Lovely Litchfield

A freshwater crocodile lurking

We have not long left Litchfield NP and it definitely lived up to all expectations.  Our first impression was not great, the road through the park was bordered by fairly ordinary scrub and a lot of it was being burnt at the time so not overly attractive, then the camping area we had picked out on the map (Wangi falls campground) was full by the time we got there (Paul blames me, he claims those 3 minutes I spent looking at shorts in Katherine cost us the last site!).  We drove a further 4 km up the road to the Litchfield Tourism Precinct (very laughable title) to find Litchfield Safari Camp, a caravan park that made Clairview look like a Big4.  The kiosk was set up in a shipping container, prices written on a blackboard and only about 2 other tourists in the place.  After some indecision we paid for 2 nights and were rewarded with one of the best sites we have had so far.  We had an enormous area to ourselves complete with fireplace, table, grass, trees, beautiful outlook etc.  After setting up we drove back to Wangi Falls and had a swim at the base of the magnificent waterfalls.  It was a little disconcerting when a fellow tourist ever so helpfully told us there was a crocodile (don't worry it's only a salty, or is it a freshy?) just around the corner.  Even after taking a look and reassuring ourselves that it was a freshwater crocodile and it was far enough away we managed to brave it.  The fact that the water is crystal clear makes it easier. 

That night the kids collected all the firewood and we had our first campfire since Porepunkah and dessert was roast bananas and chocolate - yum.

Wangi Falls

 The next day was falls after falls.  We started at Cascade Falls, had an hour return walk with a swim in the middle, then back to Wangi and a walk to the top of the falls then back in the plunge pool to cool off.  There was no sign of the croc this day, didn't know whether that was good or bad.  We then went back to camp for lunch and then to Tolmer Falls for a look, then Florence Falls - more swimming (massive fish swimming around us) then to Buley Rockholes.  This was the Ben and Emmas' favourite, a series of cascading waterfalls with deep pools in each.  The clarity of the water in every waterhole was phenomenal. From there we went on to see the magnetic termite mounds and that was a little freakish with rows and rows of them all lined up North-South so that they would be exposed to minimum sun.  It was getting rather late by this stage so back to the ranch, watching out as wallabies ran across the road, and another fire - this time it was damper for dessert.

Tolmer Falls

Buley Rockholes

Florence Falls

Ben, Emma and I swimming at the Cascades

View from the beginning of Cascades walk

Magnetic Termite Mounds

This morning we packed up for around the 20th time and set off for Darwin.  We have had a bit of a look round, we have already had a few swims, both here and at the wharf and look forward to a few more days of exploration.