Day 12 –Tennant Creek to Katherine

Off early again this morning for another long day in the car, one of our longest. 692kms -  taking almost 8 hours of driving.  And do you think with a new car to drive, that Brendan would be letting me do any relief driving at all? I think we all know the answer to that question!!!! (“I’m fine, I don’t need a break…..”). So far, I haven’t been able to wrestle the keys from his grasp. He absolutely loves this car, and is quite pleased when someone in the van park toddles up to him and asks him what he thinks of it for towing.  (Don’t get me started…..).
Our first stop, was at the tiny town of Elliott – time to fuel up, and have a quick stretch and a snack, then back on the road again.

As we drive we are now passing thousands of dark red, pyramid shaped termite mounds, up to about Sam’s height. It seems to be a Territory kind of joke to dress some of them up in clothes of varying types. From safety vests and helmets to a bride and groom, to lots of mangy tshirts. These are all out in the absolute middle of nowhere along the roadside (not in the towns), so I don’t know who goes to the trouble to stop and do it, but its quite amusing.

Today was the first day we have spotted a few kangaroos dead on the sides of the road – not many though. The only animal life we spot are the wandering cattle (no fences out here, just cattle grids, and free roaming), and a few dead ones that a truck has hit, and the hundreds of wedge tailed eagles we see (nearly always flying in pairs) hovering expertly over the roads, looking for food.

Our lunch stop today was the funny old, tiny town of Daly Waters. Renowned as a true outback pub, most people sit outside under the huge verandah’s looking at all the funny memorabilia around them. This is a place set up for tour buses (a lot of people fish in the nearby famous Daly River), and it really caters for tourists. The pub itself is a tiny one, covered in beautiful, rampaging purple bougainvillea in full bloom. Inside the walls are adorned with many things – collections of bras, knickers, money from all over the world – both notes and coins, thongs, hats, tshirts, and you name it –its there. The kids were most amused.

 

Next we stopped at the tiny town of Mataranka, famous for its two hot springs. The main town ones are in the midst of a thick grove of palm trees, beautiful clear water, with white sandy bottoms. There is a restaurant homestead and caravan park at this one, and people absolutely everywhere, swimming, soaking, eating, wandering… 

 

Having been here before several years ago, we knew to visit the nearby and much less populated Bitter Springs, which is much less commercialised. There was still plenty of people around, but Lily opted for a swim in the warm waters, enjoying herself immensely. It is 30 degrees in Katherine today, so we have now definitely hit the hot weather. Only yesterday in Alice Springs it was -2 when we left in the morning!

 

After a brief swim, it was back in the car and an hours drive down the road to our stop for the next few nights – Katherine. Katherine is a rough old town, and we were glad to drive out to our caravan park (Big 4 Low Level) 10 mins out the road, in a beautiful, secluded, shady, very large park near the towns Hot Springs. We stayed in this caravan park several years ago, so we knew it was a lovely one. Fantastic big pool fringed by palm trees, beside a large outside candlelit restaurant.  As soon as we had unloaded, plugged in our power and water, we hit the pool. At 6pm it is still 30 degrees, so we opted for a quick swim, and a late tea tonight in the van.