Our Aussie Adventures

Argh, that dammed alarm clock! It was shrieking in my ear at 7:00AM, to give us the best chance of seeing as much of Kakadu as we can today. Sadly, I missed the sunrise by only a few minutes, as I sat outside to eat my breakfast. I left Bec to sleep for a little longer, as she had decided that an extra 15 minutes of beauty sleep outweighed early morning nourishment.

On getting her up, it was all hands on deck to get ‘The Beast’ packed for a day out, before taking the dogs for a couple of tiring laps of the caravan park grounds. They will of course be remaining here, locked safely in the van. We figure if we wear them out before we leave, there is less chance of them taking it upon themselves to redecorate for us while we’re out.

Almost ready to go, we bumped into ‘Woody’, one of the guys who works here. A rough looking fellow, you couldn’t meet a nicer bloke. He tends the grounds here, and despite the dust, takes great pride in doing what he can to not only make the park nicer for the guests, but takes an interest in making sure that the few guests that are here are happy. Even to the extent of emptying the rubbish bins by hand, rather than using the motorised cart, because he doesn’t want to wake anyone up early when they are on holidays. Staff at some of the bigger places could learn a lesson or two from this guy. We ended up spending a good 15 minutes chatting to him, before we decided we really ought to be on our way.

Kakadu is known to Darwinians colloquially as Kakadon’t, because Litchfield National Park is closer to home, and is meant to be a nicer park. Well, having been to Litchfield previously, we get to find out for ourselves today.

Kakadu National Park is huge, and we don’t even hope to be able to see all there is to see in our limited time here. To do so would take weeks, if not months of careful exploration. Thus, after the obligatory happy snap by the entrance gate, we made our way to the main information and interpretive centre.

In we venture.

Even this was over an hour and a half drive through the park, at a steady 110Km/h. Making our way through the park to the information centre, there was not a great deal to be seen from the main road. A few wide creeks, still flowing from the wet season rains, you could see why the crocodile warning signs were so prevalent.

At the Bowali Information Centre, we gathered an armful of information, as well as spoke to one of the very knowledgeable rangers, who helped fill us in on where the best spots to go were. A quick look through the interpretive display, which gave us a small glimpse at the life of the local aboriginal tribes, and we were on our way. There would be just enough time to reach the starting point for a cultural cruise along the East Alligator River, in the north eastern section of the park, another 45 minutes away.

Heading back to the car park, I found a couple of blokes admiring ‘The Beast’. Before we knew it, we had spent nearly a quarter of an hour talking to them, and the time to reach the boat ramp for the cultural cruise was slipping away.

It was as if we just weren’t destined to make it in time, as I first took a wrong turn, which caused another delay, and then got stuck behind a campervan that decided the 74Km/h was a considerate pace to travel at in a 110Km/h speed zone.

It was 11:04AM, when we rolled to a harried stop at the boat ramp car park, to find that the boat had left right on time at 11:00AM. We had literally, missed the boat. I was most disappointed at this, but there was nothing we could do, so we continued on our way (sulking only a little bit).

We called in briefly then at Cahills Crossing, which is the ford over the river to Arnhemland. Permits are required to travel past this point, as Arnhemland is managed by the local Aboriginal tribes, and is considered to be very sacred to their culture. We didn’t cross the river, but continued further north to Ubirr, which is an area known for its magnificent Aboriginal rock art.

From the car park here, it was about a 1Km walk along a hot, but thankfully shaded trail, leading to the rock art galleries. The drawings found here are believed to be between 5000 and 6000 years old. To be honest, rock art is not really my thing. The previous examples I have seen, are usually no more than scribbles, seemingly interpreted as what ever you wanted. Here though, the art work is clear and well defined. Whilst we might not be privy to the true meaning behind the drawings, the subject matter is clear enough to decipher.

Examples

of the

art.

rock

The highlight of the area however, was the steep climb up the rock escarpment, from the pinnacle of which afforded us 360^o views of the surrounding landscape. In one direction, for as far as the eye could see was scrubby bush land, with further escarpments poking through the forest canopy. Peering in the other direction, a low, flat wasteland of flood plain spread out beneath us, into Arnhemland territory. The view was utterly spectacular. A view that neither words nor pictures could do justice to.

On top of the world.

