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.

Adelaide River (back to Darwin) to Mataranka

Hello all
After returning to Darwin to get the Waeco freezer repaired I headed South again covering country I had previously seen, so it was a quick trip down the highway. But while in Darwin I set up camp at Oasis Caravan Park, then looked across as someone was calling my name.....two sites along were the two couples I spent four nights camped beside in Alice Springs, so we were able to catch up on our travels.

First night out of Darwin was spent at Edith Falls but there was no swimming for this little black duck......I have a theory........a Crocodile is called a Crocodile for a reason, whether it be a saltie or a freshie IT IS STILL A CROCODILE to me. Other people were more fool hardy but not me.

Edith Falls

Edith Falls

Next stop was Katherine for a major stock up on supplies, with the weather still hitting 35c every day I spent 2 days alternating between the Katherine Hot Springs and the Caravan Park swimming pool.
While there I discovered I had been doing these hot nights all wrong...........with no Airconditioning in the camper I had been struggling with all the flyscreens open and the exhaust fan over the bed going flat out not doing much. Over the bed is a 3 speed exhaust fan called Create a Breeze, I now zip everything up tight and half open the flyscreen at the head of the bed. This creates a lovely cooling breeze over me while I sleep and has even had me reaching for the Doona during the night. I wish I had worked that one out sooner..............

After spending a fortune in Katherine, $192.32 in diesel alone, I headed off to Mataranka to spend the afternoon in the hot thermal springs.

Mataranka Thermal Springs

Mataranka Springs

Mataranka Springs

After spending about 3 hours in the hot springs, I headed to the Bar for dinner. Tonight is quite pleasant and hopefully I have left those horrible sticky nights behind.
Tomorrow I head East to Roper Bar and Tomato Island, where I believe is my last mobile coverage until Borooloola. From Roper Bar I am Heading to Lorella Springs Station for at least a week, possibly more and my last bitumen roads for quite a while.
I am all stocked..............140 litres diesel, 95 litres water, 40 litres of Diet Coke and a fridge full of chocolate..........lookout Lorella here I come.
http://www.lorellasprings.com.au/  

Bye for now....I will update next time I get reception.

Darwin To Adelaide River (Including Litchfield National Park)

Hello all, 
On arrival in Darwin it was time to organise a few things. Get the free tyre rotate and balance, since the new tyres were fitted, and get the Ute serviced.

Darwin from East Point

  The Wet has forgotten to end up here for this Victorian, after nearly a week of 34c and 50% humidity days and 24C and 92% humidity nights I felt like a damp sponge............
All task complete it was time to flee South to try to get some sleep at night (no aircon in camper)
So off to Litchfield I headed with the Aircon in the Ute full blast.

Wangi Falls

Wangi Falls

Litchfield was the busiest place I have been so far, but it was a weekend and Litchfield is only a bit over an hour from Darwin, so I assume a lot were locals. I did spend some time trying to evict the Gecko that had decided to make the camper home.

Tolmer Falls

Florence Falls

Florence Falls

At 35c I wasn't about to descend the 135 steps to the bottom or the climb back up.

\

Florence Falls

 Getting away from the crowds at Litchfield I headed to Mt Bundy Station at Adelaide River for a few nights. Major laundry was done and spent the rest of the day in the pool.

Mt Bundy Station

Mt bundy Station

Camp at Mt Bundy Station

It was here that I had my first major issue............upon getting something for dinner from the freezer I discovered my Waeco Freezer had died............with probably $120 worth for spoiled frozen foods. While I am glad this happened here and not 400km from the nearest shop, it meant turning around and heading back to Darwin to see if I can get it repaired, or replace it. Well here I am back in Darwin $120 of frozen food poorer and $330 fridge repairs poorer. 
All is well now so tomorrow I am going to head towards Katherine again to escape the humidity. The Savannah Way awaits.............
Bye for now.