Litchfield Park

17/6/16

Though we had service in Batchelor, internet was unbearably slow so here is the last 3 days.

Glad we have the caravan or Ray would be
definitely trying this out

Left Katherine for Batchelor just outside Litchfield National Park and arrived for early lunch then off to explore the NP.

We decided to go to the Lost City first as it was more a drive and less walking in this heat.  On the way we stopped to look at the Magnetic Termite Mounds. These fill an area like soldiers on parade. Rather than the round ones that line the highway they are thin and directional, to minimise the heat and only on black flood plains. There are also the cathedral termite mounds nearby as well, they are over 4m high and a must photo opportunity for the overseas tourists, it seems.

Just one of the many road trains we've passed or have passed us

The drive out the the Lost City was a fun 4WD only track. The Lost City is what is left of a mountain range as most of the sandstone eroded away and the strongest rock formations remain, resembling a city in ruins. It’s fantastic that, in the middle of nowhere, all these formations are clustered together.

 

 

The kids would have had a ball in what is essentially a ‘Flintstone’s fun park’. Though there was a designated track around the rocks there was nothing to stop us walking over and through the rocks.

View of Florence Falls from lookout. We sat under the one on the right.

We then went to the Florence Falls and plunge pool. What a beautiful site from the lookout,  then a walk down 135 steps or 1.1k walk around the back. We chose the steps and they weren’t that bad.

Though I got my swimmers and towel out, I left them on the bed so had to go in for a swim, clothes and all. The water was cool but not hard to get into and we made it across to the falls, stopping at the rock ledges dotted around the pool for a rest on our way. The power in those falls, was like standing in a hail storm. The water was so clear and what looked like Sooty Grunter fish (according to Ray) were in amongst everyone obviously used to all the people there. A very popular spot.

We’re stopping here for 3 nights as we don’t want to be in Darwin for the V8 supercar race this weekend.

18/6/16

Went to the furthest we are going in Litchfield this morning. Some places are still closed due to flooding or works being undertaken at the moment, so we went to Wangi Falls. Before swimming we did the walk up and over the back of the falls so were well ready for a swim when completed. 

The top of the waterfalls

Picnic area

What a top site! We thought Florence Falls was great yesterday, Wangi is much bigger, easier to access and get across to the falls themselves. We made our way over to the falls and again were hammered by the flow. So refreshing and the beautiful picnic grounds provided, are well used, probably mostly because there is free Wifi available there. Had an early lunch in the grounds and prepared to do a few other walks to falls and swimming holes but closures and length of walks in the midday heat made the decision for us to not do any walks except the short one to Buley Rock Hole, a series of small falls leading into deep pools. 

These were very crowded and though inviting themselves, due to people bombing and taking up most of the pools we gave it a miss and returned to the van and a swim in the park pool. 

While in the pool, the usual question of where everyone is from was asked and 2 other couples travelling together are from Forster. You wouldn’t believe it! One couple we had met at Scotts Head in February and have never seen them at home, though they live in the same estate as us, near some friends of ours. There are a few different parks in and around Litchfield and we pick the same one! Having a rest day tomorrow and trying to decide whether or not to go to Kakadu  after Darwin. So many people say Kakadon’t that we wonder whether it might be better to spend more time on the Savannah Way. Ray is feeling like we are going to run out of time.