Katherine - NT- Springvale Homestead



Springvale Homestead where we stayed in Katherine - oldest Homestead in the area



Charlie feeding barra in the billabong - he's desperate to catch one (or two!!)

Elvis the freshwater croc who lives in the billabong at Springfield Homestead

Me taking a photo of Elvis - don't know whether I'm getting ready to run or have "pooed" my pants!!!!

Charlie with his monster cherapin

Poor cherapin but a girl's gotta eat

Charlie bobbing in the hot springs in Katherine near the Homestead

Smoked catfish - I'll tell you all about this one later!!

A magnificent raintree at Springvale Homestead

part of the Katherine River running through the Homestead

Graeme and Lyn our neighbours at Springvale

Yes another damper - I'm becoming an expert now!!

Well we have had a fantastic week at Springvale Homestead which is the oldest Homestead in t he Katherine area.  It is a very laid back bush style caravan park - basic amenities but lots of lovely trees and a feeling of space right on the Katherine River with its own billabong and resident freshwater croc called Elvis.

Now Elvis comes out of the billabong every afternoon at 4 oclock for a photoshoot and stays on the banks until round about dusk.  I'm still wondering how he knows its 4 oclock but he does!!  He must have a "croc swatch" (sorry I know that's awful!!) We were down there on the first day and he almost looks stuffed and we were taking photos of him.  Charlie got a little bit too close and his jaws opened so we beat a hasty retreat!!

This area is absolutely beautiful and we have visited lots of lovely places.  Once again we are on the river so Charlie has been trying to catch more food for us to eat and luckily this time hasn't fallen in.  He came back with a few cherapins which we cooked up and one morning he came back with a catfish caught in the net.  Unfortunately I didn't have the camera to take a photo but the catfish had snuk into the net and was eating the cherapins - he had some of their whiskers hanging from his mouth.  He was promptly despatched and as Charlie was gutting him, there was this perfect cherapin in his gut - I thought for one awful moment Charlie was going to suggest cooking it up and putting it with the rest of them for us to eat.  Anyway as you can see any fish which steals his cherapins ends up on the smoker - YUM YUM!!!

We met some more lovely people called Lyn and Graeme who we shared many a campfire meal with and a few wines/beers/campfire stories etc.  They are heading in the same direction as us so hopefully we will catch up again on the road,

Nothing much else to say from here - have also been to Edith Falls and done a Katherine Gorge cruise both of which were great and I will post some photos etc. of those trips very soon.

All for now, Adieu from The Wandering 2s

Mataranka - We of the Never Never

Little Roper River at our campsite

Another view of Little Roper River

Me floating in the thermal pool at Bitter Springs - heaven!!

Yes you guessed it - Little Roper River

Oops Charlie fell in trying to get his red claw net!!!

Yeah Kev and Charlie caught the snagged red claw net



Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dumer after the successful rescue - you work out which one is which!!!



Well it was all worth it - dinner tonight!!!!  Glad I'm not hungry

Me outside the reconstructed Elsey StationHomestead which was built for the movie We of the Never Never

Cairn marking the original site of the Elsey Station Homestead

Darren and Jools (a female Frank Spencer from Some Mothers Do Ave Em)

Well here we are in Mataranka - the Capital of the Never Never.  For those of you who don't know and I'm thinking of my overseas family, this area was home to Aeneas and Jeanie Gunn - Jeanie wrote the famous book about Elsey Station titled "We of the Never Never" which is now part of Australia's folklore..  It is claimed that once you visit Mataranka, you'll Never Never leave!!!  There is the famous thermal pool at Mataranka which is a constant 34 degrees and is serviced by Rainbow Springs but we stayed at Bitter Springs and used the thermal pool there which we preferred - imagine if you will me and Charlie with noodles in hand, thongs on the end of them (to cope with the walk back to our towels) floating along with the current in the thermal springs - does it get much better than this?

