Katherine to Darwin

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In case you’re wondering, we left Katherine on 20/7 and we headed to the Douglas/Daly River area which was 186 kms up the highway and then 60kms west.
It was a nice short drive for a change and we booked into the small bush caravan park called Douglas/Daly Resort (Resort was a bit of an overstatement), got set up and went for a walk along the river which ran along the rear of the park. It may not have had resort facilities and was stuck in the middle of nowhere, but the river was really pretty.

There are a number of designated bush camping spots for about 1km along the river at various pools, one of which was a hot springs which we intended to swim in, but when we got there, there were 4 kids swinging off vines and bombing into the beautiful warm flowing pool, so we quickly lost interest and moved on.

At the furthest camping spot there was a big ‘No Entry’ sign - so what did we do……walked around it of course and walked the 10 yards to the river only to see a huge crocodile trap, set with a smelly chook carcass, so we took some photos and left (after I stopped Wes from going for a swim - not). We found out later that there was a large ‘Salty’ (saltwater crocodile) seen in the river pool about 10 days ago and so the trap was set. He had apparently moved on though, because the chook hadn’t been touched.

That night we went to the restaurant/bar (no, not like the typical hotel type - more like a tin shed type) for the roast buffalo night. It was quite nice, although I was worried that it might have been ‘Boris’ the parks pet buffalo.

The next day we went to the Douglas Hot Springs which is just amazing. Our neighbour Mary told us about this place before we left, but we didn’t quite understand what she meant. There are two streams which meet here - the water in one stream is over 60° Celsius - too hot to stand or swim in, the other is really cold, and where they meet the two temperatures mix together and its like sitting in a beautiful hot bath. It’s not deep enough to swim, you just sit in it, right at the junction and we did for about 45 minutes.

Its now the 22/7 and its off to Bachelor on the edge of the Litchfield National Park - 135 km - another short and easy travel day. We stopped off at Adelaide River on the way and went into the pub where the Crocodile Dundee bar scenes were filmed. Nothing special there apart from the 5’ high stuffed buffalo ‘Charlie’ which presides over the patrons.

It was really hot and humid when we got to the caravan park, so we had a lazy afternoon swimming, drinking and playing pool. (I know what you’re all thinking …drinking is becoming a theme, and we haven’t even reached Australia’s drinking capital yet, Darwin)

The next day we spent visiting all the various natural attractions in Litchfield National Park, including the 18km 4WD track into the Lost City which is sandstone rock formations that look so much like an abandoned Inca ruins. Then Florence Falls, Buley Rockpool, Tolmer Falls and the pieste de resistence, Wangi Falls. It was truly beautiful and we had a picnic here and went swimming after lunch. We swam right over to the falls, but it took a lot of strength and swimming on the spot to get right underneath them.

The next morning we left for Darwin.

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Photos

Croc Trap
This was the trap along the river - it is about 9' long

Douglas River
This was the river behind the caravan park

Douglas Hot Springs
The junction of the two streams is right in the middle of the photo where the man is sitting.

Lost City
Just one of the many rock formations that made this look like a ruined city

Termite Mound
There are thousands of these cathedral mounds in the Northern Territory

Wangi Falls
This was a great spot.

Comments

[S.I.L & Katie]

Good to 'hare' about your travels
We thought you might enjoy having a drink with some greyless youngsters, so we have cracked quiet a few whilst reading through your blogs...cocktail hour! $22 for a six pack, Andrew reckons he would have paid twice that in desperate times. He also has a tip for you old travelers, mix your beer with lemonade 50:50, it goes twice as far, nothing like a good chandy!! We enjoyed reading about your travels, enjoy whilst you can, because we have booked you in for some intense detox when you get back, its a group called A.A. We would like to see a photo of your rig (side view). Miss you love S.I.L and Katie xxo