot bigger than expected and very pretty and an amazing amount of water travelling through here. A great place to spend some time

Me at Douglas hot springs- before being injured!!!!

Keep watching to come shortly Litchfield National Park and what a gem, spring fed waterfalls creating crocodile - free water holes for swimming, which we need now the weather is warmer!!!

Pine Creek.

Me on the old steam locomotive at Pine Creek.

Our first two Water Monitors.
 

Steve a wanter to be driver - Pine Creek.

Pine Creek.

Steve outside The Old Bakery- Pine Creek.

Edith Falls

Steve at The Look Out - Pine Creek.

Dee In Umbra Warra Gorge.

Steve at Umbra Warra Gorge.

Pine Creek.

Pine Creek and tonight will be our 2nd night here, seems a very small town, however there is quite alot to see. Firstly we took a walk to the Water Gardens, these were created after the old railway tracks were uplifted, leaving a series of unsightly trenches. Unfortunately these seem to be neglected now.
We headed out to Umbrawarra Gorge 22km south west. What a stunning little place this was and yes of course we swam/paddled through all the waterholes, a very tranquil setting and well worth a visit. On our way back we stopped off at Copperfield recreational Dam, where Steve took a long swim. Again very scenic.
We also went to the lookout, a great view over this hilly, vast country. The railway museum is a must if ever you come out this way.Also the Minors park is well worth a walk.
On the way to Pine creek we also drove & walked to Edith Falls another stunning spot, unfortunately due to only just being the end of the wet season, alot of walks & pools are still closed at present which is why we are heading up to Darwin, to meet up with kerri and will do the Kakadu park after Darwin, hoping more things will be open.

Elsey National Park. NT.

Onto Elsey National Park, where we have set up camp for 2 nights-whoopee they give you free firewood here already chopped!!  The Roper & Waterhouse Rivers run through here.  It’s very pretty and excellent for bird watchers. We had a wander round the 12 mile stock yard, and headed out to Elsey Memorial Cemetery, which was very interesting.  Elsey homestead replica was next and well worth a visit (Especially constructed for the film “We of the Never Never”.  We also went to the thermal pool which is constant temperature of 34 degrees.  How lucky were we as a small brown snake was taking a swim with us, cause for entertainment and for me to leave the pool twice!!

We did a 4.1 klm walk each way to Mataranka waterfalls and well worth the trip, on arrival it had lots of small waterfalls & rock pools, one rock pool was like a Jacuzzi, of course Steve went in for a while!!! The vegetation is all paper bark trees & Palms, very pretty. We were back at camp for 1200 and headed off to see Barramundi being fed at Territory manor- another must see and very interesting, Steve got to go in and feed a barramundi, these barramundi were only small at 5-6kg. W while we were here we saw turtles, peacocks & rainbow honey bee eater (Very pretty). Next we headed off to Bitter Springs (Koran) – a 5 star tropical spring – fed thermal pool, set amongst tropical bushland. It has to be seen to believe, stunning, a strong currant so you can just float along  the 200 meters plus, however swimming back takes more effort, and if you get your mask & snorkel   and look underneath the colours are fantastic!! Just a tip for all you girls out there when swimming these thermal pools don’t  wear knitted Italian swim wear, as we both saw today, that they fail to keep your breasts covered!!!! I could have drowned because I was laughing so much!!!!

We visited the Mataranka sheep dip, the Aboriginal Army camp - 1942. 

Me with a large termite mound. 

Me at Elsey National Park

Steve in a pool at Mataranka falls

Steve feeding Barra.

Steve in bitter springs, better than a lap pool!! Fantastic, now going back for another swim!!

Devil's Marbles.