A young Aboriginal ranger, who was at the summit, explained to us that there were two tribes in the area, and that Kakadu was jointly managed by them and the settlers. The area where we were now standing had been the site of secret mens business, but no more, because of the tourists.

Moving on again, we made our way back to the township of Jabiru. A modern town nestled within the National Park, we were able to get lunch, a copy of the daily paper (only to find that Queensland had lost the rugby last night, so I’m glad I didn’t get to see it afterall), and a phone signal. That gave us a chance to check in with the folks back home, and let them know that all is well. We also got to drive around the aptly named Crocodile Holiday Inn, a hotel formed in the shape of a giant croc, I remembered it fondly from Northern Territory tourism adverts from when I was a kid. And who says advertising doesn’t work.

Time had escaped us by this stage though, so we hit the road for the long drive back to the caravan. It was to be another hour and a half on the road before we would get back to our camp. It was almost 3:30PM when we did finally arrive ‘home’, or a little over 7 hours and 400Km since we had left this morning. All that time, and apart from rushing out of the van to relieve themselves, the dogs couldn’t have cared less. Sure, they seemed excited that we had come back for them, but it looked as if they’d done nothing more strenuous than sleep all day.

Getting back, we also found that the park was almost full tonight. With only a dozen or so powered sites, that doesn’t take much, but they were all pretty much in use. We must have looked like old hands however, our van skewed haphazardly over two sites, and strutting about without a care, for a few people came to ask us for advice on where to set up, or where to find things.

Mind you, there was one thing we were after advice on, and that was if the park had a dump spot for our toilet waste. On asking the backpacker manning the reception desk, the answer was in the negative. Although as the door was slowly closing behind us, we did hear the young backpacker call out to someone in the kitchen: “Have we got a dump point?”

We found ‘Woody’ later on, and he knows his stuff. It was a definitive “no, but they should have one…” to the dump spot question. We then lost another 20 minutes nattering away about our day to him.

Until next time, stay safe, have fun and don’t forget to write.

Yippee! Our invertor works. We plugged it in last night, after returning from the camp fire, to watch a movie. My wiring job worked a treat, powering the invertor without any shrieking alarms going off, or any other problems for that matter. It’s a good life when you can sit in the middle of nowhere, camping by the side of the road and still have such luxuries as being able to watch a movie. Now we just have to source a satellite system to allow us to watch live TV anywhere we pull up.

As for today, we had a quiet one. We only had to tug the van the final 30 kilometres or so to the Goymarr Tourist Resort. Resort would be an overstatement, but given that this place had pretty much picked us, rather than the other way round, we couldn’t be too critical. Given that we want to do some touring around Kakadu National Park, within which pets aren’t allowed to accompany us, Goymarr Tourist Resort is the closest we can camp with the dogs. Only a matter of a few kilometres from the park entrance, and with a liberal pet policy, which will allow us to leave the babies in the caravan, the facilities were the furthest thing from our minds when we made the decision to stay here.

We had gotten underway at 9:45AM, aiming to arrive at Goymarr at a touch after 10:00AM, which we did. We were working on the theory that we would be able to slot into a recently vacated site, given that the park only boasts 11 powered camp sites and we had no plan ‘B’ if they were full up. Check in was a simple process, although the girl behind the counter seemed somewhat bemused that we wanted to stay for three nights, with an option to extend that if we decided that we wanted to stay for even longer. Paying over our cash, she waved vaguely and suggested that behind the reception office, which doubled as the roadhouse kitchen and petrol station, we would find some gates. Pass through them, she advised us, to find the camp ground.

Back in ‘The Beast’, we headed to where we’d been indicated, to find an empty expanse of wilted grass (although not from want of water, but just the incessant heat), dirt and a sparse few trees. We, were the sole occupants, and had the choice of where we would unhitch the van. This was easier said than done, with no marked sites or bays. So much for all the worry we had gone through, expecting it to be a bustling hive of activity here.

We eventually chose, what we hope is a plot, that was within easy striking distance of the amenities block, as well as being beneath some tall trees, to take advantage of the shade they cast. In no particular rush, we ambled about slowly in the bright glare of the hot sun setting up our camp.

