Mataranka to Borroloola (via Roper Bar and Lorella Springs Station)

Hello all
I have been out of range for a week or so but back temporarily before another week or so off the grid.

Leaving Mataranka, I headed out the Roper highway to Roper Bar.

We of the Never never replica Homestead at Mataranka

Roper Bar

About 40 kilometres past Roper Bar is an excellent Camp called Tomato Island. Tomato Island is a Parks NT camp with a resident Caretaker, nice green grass, free gas barbeques and a near new Amenities block better than most caravan parks I have stayed in, all for $10 per night, this along with mobile reception from the tower located at the Ngukurr Aboriginal Community just across the river.

Roper River at Tomato Island

From there it was down the Nathan River Road, through Limmen National Park towards Lorella Springs Station.

Lomarium Lagoon

St Vidgeons Ruins

The Savannah Way (Nathan River Road) is a fairly narrow gravel road with numerous river and creek crossings, but that doesn't seem to deter people with big caravans.

one of many creek crossings

Typical road condition

Towns River

There were some quite deep and interesting water crossings. But after about 300 kilometres of this it was odd to pull up at a give way sign. A bitumen Haul Road for one of the mines crosses the road, complete with white centre line............

approach to Cox River crossing

Cox River

A night and a swim at Butterfly Springs was enjoyed before continuing

to Lorella.

Butterfly Springs

Butterfly Springs

there seemed to be one of these every few kilometres

Last stop before Lorella was Western Lost City.

Western lost City

the Road? into Lost City claimed a few victims

Western lost City

Nearly there

I had been a day or so behind the Grader doing the opening grade, so the road had been fairly reasonable, with only the last 10 or so kilometres into Lorella Springs not yet graded. The grader had blown a hydraulic hose, so grading was at a stand still.
It was book in and hit the hot springs for a soak.

Tortoise having a soak too

 

Laundry day at Lorella

I took the camper off, to explore Lorella, as there are a lot of tight rough station tracks. Lorella Springs is a one million acre station with plenty of places to look at.

The Bar at Lorella

Hot Spring

I spent quite a bit of time in the hot spring adjacent to the campsite.

Crocodile Springs

Crocodile Springs

Brolga

Flying fox Swamp

Australian Bustard

Australian Bustard

Rosie River

getting ready to go for a fly

Flying over camp, my rig bottom centre

heading towards Southern Lost City

Savannah Way from the air

Southern lost City

Southern Lost City

the Arch

Lorella's 29km driveway

after nearly a week it was time to leave

After a 180k drive I arrived in Borroloola this afternoon.

The only casualty of the trip so far being a rather bashed up bash plate under the front of the ute. This falling victim of a large rock hidden in the grass in the centre of one of the station tracks at Lorella. I have straightened it enough to now clear the sump, but it is still hanging a bit low and will need to be replaced or further repaired somewhere.
Next stop is King Ash Bay, then back to Borroloola to continue through to Hells Gate and the Queensland Border, before heading to Adels Grove and lawn Hill National Park.
Bye for now.