Litchfield

4 August

Yesterday and the day before were flying fox days, today and yesterday were cockatoo days.

At the thermal pools in Mataranka they have installed very tall water sprinklers to spray above the tree canopy onto the grevilleas to discourage the small red flying foxes so they don’t wee on you. There was also a colony of fruit bats beside the Katherine River.

Yesterday morning we were treated to a fly over of squawking black cockatoos at Chris and Tracey’s place and this morning at Hayes Creek, before heading off to Litchfield, flocks flew over and landed in a nearby eucalypt to feast on the seeds from inside the gumnuts.

We entered Litchfield National Park through the Southern access road, the non tourist 4wd end, definitely the better part of the park to visit.

Slow going but well worth it. We lunched at Surprise Creek, having clambered above and had a swim in the refreshing pool below the falls.

The display of magnetic termite mounds were impressive here too.

These mounds are also known as compass mounds as they face north south.

We crossed/drove down the Reynolds River. The Fairbairn trailer looked the boat part there.

We then parked our trailers in camping spots at the Sandy Creek camp ground to secure a spot, before heading off on the tourist trail to explore the other areas of the park. First stop Florence falls, which was packed, we found out later that the Wangi Falls plunge pool was closed and that was probably why the pool at Florence falls was so busy. The pools are closed when there is a likely hood of crocs being present. Buley Rockholes was just as packed. Tabletop Swamp and the Tolmer Falls weren’t as busy, probably because there was no waterhole to swim in.

5 August

Our day started with a walk and dip in the cool pool at the base of the Tjaynera Falls

before setting off to Darwin via the dirt road out of Litchfield via Berry Springs.

Couldn't resist this shot of a non magnetic termite mound on the way out.

We did stop off and look at the popular Wangi Falls on the way and lunched at Walker Creek.

Now camped at FreeSpirit Resort in Darwin – a bit of a shock to the system after the solitude we have enjoyed in the bush for the past few weeks. Mingled with the crowds at the markets at Mindil Beach and were treated with a magnificent sunset on the beach