Adventures in Litchfield

After leaving Hayes Creek we a sign that said the Daly Waters Rd was open so decided to take a look and see if we could get to Batchelor that way. We did and it was a more scenic drive that the Stuart Hwy. We arrived in Batchelor mid afternoon and stopped at the Litchfield information centre to get the lie of the land. With all the rain areas of the park were closed but all the waterfalls were open, though not for swimming. We decided that we would drive through the park and stay overnight at Wangi Safari Park seeing the falls on the way back the next day. Driving through the 50kms we saw lots of signs telling us there was water over the road but only one of these was a little wet. Why were they still there I wondered. After sorting out a site for the night we visited Wangi Falls that afternoon and off we went. We could hear the water from the car park so knew that the falls were running but we were just amazed by the amount that was coming down over the rocks. The noise just as amazing as the sight. Getting photo's was a challenge as the spray from the falls was just like a solid mist. I took a few with my little camera but could not do it justice. From there we walked through the Monsoon forest walk for about half an hour before we were drenched with the humidity and decided that relative dryness of the park was a better option. A wander round that night before the huge thunderstorm hit concluded our activities for the day and we spent the evening cool & dry in the van. It rained all night but stopped just before we woke up the next morning to a blue sky & sunshine.

Leaving the park early we played tourist as we stopped and looked at Tolmer Falls & Florence Falls where, like Wangi Falls, the water was running hard and fast. They truly are spectacular sights and there was some people swimming at Florence Falls. To do this you had to walk down 135 steps and the thought that we would have to walk back up them decided us against that course of action. I know we are pikers but. Our next stop was the Termite mounds. These are amazing structures built by two different types of termites. One builds huge cylindrical cones and the other ones builds a flat mound facing magnetic north south. It was here as we were going back to the van that we met a tour bus driver who asked me 'has the water dropped now'. When I told him that we had stayed in the park overnight he then told me that we were not going anywhere as the road was cut at Aida Creek. It had flooded overnight and was still rising. Only 4WD vehicles could get in or out of the park and it was not expected to change until that afternoon. Goodness me, a real adventure in the making.

We arrived at Aida Creek a short while later to find to other vans already there on both sides of the road. Two lots of water were dividing the road with a dry section in the middle. We spent 3 1/2 hours here and during that time we had many other cars & vans come along. Most were 4WD and after some initial caution most of them were able to drive through. We had a great few hours with the other couple of campers. A real improptu road party. One couple from Holland had been in our park overnight and they had been there a copule of hours when we arrived. The other couple in a van the same a ours were from Horsham and were lovng their adventures in the NT. A Wicked van with 3 backpackers from England provided us with great amusement as they had to be convinced that they could cross safetly in their 4WD. After about 2 hours they tried and made it. A motorbike coming the other way provided us all with our 'What the' moment as the young P plater just rode straight into the water. Did not even slow down. Needless to say as soon as the current caught the bike he was turned and the only place he was going was off the road and into the creek. The ranger told us later that when he reached him his legs were shaking so much he could barely stand up. What possessed him to even try to ride over we will never know. Another Wicked van on the other side with 4 young guys entertained themselves in the current with a boogey board and surfed all day. The ranger had warned them that this was not really sensible as there was the possibily of crocs but obviously this did not concern them too much.

About 3 hours had passed and we could see the level of the water had dropped on our side at least. I had walked over the first bit and it was below my knee but I could not see the figure on the marker on the other side. Once I got back Bill and the other chap from Horsham walked all the way over and spoke to the ranger who advised to wait for another 30 mins. We did and then with a deep breath took the plunge. I always knew turtles could swim! Once over and a stop in Batchelor for fuel we were on our way again for our last night in a C'van park.

Lee Point here we come.......