http://littlereddave.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-amyou-areanzac-day-2001.html
http://littlereddave.blogspot.com/2008/04/reflect.html
So, um, "ditto".
So, on to my trip! I hit the road about 6am Saturday morning and drove down to Mataranka via Pine Creek (lovely little town!) and Katherine (had vague notions about going on a Gorge trip but it was so goddamn hot!) and I also took the 'Daly River scenic route', which wasn't particularly scenic but was a nice change from the highway.
I did drive out to the Gorge in Katherine and had a look around but I have done a Gorge cruise on a very hot day and it was just too draining. My plan is to arrange it so I can do a sunset or sunrise cruise at some point and see a completely different perspective.
Katherine is also a good place to refuel and get some groceries, which I did.
Finallly arrived in Mataranka just after 1pm and booked into the Mataranka Homestead Resort. I dumped my stuff then drove up to Bitter Springs on the northside of town. I had a beautiful swim in the crystal-clear very warm water of the thermal pools (I'd estimate the water temperature at 30 to 35 degrees) but had to share it with a mass of Japanese tourists and children. It was a very hot day so I guess everyone decided they needed a swim.
Want to see a photo of Bitter Springs? You guessed it: I left my camera and my iPhone at the motel. Such a dope. I did borrow this photo from a tourist website though so you can get an idea. The dissolved limestone is what gives the water such a beautiful blue colour.
Back to Mataranka, it was now about 3:30 in the arvo so I parked the car and then took the short walk from the resort to the Mataranka thermal pools. These are a part of the Elsey National Park and were used by nearby stationed army officers for swimming.
I have heard negative reports of the springs: that they're crowded, dirty, smelly, and that the local flying foxes are intrusive and a nuisance. Maybe I was just lucky because I had a lovely afternoon swimming in the pool. It wasn't that crowded, smelly or dirty and the water was at least 5 degrees cooler than Bitter Springs.
It could be the time of year (it's only late April) and so June or July might be incredibly crowded, but I didn't have to share it with too many people and enjoyed myself a great deal.
Photos: Mataranka's thermal pool, Dave at Mataranka's thermal pool (the light is different because this was taken when I went down for another swim the next morning) and the flying foxes of Mataranka (couldn't quite capture this, but they're there I swear!)
The next morning, I had a sleep in, another swim and then headed off to Cutta Cutta caves near Katherine for a guided tour. These limestone caves can only be accessed on a tour ($16) and are comprised of karst. The tours leave practically every hour on the hour from 9am. I made the 10am tour and was glad because the 11am tour looked like it was far too crowded.
Cutta Cutta means "many stars" in the Jaewoyn language and the calcium carbonate crystals do shimmer in the torchlight. My photos were completely inadequate of course, but here's my attempt:
Oh, I shouldn't have written that! Now, I'll sprain my ankle or get swine flu or something. Agh! No, but really. Great weekend. As much as I love the wet though, it is an awfully late one this year and I found myself in the middle of a tropical downpour as I went past the Territory Wildlife Park and then into Darwin itself.
On that note, actually, I went to the Territory Wildlife Park a few weeks ago and that was fantastic! Highly recommended. It's right near Berry Springs as well so you can spend a few hours at the park and then picnic at the nearby Springs. Great day out!
That's all from me... and Little Red Dave. Score one point for (a) updating this blog and (b) bringing LRD with me. Well done me!
No comments:
Post a Comment