Day 22; 28-07-2012

Saturday...
Left Litchfield National Park at around 0900, headed for Darwin.  Along the way, we stopped off at a place called 'the Termite Mounds'.  Here, there a series of mounds built by magnetic termites.  They're called that because they build their mounds with a flat footprint which has the thin edge facing North/South to minimise the exposure to the sun and hence staying cool within.  Clever hey?  The field of these mounds looks like a cemetery of gravestones.  Quite amazing! 
We've never been to Darwin before.  Arrived at around 1030 and checked into a caravan park called Aurora Shady Glen.  It certainly is that.  We didn't research this one as it is located next to the showgrounds and today is Darwin Show Day.  Pretty noisy at the moment (2030) but hopefully it'll die down by bedtime.  It's also causing me grief as I can't connect to the internet because we're sharing the same cellular network as the showgrounds.
We enjoyed lunch down at the wharf and later visited the Aviation Heritage Centre.  Here, they have a collection of memorabilia from the WWII bombing of Darwin in Feb 1942.  Inside this single hangar, they have a B-52 Bomber.  It's one of two on display outside the USA.  As you'd imagine, this thing takes up most of the hangar.  So scattered around the floor space under the B-52 are many other planes and vehicles such as a Spitfire, Tiger Moth, Mirage fighter and others.
Interesting place to visit if you ever get the chance.

Links:
Google Maps reference is -12 25.7, 130 53.983
See more images at... https://picasaweb.google.com/106361511620108780730/Day2228072012

Day 21; 27-07-2012

Friday...
Today we set out in one car and took in the sights and sounds of the Litchfield National Park.  It's quite a small park with a lot of points of interest within a small area.  In saying that, the entire park is 1500 sq km in area.
Firstly, we took the off road track to 'The Lost City'.  Pretty rough track but it leads to a series of sandstone rock formations which stand like pillars and paths meander through them which gives the impression of the ruins of a lost city.
Next we visited Tolmer Falls.  This is a single drop waterfall similar in appearance to Wallaman Falls at home.  There is no access to the deep pool at the bottom of the falls.
Off into the scrub again, we went to the Blyth Homestead which serves as a reminder of the days that this site was a tin mine.  This is the homestead of a tin miner and his family.  The hut built in 1929 is in ruins but is a visit into the past to see the conditions that these people lived in.  This site is accessible by 4WD only as it crosses a couple of creeks along the way.
From there we went to Wangi Falls (along with 1000 other people).  This place is the most accessible and popular spots in the park.  You can swim in the large pool at the base of the falls.  Nice site but shared with a lot of people.
By now it was mid afternoon so we headed home via Tabletop Swamp and Buley Rockholes which is great little swimming hole to cool off after a day of driving and walking.  It was a welcoming refresher.
Today served as our halfway mark of our trip (in time that is).
Three weeks down and three to go.  So far we have traveled 6800 km.
Tomorrow, we head to Darwin.

Links:
Google Maps reference is -13 5.583, 130 47.083
See more images at... https://picasaweb.google.com/106361511620108780730/Day2127072012

Day 20; 26-07-2012

Thursday...
We left Scott Creek at 0730.  Along the way, we caught up on a few outstanding repairs and groceries at Katherine.  Also dropped into the information centre to get the guff on what to see and do in the area so that we could plan our next few days.
We made off to Litchfield National Park.  We pulled up at a 4WD camping ground at Florence Falls.  There is also a 2WD camping ground which was pretty full when we arrived around 1530.  The sign leading into here said 'no caravans'.  But we didn't have any problems with our van.  The road was a little steep (in descent) in places and some tight corners but overall pretty good.  The truth will be in the pudding when we leave to tackle the uphill climb with the load.
After settling in, we took a short walk to the base of the falls.  Took some piccies and a swim.  The water was flowing well and the falls were beautiful.  The water - so clear and a bit cool.  In parts, the water was up to 6 feet deep and the bottom was still clearly visible.
The temperature around here is quite warm given it's winter at around the high 20's and low 30's.
As the crow flies, we are only about 80km from Darwin.  We plan to stay here for 2 nights and them poke on to Darwin.

Links:
Google Maps reference is -13 5.583, 130 47.083
See more images at... https://picasaweb.google.com/106361511620108780730/Day2026072012