Anyway we booked in for 3 nights at the Mataranka Cabins and Camping Ground which is a great bush camp, 500 metres from the thermal pools and right on the Little Roper River.  Charlie has been like a little boy, running down to the river with his red claw nets, falling in and scrambling up the bank in case of crocs - gee I wish I had been there because there certainly would have been a photo on the blog of that - instead the after picture!!  I sent him off to the showers and when he came back his towel was filthy - did he wash himself at all?  Men will always be little boys I suppose.  But he is a good hunter and gatherer having caught 4 yes 4 not (4 kg) of red claw.  I'll never go hungry travelling with my man but I'll certainly lose weight!!!

We've been off to see the Elsey Cemetery where the people from Jeanie's book are buried, including her husband.  It is quite a historical little town.  We've also been to see the replica of the Elsey Station Homestead which was built for the movie "We of the Never Never".  Its a very relaxing place and I really don't know where the time goes.

We met these really friendly people called Darren and Julie (Jools) - initially in the Bitter Springs thermal pool when I floated up and collided with him!!  We then had happy hour with them and Jools had us in hysterics for about 2 hours with her antics.  How many people do you know go to the wrong funeral and only realise it when the "corpse" walks by and says Hi??  A walking disaster but a really great person.  Thanks for your great company for the evening Darren and Julie.

Off to see the barra feeding tomorrow - Charlie still has to catch one but it will happen, don't know when but it will happen of that I am sure and then the excitement of checking the nets for red claw, reading, another swim in the thermal pool and then happy hour and dinner - that's just about our day mapped out for tomorrow.  Then on Sunday we will leave for Katherine but that's another story and another blog and another adventure yet to come of which I will share with you all later.

Adieu from The Wandering 2s.

Camooweal Qld to Mataranka NT

Banka Banka Homestead

A dead dog!!!  RIP Clarrie (only joking Charlie fixed him!!)

The station viewed from up the hill

Happy Hour at Banka Banka

Daly Waters Servo

Me outside the historic and quirky Daly Waters Pub

Another view of Daly Waters Pub with the traffic light permanently on red outside the pub

Charlie had to be inside the pub underneath all the bras of course!!!

Larrimah Pink Panther Pub - great pies!!!

At a free camp between Banka Banka and Mataranka

Well here we are again and its been a bit of an adventure for us.  My last blog was from Camooweal where we had picture perfect camping on the billabong - then one morning we were up in the township and someone who has been on the road for some time said to us "There's rain coming - you should think about moving - don't want to get stuck down there!!"  Well the sun was still shining so did we listen - NO - will we listen in future - YES!!!  We sat in our idyllic setting until about 3.30 pm when the clouds rolled over and it started raining.  We thought "oh s..t" so we packed up quick smart and were very lucky to get out.  Charlie had to put the car into 4-wheel drive and we were slipping and sliding with the caravan on the back and finally limped into the local caravan park, wet, muddy, cold and tired.

From there it went from bad to worse - nice big argument with me stomping off thinking I could do better reversing the caravan into the spot in the pouring rain but wouldn't dream of doing it!!!!  Great mud clots falling off the van and the car so Charlie got soaked trying to get it all off before it caked on.  Anyway survived that, decided I couldn't keep the silent treatment up just in case next time he decides to get out the car and leave me with the van ,had dinner and went to bed.

Next morning (as they say in the fairytale) we got up only to find that we had a puncture!!!  Could we get it fixed in Camooweal?  No!!  After waiting 3 hours for the only RACQ mechanic to come back from a call, Charlie decided to put the spare one on and get the puncture fixed in Tennant Creek.  So guess what, under the car he went again and got wet, cold and grumpy!!  Aah the caravanning life - so stress free!!!