We were done in no time, then it was time to check out what was on offer at the ‘Resort’. Given that I am not expecting to be able to get any television reception, I was at least hoping for a communal TV room, or a screen in the bar, so as to be able to watch Queensland take on New South Wales in the rugby state or origin. I was to be disappointed though. There were plenty of satellite dishes dotted about on various roof tops around the grounds that indicated that there ought to be a tele around here somewhere, but none was to be found. As for other ‘resort’ facilities, there was a pool, which looked inviting enough. That was pretty much it though. The diner was more like a truck stop, without even a table at which to eat, while the bar had a fridge half full of various drinks, but was secured with a great big padlock. There was no indication as to when, if ever, we could expect the padlock to be unbolted, and for the bar to spring into life. The amenities are serviceable, so long as you ignore the mosquitoes flying all around in plague like proportions, making anything other than a quick pit stop an interesting proposition.

The office did at least allow us to purchase our passes for the national park. Kakadu National Park offers free entry to Northern Territory residents and children, but everyone else must first purchase a pass. For $25.00 each, and valid for 2 weeks, I thought it was a perfectly reasonable way of managing the area, even if we will be only here for a few days.

We later decided to test just how inviting the pool was, and even in the heat of the day, we found the water be quite cold. Certainly not what we have become used to, after swimming in the thermal pools of Mataranka. It was still very relaxing to paddle about in the shallows, before returning to the van.

By this stage a second van had pulled in, and was in the process of setting up their own camp. I noticed that they had wound their TV antenna up, and I was intrigued to know whether they had had more luck than I had with ours. I hooked the dogs to their leashes, and wandered out into the park with them, heading out on a fact finding mission.

As we walked past the other van, I waved and said “G’day”. He too, had been wondering about the television situation, because before I could even ask, he was enquiring of me as to whether we were getting anything. As it turns out, we were both hoping to watch the game tonight, and were both to be left wanting. At least that saved me hours of messing around with the antenna in the vein hope that I would get a signal.

By the time we retired, we were one of four vans set up for the night, with at least two of the others looking like they will be getting underway early in the morning.

With not much else to do, we lazed about in the air conditioned comfort of the van, planning our Kakadu adventure for tomorrow. With only a couple of days to take in all that the park has to offer, we need a bit of a plan, even if that plan might just see us extending our stay here by a day or two. We’ll have a better idea after we see how much ground we can cover tomorrow.

Until next time, stay safe, have fun and don’t forget to write.

It was a sad day today as we bid farewell to Mataranka and the caravan park we’ve been calling home for the last few days. It is quite odd how some places you stay, you just feel at home. It helped that we had a lovely shaded site here, close to all of the amenities, and had good neighbours throughout, that weren’t parked right in your pocket. It also helps if the dogs like the park, and they certainly seemed to enjoy this place, mainly due to the long walks we could take about the place. A final walk this morning, Bethany strode about proudly, her chest puffed out and tail happily wagging side to side. Alvin, like a naughty little teenager scrawling “Alvin was ‘ere, 2013”, wanted to stop and pee on every single tree, rock, sign and little tuft of grass. Nonetheless, it was time to move on, making tracks for our next destination along the path.

Thankfully it wasn’t going to be a big day on the road, so we didn’t have to leave too early. And in an effort to rein in our ETA back in Melbourne, I gave us a half an hour window in which to get underway today. I was happy with any time between 9:00AM and 9:30AM, and we pretty much hit it right smack bang in the middle.

Although we did get held up a few minutes at the communal dump point in town, emptying our toilet cassette. There was a bit of queue, and being that it’s been a while since we last poured out the contents, I didn’t want to be travelling with it full. A necessary evil, it’s still not a job I look forward to.

Once on the road, it was only a matter of 100 kilometres and an hour or so that we were pulling in at Katherine. A reasonably large town, we were pleased to find a well stocked Woolworths supermarket. Despite our best intentions to gather enough groceries way back in Mt Isa to last us through to Darwin, we were running low on some of our little luxury items. Like reasonably priced bread and milk for instance.

Katherine was well set up for the grey nomad type crowd, a large caravan parking area nestled right behind the information centre and across the road from the supermarket. Given that Katherine is the junction for west, south and north bound itineraries, as well as a destination of note in itself, it can only be expected to cater for the caravanning community quite well. We’re only passing through today though, as we will be stopping in here for a few days on our way back through.

