Heading north from Longreach Waterhole, we could have mistaken much of the terrain for our home area – SE QLD! The sparser traffic, weird number plates, 130km/hr speed limit and unknown towns kinda gave it away though….

We stopped for fuel at Dunmarra, and I noticed some nice looking pies in the roadhouse, so we had morning tea there (first hot pies these holidays!). I must have a good eye, because they turned out to be nice big homemade ones with real beef inside! They also had some large snakes in tanks!

We continued on to Mataranka, around 100km’s shy of Katherine. Elsey National Park, with the well known Mataranka Thermal Pool/Springs is just a few km’s out of town. It is clear we are no longer in dry central Australia – there are sprinklers running in the caravan park till the point the ground grows moss rather than grass in places!

We spent the night camping at the Thermal Pool homestead caravan park. The thermal pools are beautiful crystal clear water with a light blue tinge to them. The water springs out of the ground just 50m or so upstream, at a temperature of 34C!! We all enjoyed a nice dip in the warm water. Unfortunately it is a fairly busy place – I was lucky to get these photos of the pool without them showing heaps of other people!

Tues morning we went for a walk down to the Roper river which the springs flow into (only another 50m or so downstream), and then on a longer walk down the Roper river to Stevies Waterhole. The Roper river is a greeny colour with a slight aqua tinge to it. There is a fair bit of algie growth (water from the springs is apparently nutrient rich, combined with warm water = algie!), but it is still beautifully clear. We went swimming in this river later in the arvo (but no pics taken).

After lunch we drove further down the Roper river to 12 Mile Yards, and did an 8km return walk to the Mataranka Falls. Turns out they are nothing spectacular, but still pretty and worth a few photos!

We could have camped down there, but the boys didn’t want to. Even the lure of barramundi fishing wasn’t enough of a temptation (it’s not allowed back upstream)! So it was back to the caravan park that evening, for a swim in the Roper river and another dip in the thermal pool! No need for boredom in the evening, the homestead had live entertainment!! Ever heard a professional whip cracker? This guy is pretty amazing!

The only whip cracker who does it to music!! Sorry, but the music hasn’t been captured by the camera mic very well. Sounded much better in person – very good infact!

his finalie:

Then there was this duo: Didgeridoo and Drums! Awesome!

Wed morning (today! I’m up to date with the posts now!!!!) we packed up but stopped in at Bitter Springs before leaving Mataranka (same National Park). I was surprised – these are better than the busier and noisier thermal pools!! More natural – no concrete and aluminium edges to it! Wider, deeper (almost all of it over head height), and you can float downstream for 100m or so! We had a great time swimming. The water is so clear that it looks shallow in the photos below. Temperature of these is slightly less, around 32C or so I’m told, which is probably better as you don’t get wrinkled skin as quickly! Great place!

After bitter springs it was on to Katherine, and we are now camped at Katherine Gorge! Who should we run into when looking for a site, but Aunty Kathy!! Great to see you again and catch up Kathy. We’ve been feeling a little sleepy/tired this arvo – sorry if that was obvious – it wasn’t because of you!!

Oh, and we once again find ourselves with Telstra/intenet 🙂 , but no Optus mobile coverage 🙁 common theme in the NT….