We left Alice Springs and headed North towards Aileron, and came across some giant statures which had been made locally, we went into the art centre which showed how they had been made, it really was very interesting.   Carried on to Ti-tree  Barrow Creek, past Wycliffe Well and on to The Devils Marbles.  The first thing we saw on entering the Devil’s Marbles information area was a Dingo!!!  I really don’t like them!!! We decided to camp at the Devils Marbles at a cost of $3.20 each for the night, how cheap and how fantastic.  We decided as it was very windy we would sleep in our swag tonight. We went for a walk around the Marbles and were very surprised, not at how large they are as our land has a lot of big things, but the large area they are spread over. We watched the sunset over and beyond the marbles a very majestic sight!!!! This is Definitely worth a visit.

Aileron Statues.

The Old Telegraph Station.

The Devils Marbles.

Steve with a tinnie at Sunset.

Sunset at the Devils Marbles.

Monday should be at work really, but no let’s, head North to Tennant Creek.   We were going to stay here a while as the write up was very good, however upon arrival the town is very nice, yet we were disappointed with the sightseeing.  We went up to the information centre at battery hill mining centre, hoping to get a mine tour, no such luck.  Tennant Creek was Australia’s last gold rush town which sprung up in 1932.  We did go to the Lake Mary Ann which is a manmade lake and built in 1981 and I’m sure would be lovely on a calm day, but was a bit windy for a swim today.   We headed 11klms out of town to the solitary old telegraph station, I love the Old telegraph stations, the stone they are made from, the veranda all the way round and when you read the stories/history about the people that used to live here, how they would mend the lines, grow all their own vegetables, butcher their own cattle, they had to have many talents, I know someone that would have done well, and it’s not me!!!!!

As we drive North the landscape changes every 50klm or so and every now & then you go up a small incline and can actually see the vastness of our land.  We have tried to take pictures of how vast the land is; unfortunately this is one thing the camera can’t catch!!!!  The scenery is specular and words cannot really explain it.  We passed Lake Wood to our left and although it was in the distant it was huge.

We were going to stay at Longreach Waterhole tonight which is 12klm west of Elliot  ( Elliot looked horrible).  Anyhow we never found the turning left (not many roads round here, only the highway). Carrying-on to Dunmarra, came across a lot of smoke blowing across the road and was unsure what to do, no signs to say it was a controlled burn, no other traffic, so continued on for about 15klms through smoke and flames, it was a bit scary for me. We made it to Dunmarra wayside Inn and have decided to stay for 2 nights as very pleasant.  We ate in the roadhouse which was fantastic, we had pie, chips & gravy, 2 beers and it cost $26.00. The pies were homemade-fantastic. We also have a pool to swim in here and yes we had a dip, 20 minutes after arriving. The Greyhound buses also change drivers here. We had visitor’s to our camp, with Steve feeding them bread and then they wouldn’t go away, we always say stupid tourist feeding the animals in camp and  Steve does it!!!! Sam’s Birthday today!!! Happy Birthday Sam.

Steve causing trouble in camp.

Of course since we left McLaren Vale we have not seen one drop of rain and very few clouds, even Alice didn’t seem cold at night.   Now the weather is perfect each day we wear less clothes.  (Which could be a worry)!!  As we drive North the amount of cattle we have seen has been amazing and particular the Brahman (not sure how you spell that) all the cattle look very healthy.  The road trains are massive through here and seem to be carrying all sorts, a lot of cattle, army tanks, vehicle’s & lots of recycling seems to be heading to SA.   The termite mounds are also interesting, starting of very small and getting larger as we go North.

Total klms since leaving McLaren Vale 2926. (If I haven’t missed some)

 Happy birthday to my friend Jane in the Uk who is 50 today!   Happy Birthday Jane-let me know what it feels like!!!! We left Dunmarra and stopped off at Larrimah (which means meeting place in Aboriginal language),  we are 185km south of Katherine, the town came into being in 1940 with the construction of the nearby Gorrie Airfield, a major airfield servicing the war effort and later becoming the site of a rail head.  The Larrimah pub has lots of old memorabilia and the pink panther? We took a 4wd track out to the WWII airfield and zoomed along it with Captain Steve doing his Captains spiel!! It was funny!!!

Old Run Way. 

A young Brahma.