Day 16 –Jabiru (Kakadu) to Douglas Daly

This morning we decided to have a change of plans, and instead of going straight up to Darwin, we headed for Douglas Daly (about 50kms off the Stuart Highway, along a sealed road).  But before heading out of Kakadu, one last stop at Mardugal Billabong. This huge billabong looked more like a massive river to us, and the 1km track through the bushland to get us there had us looking out for skinks, and birdlife on the way. At the water’s edge we were warned (as is usual around every watering hole in the NT) of the danger of crocs. Looking out into the water we did spot a big one, so were happy to obey!

 

A couple of hours, and we turned back on to the Stuart Highway for a while, stopping at the small town of Pine Creek for a quick break. A look at the historic steam train, and a wander along the parkway track admiring the beautiful trees. Everywhere we drive we see the most attractive pink barked Salmon Gums, and finally we stopped near one, so I could take a photo. Lily was also amazed at the other huge trees that were covered in a huge foot-long pods, which when shook made a great musical sound. She collected quite a few to crack open and investigate the seeds inside. Everywhere around us I thought I could hear the screeching of parrots, but when I looked up to admire them, I saw the quivery, shaking masses of bats (well flying foxes, actually).

 

 

Next it was off to Douglas Daly, a very remote place about 50km inland in a westerly direction off the Stuart Highway. The only thing that is out here is a caravan park (with a nice pool) situated on the Daly River, famous for its fishing and hot springs. After setting up the van, and making some lunch, we headed off down the 10km dirt road to the locally famous, Daly Hot Springs. Wow, couldn’t believe the amount of people bush camped out here. Heaps of families, like us, had made their way out to the few kilometres of river to sit and soak and relax in the hot water. It was such a weird place. On first glance it looks like a pretty, but ordinary river with various rocky and sandy bottomed areas, but as you walk along it, wading through the water of varying levels, you find warm spots, cool spots, up to 70degrees boiling hot parts. After a while we wised up to the fact that if you stopped and looked closely you could see bubbles slowly coming out of the ground in some places, and this was where it was at its hottest. How delightful to find a hot part to sit in, on the very warm sand, and soak yourself in the soothing waters.

The amazing thing was, there were families throwing a line in the water, just baited with bread, pulling out fish all around us. We could see different sized fish swimming around us, seemingly uncaring of the kids splashing around. A very interesting, and different experience.

 

Back to the caravan park, for a swim in the lovely pool, a chat to some other camping holiday maker families, then back  to the van. Tuna mornay and macaroni is on the menu tonight (loving my thermomix!).