Towards Darwin

30/04. This is our 43rd stop since starting this trip back in February. Today we checked into Bitter Springs Caravan Park at Mataranka. Bitter Springs & Mataranka both have fantastic warm natural springs, Sandra and I have made good use of them since coming here, they are a chain of clear crystal pools with Emerald green mossy banks.
Bitter Springs was named after Steve King who was a worker on the Overland Telegraph Line in 1871 because of the bitter water taste. In 1902 Jeanna Gun described them in her book, We of The Never Never.
Yaba nu-Nyanga Majerni-Yi-Nganie Ion. in the local Aboriginal dialect means, you people have come here - I am happy for you & I welcome you. Driving around here you have to have your eyes in alert mode as Agile Wallaby's are everywhere, we have seen a few of them hit by cars.

2/05. Drove 2 hours up the road and booked for a couple of days in the Shady Rest C/Van Park at Katherine, its so hot now and the park has a very good swimming pool.
Next morning we did the tourist thing and went out to Katherine Gorge for a look around. A no swimming sign said, beware Crocs in the water, Bugger.
San stayed back at the Ute whilst I climbed the gorge and what a sight to see - it took my breath away - the view as well as the climb was well worth the effort.
After a very hot night we moved out at 8am to travel up the road to Pine Creek an old gold mining town, after a short break it was onto Hayes Creek and an overnight camp in the local Roadhouse, Fuel and caravan park. A great place with a great pool to cool off in after a long drive. It was just as well as the next morning we were told that Buffalo's were on the road last night. What with green ants and heaps of cane toads about, we decided to move on.
6/05. We are now in the small town of Batchelor at the beginning of Litchfield National Park.
Litchfield National Park is famous for its waterfalls and it also has thousands 0f termite Mounds.
Wangi Falls was closed for swimming due to a Crocodile sighting, the pool at the bottom of Tolmer Falls was closed as there was a colony of rare Bats in a cave below the falls, Buley Rock Holes was a welcome relief in the heat of the day, and Florence Falls was a very steep walk down of 260 metres and then back up, it was just to hot to try and get to the bottom.

Top Left. - Wangi Falls. Top Right. - Pool at the bottom of Tolmer Falls
Lower left Buley Rock Holes. - Lower Right. - Florence Falls.