Litchfield Park

I camped at the small town of Batchelor at the entrance to the Litchfield National Park.

This is the sort of camp site I like, there may have been frogs in the drinking water taps but it was nice and secluded and also had a restaurant shop and bar, which all seemed to be run by Irish backpackers.

 

These are known as the magnetic termites, they orientate there mounds north to south,  These insects like warm, stable temperatures throughout the day, so they first move to the eastern side of their mounds that warms rapidly, and then to the warmer centre as the evening chill sets in. Whether they actually use the magnetic poles to do this or just the direction of the sun is not known.

 

 

 

 

This is Florence Falls, there are some good walks here.

 

This is Wangi Falls, there were more good walks here as well as swimming.

 

 

A black cocky, very noisy!

 

I am not sure who these signs are aimed at but I came across a number of them at the sides of the road in this area.

 

This is a more normal termite mound but again this has ridges to increase the surface area. Which you don’t see to the same extent further south.

 

The disused Bamboo Creek tin mine.

 

The signs explain it all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the bank are 2 stone troughs for water.

 

 

One of the old mine shafts now a home for wildlife.

 

The entrance to one of the shafts, most have been closed for safety.

Darwin

 

Left Victoria river early on 7th August and drove to Darwin, stopping at Katherine for a coffee and a break, I will call at Katherine on the way back so decided not to stop for long this time. Booked in at Forest Springs camp site about 30km out of Darwin for 3 days.

Darwin is an interesting City with a good shopping area. This is one of the main shopping malls.

 

The girl in the picture above.

 

The ruins of the old town hall, one of only a few things preserved from the devastation of Cyclone Tracy, Christmas Eve 1974. I was living in Adelaide then and remember it well.

There is a very good exhibition in the Darwin museum which covers the whole event, including an ABC weather broadcast forecasting that Tracy would bypass Darwin and not be a problem ( Michael Fish comes to mind). I spent half a day in this museum.

 

 

Apartments at Darwin Harbour.

 

Views of the harbour, a replica of the Endeavour can be seen in the distance.

 

 

 

A very large marina area.

 

 

I went on the Endeavour guided tour. This is a replica that is circumnavigating Australia with volunteer crews.

 

The Jack on the bows has a missing country (It was interesting that non of the crew or guides that I spoke to had noticed this, or knew which country it was. Somebody must have known to get it right.) We did not add the Irish until 1801 and much to their disgust, the Welsh have never been added but they are a Principality not a Country.

 

This deck, meals during the day and bed at night.

 

 

 

Not a lot of headroom!

 

I am told this is the origin of the term “A square meal” square plates that would butt side by side and not take up so much room.

 

The officers dining room and the control centre of the ship.

 

The captains cabin.

 

 

I think the use of this receptacle is self explanatory.

 

 

Darwin has some nice beaches but they are very prone to box jellyfish, Nightcliff Beach has a stinger net in the swimming areas to keep them out.

This is Mindil beach.

 

 

It gets more rocky as you go round the coast.

 

Darwin is a nice city i could have spent more time there.

Keep River park

 

On the way to Katherine I stopped at Keep River Park, I only spent a couple of hours here but could have spent a lot longer.

 

I was told by some other people that these were brolgas but I am not sure they did not seem big enough and they had spoon beaks.

 

 

This is an interesting bit of aboriginal culture. very inventive but must have taken a lot of patience.

 

 

 

This was an enjoyable walk not a lot I can narrate, the pictures speak for themselves.

 

 

The wild flowers are starting to bloom.

 

 

 

This area geologically is very similar to Bungle Bungle.

 

 

Another bit of Aboriginal history.

 

 

This was an enjoyable digression from a long drive, not going to get to Katherine today, need to find somewhere to stop for the night.

This is a parasitic plant that is killing a vast quantity of native trees in the north of Australia.

 

The Victoria river.

 

 

The Victoria river road house where I decided to camp for the night, about 100km from Katherine.

 

In case you missed the sign.