We got up early to get our car into VW for a service. We were dropped off in town so we went to get some breakfast in town. We were on our way to the water front when we saw a big crowd, the army was there as well. It turned out to be an Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders celebration day for them joining the army, (NAIDOC- National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Commity). They did some dancing and singing as well as a parade. We met Trish and Mark at the wave pool and had a swim it was very fun. We then went to have lunch at a crepe place. They had lots of different flavours. We went to pick up the car then went to a shopping centre in Casuarina for a quick look. We went back to the caravan and got ready to go out for dinner with Trish and Mark to a Thai place. It was very nice.

A Tiwi Islander girl doing a dance.

There was lots of traditional dancing from various indigenous communities.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flag.

Dinner at Thaialicious!
Tess

We left our beautiful site at Litchfield about mid morning. We drove until we got to Berry Springs where we stopped at a lovely little cafe call Crazy Acres Farm Shop where we had some very nice ice cream! We got to Darwin with just enough time to have a swim in the pool and get set up before heading off to the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets. We met Aunty Trish and Uncle Mark there and we had a very nice time looking at the stalls, eating lots of food, and watching the whip cracking show!

Oysters at Mindil Beach Market

Mum buying her thongs!

A Mindil Beach Sunset.

Tess having fun on Mindil Beach!

Mick the whip cracker! The whips were lit up with fire!

Tara

This morning Dad went for an early morning run to Wangi falls. We drove there to meet him for a refreshing swim. We were the only ones other then one other person. It was a lovely swim. We went back and lit the fire to do some cooking. We made damper and a cake. After a while we went for another swim in Tjaetaba again. We all did some dive bombs off the small ledge including Mum! It was really fun

We had a great time but eventually had to go back. We had chicken for dinner with potato. We had a great day.
Tess

After a quick breakfast we jumped in the car and drove to Greenant Creek. From Greenant Creek we followed a lovely 1.5km walking track to Tjaetaba Falls. Swimming is permitted at the top of the falls, but not at the bottom because it is an Aboriginal sacred site. There is a very nice little plunge pool at the top of the falls. We spent quite a while swimming and jumping in that pool!

From there we drove on to Florence Falls and Buley Rockholes. Florence Falls was very crowded, so we didn’t swim there.

We walked from Florence Falls to Buley Rockholes. We were almost the only people there! We had a splendid time swimming in one if the bigger holes. When we got back to the car park, we found that the Park Rangers had evacuated everyone they could find, because a helicopter had to land. The helicopter was there because unfortunately someone had badly injured themselves jumping from very high. The person was going to be flown to Darwin.

At Buley Rockholes, we saw lots of green ants. They were carrying a piece of chicken that someone must have left there.

We stopped at the Tolmer Falls lookout.

We also stopped in at Wangi Falls. That is really spectacular! We swam all the way out to the falls.

We cooked some very yummy damper on the camp fire tonight! It was lots of fun!

Tara

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