After that we hurtled along the Barkley Highway and stayed in a free camp overnight where we met up with Di and Kev again and also Jan and Rick and after a few wines everything seemed to look better (that's drinking wine not me whining!!).  Next morning we went to Tennant Creek and got the tyre fixed, bought some more track pants for Charlie because gee its been cold in the mornings and afternoons and set off for Banka Banka Station. Stayed there for a couple of nights to recharge the batteries (human that is) where I could have nice  long hot showers without someone saying "wet yourself all over, turn the water off and soap yourself - don't leave the water running!!

From Banka Banka we carried on up the Stuart Highway and came across the iconic Daly Waters with its historic pub which was originally a supply point for drovers.  Its a great quirky pub with a "Reesephun "area and bras, knickers, money and all sorts of weird and wonderful things hanging around the place.  They have their famous beer and barra bbqs there but unfortunately we weren't staying.  We then went up the highway a bit to the Pink Panther Hotel at Larrimah where we had a  great pie in the pub with a beer which went down very well.  They also have a mini zoo there so saw Sneaky Sam the saltwater crocodile, snakes, etc.  After that as it was later in the afternoon we called into a free camp and stayed the night before heading off the next morning to stay for a few days at Mataranka - Land of the Never Never!!!

That will be another blog so for now its once again Adieu from The Wandering 2s.



More photos from Camooweal

Charlie riding a stuffed bull at the Drovers Camp in Camooweal

Sunrise over the Camooweal Billabong

Another sunrise

Yep the sun is up and another day begins

Just wanted to add a few more photos of this beautiful spot!!  Adieu!!

Camooweal Billabong - a little haven

My first ever damper cooked on the fire - apricot, cranberry, sultana and almong - YUM!!

Charlie attempting to catch our dinner of red claw

Three men in a boat to nowhere!!

Our waterside acreage

Mmmm a seafood dinner but you have to be able to see the food first!!

Me doing the washing - don't think I would have liked to be a pioneer woman

Kerryn, Jane, Belinda and Di - the human birdlife!!

One too many maybe Di??

Louey, John, Charlie and Kev - "The boys"!!!

Campfire entertainment - thanks Louey



Sunset over the billabong

Well here we are in Camooweal and for those of you who are saying "where the bloody hell is Camooweal" its on the Queensland and Northern Territory border.  We are free camping at the Camooweal billabongs and its an idealic spot.  We have been here since last Friday and will probably stay for a few more days.  Camooweal is one of those outback towns that if you blinked you would miss but it is an old drovers town with a population now of only 310 although on the fourth weekend of August they have their festival and the town swells with all the old drovers (many of them over 80) coming to town - they have a ball and entertainment and sounds great - we shall have to come back for that one day.  We had a visit to the Drovers Camp where we learnt all about the history of the area, the stock routes etc. by a very knowledgeable lady and Charlie even had a ride on a stuffed bull.

We've met some lovely people Di and Kev and had some great times.  Last Saturday we went to a movie night at one of the other groups and it was quite funny to see two rows of camp chairs around the TV - we were in the back stalls because we got there a bit late!!!  The movie was Charlie and Boots starring Paul Hogan and Shane Richardson - typically Australian but quite good.  We heard about the white owl which took a fancy to one of the group (Wayne) and everytime he was sat outside the owl would swoop down on him.

We have had some great campfires and I cooked my first every damper - it was suggested we have damper and of course I opened my mouth saying "I know how to cook damper" and so it was over to me!!  I didn't say "I COULD cook damper" did I??  Anyway after a furtive phone call to my Earth Mother friend Lyn in Adelaide I produced a lovely damper or was it just that we had all had a lot of red wine and didn't know any different?  I like to believe the damper was magnificent!!!  Louey produced his guitar and we had some campfire entertainment although some of the words didn't quite match the tunes and as the night progressed they got raunchier and raunchier!!  We also played a version of campfire "Spicks and Specks" and of course Charlie won!!!

The birdlife here is absolutely amazing - graceful brolgas, herons, kites, ducks etc.  The human kind as you can see by the above photos are pretty amazing as well!!!