That said the car park was full when we first pulled in, and we had to wait a few minutes for a space to open up before we could park the van, and in turn the dogs in the van. With them happily lying about inside the, we went off to check out the information centre, relieving them of a pile of brochures for things to do as we continue north. Our grocery shopping was next, where we found a supermarket stocked as well as any city grocery store, and prices to match. As travellers, it’s a boon to be able to get cheap supplies, but you can see how these chains could decimate a local economy, being able to provide city prices to outpost type towns. Smaller, family run stores just wouldn’t be able to compete. Imagine trying to sell a loaf of frozen bread for $5.00 when you can get a fresh loaf for only a dollar.

I worked it out, and even in ‘The Beast’ I could make a return trip from Mataranka to Katherine and back for about $45.00 worth of fuel. Less than an hour each way, you would probably save at least that much money by doing a weekly shop here rather than using the local Mataranka store. Is it no wonder that all these pretty little country towns are dying out, or resorting to allowing the big chain stores to take over.

Before leaving Katherine, we also made sure to take advantage of the cheap fuel. It’s scary when you start calling fuel priced at a bit over $1.60 per litre cheap, but that’s only a matter of 10cents more than what we were paying over on the east coast, and we’re still 500 kilometres from anywhere.

Motoring out of Katherine, having negotiated the small servo, which obviously wasn’t designed with caravans in mind, we continued on our north bound tack. We had two choices today, relative to where we intended laying our heads for the night. After our oppressively hot night of free camping the other night, we decided that if it was again that warm, we would pull in at a caravan park just outside of the little town of Pine Creek. If it was a little more temperate, we would brave another night of free camping.

As it turned out, it was hot, but not as blistering as the other day, so we proceeded past the caravan park option, and headed for a free camp ground on the road to Kakadu National Park. Only a matter of 30Km from the park entrance, we rolled into a nice little camp ground that was well hidden from the road, and situated close to an almost dried up creek. Even at just a bit past 2:00PM, there was already another van here, which we took to be either a good sign (they’re nice people) or a bad sign (they’re mass murderers lying in wait for their next victims). We crossed our fingers and hoped for the former as we set up camp across the grounds from them.

After a hard day on the road, my three pretties.

They did end up coming over to say G’day, maybe to judge their own luck, and following a quick bite to eat, we found ourselves, and another lady who had turned up in a campervan, sitting around a picnic table having a great old natter, with an open invitation to join them later by the camp fire.

We cooked and ate outside tonight, finally putting our barbeque to good use, as despite the cooler temperature this evening, the inside of the van was still pretty warm. We even chained the dogs up alongside the van, so that they could relax in the shade. Right towards the end of our meal it took a ‘B’ grade horror movie like turn though, when in the scrub only metres from our camp, a rustling of long grass caught my attention. Alvin sat up and took note too, his shackles rising, ears standing on end and tail drooped low. He let out a long, low pitched growl, as the grass continued to ruffle, despite the lack of a breeze to push it about. I was standing, rooted to the spot, trying hard to see or hear the object of Alvins displeasure. I could see nothing apart from the occasional waving long blades of weed, until I caught a glimpse of a dark shadow darting about. Dingo? Feral cat? Pig? Who knows, but I wasn’t leaving the dogs out as bait, to find out and they were swiftly bundled back into the van.

Wit the dogs secure inside, we locked up and went over to enjoy an hour or so by the camp fire. Isn’t it strange. We’ve spent the better part of the afternoon with these good folks, know where they’re from, where they’re going to and where they’ve come from, and yet names didn’t even rate a mention. What an enjoyable evening though, the stars bright in the dark sky overhead, the fire flickering, throwing a mesmerising light across the ground. If only it could always be so easy.

Until next time, stay safe, have fun and don’t forget to write.

What a lovely chance it was to just relax today. Having been aiming to hit the road again, we were happy that we had chosen to stay put for an extra night. Not that we got much of a chance to sleep in, springing into action at a bit before 9:00AM. There were things that we needed to do.

Our first order of business, was to go for our morning walk with the dogs, meandering along the banks of the river with them again. Still no sightings of a crocodile to report yet, though we did keep a wary eye open all the same. It would have been every man, woman and dog for themselves if we had come across one.

Depositing the pooches back at the van, we headed towards where we had lunch yesterday, at the Mataranka Manor Caravan Park. They offer free Barramundi feeding shows twice a day, and we were aiming to catch the 9:30AM showing this morning. At a lake on the property, there was about a dozen of us standing around, waiting for the show to start. Even before the keeper made himself known, several large Barra specimens could be seen swimming hungrily about the submerged platform that speared out into the lake. Circling round, they were waiting for the feed that they knew wasn’t far away.

