Well, we were pretty happy with Mataranka Springs – just a
short walk to the pool from the caravan, warm water and easy access in and out
of the pool. Not too many people, but those that were there were amenable and
interesting to talk to. Plus live entertainment
in the bar area in the evenings.
BUT, the past 3 days we have been at Edith Falls, just 20
kms off the Stuart Highway and just north of Katherine. Once again we had an amazing lawned park,
just 2mins flat walk to the most divine swimming spot at the bottom of the
falls.
I have to say the first time in was a bit of a shock to the system being many degrees colder than the Mataranka water, but after the initial heart-stopping plunge, it was beautifully refreshing, and surrounded by the red cliffs, was nothing short of …….well to pinch the exclamation of a visiting French family swimming with us …….c’est magnifique !!!!
We learned that people would stay in the carpark awaiting
someone leaving, as the parks were limited, but having left Mataranka early, we
were so blessed to drive into virtually the No.1 spot before lunch, closest to
and right by the path to the pool. God
is good !!!
A note of interest is that the Barkley Tablelands, a huge
cattle country plain stretches from Katherine on the west, to Kakadu National
Park on the Nth West, on into Queensland on the East and down to Tennant Creek
south side. Lawn Hill Gorge, we camped at in Qld, was the Easts side Escarpment
drop-off, the Kakadu side Escarpment produces all it’s magnificent waterfalls
as does Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls on the west side.
Our 2nd day there we decided on the longest 8.5km
walk to the top pool of the series of 4 pools – Sweetwater pool, so off we set
at a reasonably early hour with our bathers and snack for lunch, + lots of
water to drink. The first 500m or so was
quite a steep climb through the scrub, but soon levelled out and the majority
of the walk was fairly easy going. We
scrambled over rocks, walked through grasslands and eventually reached our
destination – a magnificent pool with sandy places for us to walk in to the
water.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so enthusiastic about getting
in the water, and have never felt so refreshed by plunging my body into fairly
cool water. To say c’est magnifique is a
bit of an understatement, but another swim in the Long Pool, the next level
down on the way back was equally as delicious.
The first pool, just above the Campground Pool, had a bit of a climb
down to it, and after walking to the top & returning taking 4 1/2hrs we
both decided we could live without swimming in that pool. Tomorrow we will
explore more Falls and tourist spots.
Once again we have been blessed with just perfect camp
spots, and today we are in Litchfield National Park at the LNP Caravan Park, &
have a delightful unpowered site complete with shady trees and water on tap
plus a swimming pool, café & coffee machine !! Tomorrow!! We have swum in Florence Falls, and
Buley Falls this afternoon, visited the Magnetic Termite Mounds, and are now
sitting in the cool outside having drinks & nibbles, waiting for our leg of
lamb to roast in the BabyQ.
More Litchfield NP stuff tomorrow, then on to Berry
Spring & Darwin on Tues to get the
car serviced.
More later – Cheers !!
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