Yesterday Charlie and I made a visit back to Mt. Isa and bought a generator and some solar panels so we are now completely self sufficient because we really enjoy the bush camping as opposed to caravan parks.  Kev is helping Charlie with all the electrical stuff which is great.

Tonight we are going to cook a lamb roast on the fire and another damper and roast some chestnuts on the fire as well.  Gee its a really hard life but someone has to do it and its our turn!!

Anyway that's all for now from Camooweal - Adieu from The Wandering 2s.

Onwards and Upwards towards Darwin

Porcupine Gorge at Hughendedn known as Australia's "Little Grand Canyon"

Charlie with "Mutt" the Dinosaur - whose "Mutt"?

Jane with wine glass, bottle of wine and chips heading off to another Happy Hour and successfully growing her bum for the pink checked shorts!!

Charlie talking (yes he does!!) to another fellow caravanner at a free camp spot at Fountain Springs just outside of Mount Isa

Another view of Porcupine Gorge Hughenden

Charlie in the Funny Dunny "Dump Dunny" - Use your imagination!!

Well I think my wonderful Daughter-in-Law Sandy affectionately known as Dilly has sorted out this blog spot for me so that you can read, enjoy and make comments!!!!

After leaving Fletchers Creek at Charters Towers which is a wonderful spot for free camping we headed towards towards Hughenden stopping at Campaspe River free camping spot.  Actually this sounds familiar - I think I've written this before but never mind, I've got plenty of time to do it again!!  We then stopped at Hughenden caravan park where we met the Basil Fawlty of the caravan park world himself - Different!!  Stayed there for 2 nights and did some sights including Porcupine Gorge in Porcupine National Park which is knowns as Australia's "Little Grand Canyon" with its cool clear flowing creek, towering cliffs of vibrantly coloured sandstone.  It apparently spans hundreds of millions of years of geological history.  You can camp here as well and the camp area is lovely.  Driving through the National Park you can easily imagine the dinosaurs roaming there all those millions of years ago.

We also looked around the town of Hughenden and came across Mutt the Dinosaur!!!  Glad he was only a statue!!  On leaving Hughenden we called into Richmond and had coffee at the lovely Lake Fred Tritton and then went on to Cloncurry and had a look around the John Flynn museum.  Really interesting place and quite humbling to read about all the wonderful people from years ago who set up The Royal Flying Doctors Service.  We also met up with Di and Kev again (people we met at Campaspe River and also Hughenden - happy hour friends).  We are all travelling to Darwin and its true you meet the same people time and time again.

From there we went towards Mount Isa but as it was getting on in the afternoon we decided to free camp about 40 ks out of Mt Isa at Fountain Springs. We got there about 2 pm and there were already a lot of people there - obviously we are all trying to save some dollars and offset the cost of fuel (or wine!!).  By 4 pm the place was packed but it was good with everyone swapping tales of where to go, where to buy fuel etc. and just being happy and drinking more wine!!

We only stayed there one nights and then went on towards Mt. Isa and we called in at Mary Kathleen which is an old uranium mine and also ghost town.  We took the caravan in and had a look around the old ghost town - apparently the town"s buildings were all sold but you can see some remains and all the roads and streets.  You can also free camp there which would have been lovely - just sharing your spot with the cows and wildlife. 

On from there to Mt. Isa where unfortunately a small roo jumped out across the road and we hit it but luckily didn't do any damage (lucky for us that is not the poor roo) so its off to find out how much for a roo bar as this was the middle of the day!!  Currently we are still in Mt Isa as we are having the 100,000 k service done on the car (gulp, gulp) can anyone lend us a few bob?  Also off to Auntie S's for dinner tonight so yum, yum.

Anyway that's all for now - going to stay in Camooweal tomorrow for a few days as we've been told about a lovely free camping area there by the river and billabongs so Charlie might be able to catch some fish which will save money so that I can buy more wine!!  Adieu from the Wandering 2's.