Look closely, and you can just see one of the Barramundi.

When the staff member did emerge, he walked out onto the platform, which had him standing knee deep in the water, the fish now slyly lying off to either side of him. With a bucket of small bait fish, he threaded pieces onto a fishing line, before hovering them out over the water. The big fish were surprisingly quick and agile, the bait floating over the surface of the water one second, and in a splash of water, gone the next.

When volunteers were called for, to have the big Barramundi eat from their hands, I quickly stuck my hand up. Walking out along the platform, gingerly holding the bait in my hand, I lowered it towards the water. With it sitting an inch or so above the water, before I could have second thoughts, my fingers were empty. Apart from a splash, droplets springing forth from the pond, I hadn’t felt a thing. Later, reviewing the video footage that Bec had filmed, I did indeed jump at the moment the fish relieved me of the tiny tasty morsel.

With the Barramundi having had their feed, we took our cue and headed into town. Our first stop was the supermarket, where we were going to purchase a few things for lunch. With very little choice of fresh fruit, vegetables and the only meat available frozen, there wasn’t much to choose from. We did buy a loaf of bread, which has also been frozen. They only get one delivery of bread per week out here, each Thursday. Apparently, any bread sold after Saturday, is therefore necessarily frozen. Even frozen, it’s not cheap, at $5.00 a loaf. We had heard stories of expensive bread, and one couple was bemoaning the fact at Daly Waters where, we had been told, it was $7.00 a loaf. They had been joking about their golden loaf. Being that we hadn’t paid quite that much, we have decided that ours is only a silver loaf. It just goes to show how difficult and expensive the cost of living is in the outback though, even in this day and age.

Right next door to the supermarket was the Mataranka Transaction Centre, where we had to go to gain access to the ‘Never, Never’ Museum. At $3.00 each, and having just spent the last of my small change on our silver loaf, I resorted to my emergency $50.00 note. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the change for a fifty, so we didn’t make a transaction at the Transaction Centre, and missed out on the museum in the process. In all likely hood, we may have been able to cobble together the required entry price, from the loose coins in ‘The Beast’, but I don’t think we really missed all that much.

Being that it was directly across the road, we then had a quick look at the giant man made termite mound. I fail to quite see the whole purpose of going to the effort of constructing what is declared to be the largest man made termite mound in the whole world, when we have seen bigger ones by the highway during our travels, which have been entirely designed by nature. Oh well, at least we can check off another item from our list of world record holding sights, not that the termite mound seems to have been officially recognised in any way.

That brought our sightseeing of the Mataranka area to an end, as we headed back towards the van. For the rest of the morning, we busied ourselves with some chores, including giving the dogs a shower. If anyone was to ask, I’d say that they don’t smell, but then we have been living with them in the close confines of our tin can for 7 weeks. I am sure that to an outsider, there would indeed be a particular odour apparent. No more though, with both dogs washed and shampooed to within an inch of their lives.

Following a late lunch, we changed into our swimming trunks, for another ride down the gentle rapids of Berry Springs. The water felt somewhat colder today, but was still a comfortable warmth in which to relax. Well, kind of relax, as the current took hold of us and swept us down stream. Clinging to my ‘noodle’, I bobbed about as the heavy current dragged me along.

I’ve conquered the rapids!

Looking upstream, from where we had just drifted.

Under and above the surface.

Getting used to the sensation, I began to enjoy it today. After three trips down stream, with a serene and relaxing paddle in the shallows at the end each time, before the freezing walk back to the starting point, I had conquered the rapids. I strode triumphantly back to the caravan park, proudly waving my ‘noodle’ about.

Holding my noodle.

It was already getting late by the time we called it quits, and back at the van, we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening packing the caravan up. As much as we have loved it here, we must endeavor to continue, before falling irrevocably behind on our plans. At this stage, we are at least still on target for our expected arrival date in Darwin. In saying that, I am expecting to be wallowing about in a mobile phone reception black hole until such time that we do arrive in Darwin, so it will most likely not be until then that you get to hear about our next couple of weeks worth of adventures. Be sure to know though, that we will be having a fantastic time.

Until next time, stay safe, have fun and don’t forget to write.

