Day 150 - Swimming in Mataranka

So it was time to leave Darwin, and thanks to finishing up early (9pm) last night, I didn't wake up with a hangover. Which was good, as I had a 430km drive to get to Mataranka to do. On the way, I stopped back in a Katherine for lunch, and decided it's still not a very pretty town, but on a good note, it has cheap fuel.

So I'm now in Mataranka, known for it's hot springs, where young and old people alike can get there bathers on, and swim around in these natural pools.

My first spring I went to was bitter springs, which the locals actually think was better than the Mataranka one, mainly for the lack of people going to it. It was a lovely little running pool/stream, and I regret no bringing my goggles, as the water was the clearest water I think I've ever seen.

After swimming/relaxing there for half an hour, I headed to the Mataranka thermal springs, and when I got there I understood the local's comments. Tooooo many people. But still, lovely water, a nice way to while away the afternoon.

But alas, you know me, and I can't sit still for too long. After consulting with the locals, they gave me some locations for some Barra fishing, with only a small chance of a croc. So I grabbed the rod, and the fishing lures Lance gave me, and headed to Waterhouse River. It's quite an interesting experience, reading the security signs, saying "Crocodiles shouldn't be here, but sometimes are". So keeping my feet away from the water's edge, and always looking around, I didn't get eaten, nor did I see one. In fact, the only thing I saw was archer fish, no Barra's to be found. But I'm in the motion now, fishing for Barra on my own.

Anyway, I'm in a lovely, and cheap motel in town, called Territory Manor. Lovely dinner, they have a nightly Cane Toad hunt, and they feed Barra everyone morning before you leave.

Bitter Springs

Mataranka Thermal Springs

Day 149 - The Darwin Cup

Hi all, today was a day for the races, when about 1/4 of all people in Darwin head off to the Darwin Cup on Fannie Bay (he he), to follow the horse racing. Some may say it's a mini version of the Melbourne Cup, but I disagree, it's seems a bigger party with slightly less people.

After meeting up with Matt, Chelsea and their friends, we headed off to the races, and went into the $200 a head, all your can drink for free section and started to enjoy the day. When we're all getting 4 drinks at a time, it made me remember another time in the west indies when we acted the same.

Now for me, the races didn't end up so good. I only picked 1 winner and no places/trifectas for the day, but still a lovely day. One of the best pieces of the day was catching up with Karyn Nona, a girl that I went to high school with so many years ago. although we've both aged, we were both exactly the same, laughing at all the old times, as well as who we are now.

After the races, unlike Melbourne, the bars at the races stayed open, but after a little while, I left Matt and Chels, and headed to the casino to catch up with Karyn again. Firstly, I walked around the casino in about 30 seconds, it's tiny.

A great day/night, and now it's time to leave. Bill, is that my job completed?

Karyn and I

The Races

Day 148 - Into Litchfield National Park

Hi All, I hope you are well, and your weekend was good. As for me, it gave me a chance to get out of Darwin today, and head towards Litchfield National Park, which is about 90 minutes out of Darwin. Just on a side note: for a town of 100,000 people, it takes ages to drive out of town, about 30 minutes. Crazy.

So Litchfield. NP of waterfalls and waterholes. A great place to go when the day is hot, as in every day here in the top end. But the first place I stopped once I got into the NP was an area that has hundreds of termite mounds. See Gareth, I finally got a photo with them. There are two main types here, the traditional rounded in body ones, and the flat, I'll only face north and south ones. Very interesting.

From there I headed to my first watering hole, the Florence Falls. Now I just have to say now, each waterfall area has a limited number of car parks, and they have signs all over the place saying "If full, try somewhere else", and most of the areas were full. When I got down to Florence Falls, lots of people were swimming, but I hadn't brought my gear from the car, so I just had to watch them, and the barramundi swim.

I then headed to Buley Rockhole, a lovely chain of little rockpools, where I swam and relaxed.

From there I did a number of other little walks and swims, ending up at the main waterfall, Wangi Falls. Absolutely hundreds of people there, and I did feel a little nervous about swimming/leaving my keys on the grass, but the idea of snorkelling got me too excited. To swim around with Barramundi, albeit little ones was really exciting.

On my way back to Darwin, I headed to Berri Springs, another swimming spot.

Once back in Darwin, I caught up with Matt and Chelsea, down at the Mindil Sunset Market. Lots of fun and relaxation there, and also night to catch up with good friends. Which is what I'll be doing tomorrow, at the Darwin Cup.

Termite Mound

Florence Falls

Buley Rockhole