We got up for a quick breakfast before hitting the road to go to Litchfield National Park. We tried to take a short cut but got a bit lost on a narrow road so it ended up not being a short cut at all! The Safari Camp was pretty much as we remembered it. We got a site near to the one we had last time we were here, but a much bigger one. We also had a camp fire pit and plenty of shade. We set up and had a read for a while before going on a long walk to finally reach the swimming holes called the Cascades. It was very shallow but when we walked a bit further we found a much deeper, better pool. We had great fun but eventually had to go to beat the sunset! We got back and had fish called threadfin salmon that we bought in Adelaide River at a market. We cooked it on the camp fire. It was very nice.

Before we left we got to pat Nigel the bull who lived in the front paddock.

Tess

This morning we went for a plonk. A plonk in the Douglas hot springs. A plonk in a lovely hot shallow pool of water. It was so hot, in fact, that, in some places, it looked to be bubbling the way water does when it is boiling! After our lovely plonk, we went back to the van, had breakfast , packed up and then headed off on our way to Adelaide River. We drove the scenic route which took us through the Daly River Region. We are staying at Mount Bundy Station which is just a few kilometres South East of Adelaide River. This station really has the feel of a working station.

Here is some information on Mount Bundy Station:
★ Mount Bundy Station was established in 1911 by Fred Hardy who was a pioneer buffalo hunter.
★The original size of the property was 1.1 million acres or 4000sq km!!
★After the bombing of Darwin in 1942 the Australian and American Airforces were based at Mount Bundy Station.
★In the 1960’s an American company introduced Brahman Cattle and Horses. The American company finished up here in the 1990’s.
★Today the station is family owned and managed.

There is a big Banyan tree, and you are allowed to swing on the big roots, it is lots and lots of fun!! In the afternoon we went for a very fun swim in the swimming pool! Right now, we are currently sitting outside on this lovely warm evening in the ‘Top End’!

The Banyan Tree!
Tara

We went for an early morning swim in the warm bitter springs. It was nice and clear and were saw two turtles. It was a fun swim.

This is a photo from under the water looking up!
We hit the road after a slow getaway. It was only a short drive to Douglas hot springs. We got there and the camp ground was packed. We found a nice spot and set up camp. We went down to the springs for a look. It was as we remembered it! We had Roast Lamb in the camp oven cooked over the fire for dinner.Tess

We went for a lovely early morning swim in Bitter Springs today. We didn’t even have breakfast before we went!! There were not many people there and the water was still really clear, as it had not been disturbed yet. There was even some steam coming off the water giving it a lovely atmosphere. Because the air temperature was slightly cooler, the water felt a lot warmer!

When we got back after a wonderful swim, we cooked some very delightful pancakes for breakfast!
In the later hours of the morning, we went for a drive out to the Elsey Downs Homestead and to have a look at the Mataranka thermal pools.

We recreated this photo, from last time we were here!

For lunch we went to the small Barramundi farm. We all had very delectable barramundi! We had another relaxing float down Bitter Springs and then we cooked our dinner over the campfire again, that was also very yummy! We then spent to remainder of the evening sitting around the campfire and chatting with some other people.

We only had one stop on the way today. It was at a road house that had a funny sign.

We got to the caravan park at Bitter Springs near Mataranka. It is the the same place we stayed at last trip. They still sold the same frozen mango ice-creams and hired out the same noodles. We were happy campers! We went for a quick float down the warm Bitter Springs. It was just as we remembered it. You float down the creek on a noodle get out then walk back and do it again! We even saw a turtle in there!

Tess

Today we crossed the border from WA to NT!

It was only about a three hour drive today to get from Lake Argyle to Big Horse Creek. Big Horse Creek is situated in Gregory National Park on the Victoria Highway about 10 kilometres from Timber Creek, and it is a small campground, where you are able to have campfires. When we got there, we went for a small walk down to where the Victoria River and Big Horse Creek meet. There are Salt Water crocodiles in these waters, so we had to be careful to stay away from the edge just in case!

We had lots of fun cooking damper and our dinner on the campfire! We had a splendid evening sitting around the camp fire!

Tara

We went for a walk first up today to see the Ord River dam wall. Lake Argyle is held in by the dam wall and holds 18 times the water that is in the Sydney harbour! It is Australia largest expanse of fresh water. There are three big pipes that rush the water out for the Ord River down stream and for the power plant there. The water comes out and turns the turbines to make power. The water is also used for irrigation farming. We then walked to the Durack Homestead. The building was relocated stone by stone from its original site which is now 18 metres under water along with saddles still hanging on fences and other things they didn’t have time to take away. They ran out of time because they thought the lake would take 8 years to fill but it only took 2 years. The homestead was very interesting and showed a lot of pictures and things from the home when it was still used. We walked back and had a swim in the infinity pool. It was lovely and refreshing. We got dry and had lunch before going to get on the bus to take us to a boat for a sunset cruise. We learnt lots about the lake and even got to have a swim in Lake Argyle. The adults had beer and wine while they were swimming! They just threw the cans of beer in and I thought that when someone didn’t catch it they would just sink but they floated back up again! We had a nice swim, the water was even warmer than the infinity pool.

I was lucky enough to have a drive of the boat!

Tess