It was meant to be a lazy Sunday again today, although our plans were thrown into chaos a little. It was envisioned that we would get up, take a quick drive into town to collect the Sunday paper and a few supplies from the supermarket for our regular Sunday morning fry up of bacon and eggs. The spanner in our plan was, that it was indeed a Sunday. How very citified of us, but of course, nothing was open from which to buy these supplies. It was thankful that the information we had picked up from the caravan park reminded us that out here in the middle of nowhere, things are just slightly different from what we are used to.

Apparently, newspapers aren’t important here, but can be purchased in town at the transaction centre, between 9:00AM and 5:00PM, on weekdays only. The supermarket is a similar proposition, although it is at least open of a Saturday morning. This of course was of no use to us at 9:00AM on a Sunday morning.

Fearing we would go hungry, we raided the pantry, coming across a dry pancake mix to which only water need be added. In no time flat, we were breakfasting on freshly cooked hotcakes and jam.

We headed out after breakfast and a quick walk around the park with the dogs, and were then ready to go see all the sights that Mataranka held in store for us. We weren’t expecting it to be a lengthy day. Considering the tourist brochure holds such fascinating suggestions as the viewing of the largest man-made termite mound in the world and the Rural Transaction Centre, which is simply a post office, internet café, video shop and  library, as well as being the local Medicare and Centrelink office, I wasn’t expecting too much on the tourism front. Especially since we had already learned that the Transaction Centre was going to be closed today anyway.

What we did stop for a look at, was the replica ‘Elsey Homestead’ which was featured in the 1981 film, ‘We Of The Never Never’. A simple timber structure, it contains a few artifacts from the film, which was based on characters from around these parts who were originally the subject of the book, ‘We Of The Never Never’.

The Movie Prop Homestead.

Only a short walk from the carpark, through the grounds of the Mataranka Homestead Caravan Park, brought us to the second thermal pool in town. We were able to compare this estate to where we have our van parked, and decided we were quite happy with our choice.

The beautiful Waterhouse River.

Selfie on the river.

These Thermal pools were a lot more relaxing for me though, as there wasn’t a strong current pushing you down stream and I was able to touch the bottom. There was no need to even whip out my ‘noodle’ to help me float here. Whilst they were meant to be ever so slightly warmer than the Bitter Springs we had swam at yesterday, they actually felt a little colder. The water was still warm though and again crystal clear. These pools aren’t in their natural state however, having been built up with stone work to form an enclosed bathing area, which quickly became rather crowded. We still enjoyed a leisurely hour or so, splashing about, before dragging ourselves away.

Mataranka Springs Thermal Pool.

Having cleaned up at the nearby change rooms, we could have then sat in the open air bar at the caravan park, to watch the movie that has made the area famous, but decided to continue on our way instead. Back in town, hardly a five minute drive away, we stopped at the Stockyard Gallery where artwork and sculptures by local artists are on display, as well as a collection of Aboriginal arts and crafts. Light lunches are also served here, although we opted just to share a serve of scones with jam and cream. They were quite nice, but the frozen mango smoothie we tried as well, tasted waterey and tasteless.

On the way back towards our caravan park, we stopped at the third van park in town. Again we were less than impressed with it, and were still glad of our choice of park. They do boast a restaurant here however, and since the scones had barely touched the sides, we went searching for something more substantial. On ordering a couple of burgers, because they had run out of their self claimed ‘famous’, wild caught Barramundi, we were told it would be a short wait. The short wait turned out to be closer to an hour, while the kitchen struggled to serve the dozen or so diners that were sitting in wait. When they finally arrived, the burgers were at least pretty good, although by this stage of the day, not much wouldn’t have been given the thumbs up.

Finally venturing back to the van, we arrived to hear Bethany yapping excitedly from within. I can only sincerely hope that she was only barking at our arrival, and hasn’t been driving the neighbours crazy all afternoon.

Stretching out to relax in the van, and ruminating that we had only had the chance to float down the thermals twice yesterday, we decided that our itinerary would allow us another day here. We always said that we wanted to be able to stay for extra time at the places we found appealing, and this is one of those hidden gems. Having not even considered staying here during our initial planning, we have found the relaxing pace, the friendly people, and the lovely park to be exactly what we were after. Not to mention, tomorrow I am now going to have to brave the rapids at Bitter Springs again. They do say that once you visit Mataranka, you’ll ‘never never’ want to leave.

Until next time, stay safe, have fun and don’t forget to write.