Batchelor Leitchfield National Park

After we left Leitchfield we returned to Batchelor to pick up the Turtle, stayed at the only caravan park.  The next day we went to Leitchfield National Park to catch up on things we couldn’t see the day we went with Mary.  First was the termite mounds.

Then to Bluey Rock Pools.

Then onto Florence Falls where we had lunch by the creek supplying water to the falls.

Then to Tolmer Falls, where we went for a 2 k walk.

The last two days on Leitchfield

The second last day Adrian and Mary went off exploring around the other side of Leitchfield mountain for about nine hours.  We stayed behind to keep an eye on things.  They had a fantastic day as you will see by the photos.  The meals we had at Leitchfield were fantastic Mary is a great country cook.  We always had brekky, morning tea, lunch, arvo snack and the dinner always with a couple of wines and sweets.  So as you would imagine put a bit of weight on.  What a way to go.  So all in all one of the best experience’s of our trip so far thanks to Mary & Adrian.

Douglas Station

One day Mary took us to Douglas Station, where they might be going to care take one day.  Douglass is a little bigger than Leitchfield and has more usable land, about 1946 square kilometres.  Douglass has less to offer as far as lifestyle, less fishing holes etc, but it will be OK for Mary and Adrian.

Fire on Dorat road

On the way back from Douglas there was a bush fire everyone in that district was on alert got some photo's and they fought that fire for about five days. So hot, dry and windy!!!!!

You'll notice on the last photo there is an old beer bottle stuck in the termite mound..

Trip to Tipperary

Mary took us to Tipperary Station for a full day tour, it’s approximately hour and half drive.  On the way in there was buffalo on the road.  The scale of the place was something else.  There is about 20 houses for the workers, 6 or so houses for the bosses.  It had an office, workshop, gardens, thousands of mango trees, store butcher shop, huge kitchen, male and female quarters, (would hold aprox 30 workers each) school and an equestrian grounds undercover valued at 13 million.  From the station Mary took us to the Daly River crossing on the station, even in the dry time it still was over the crossing by 4 inches.
 

Douglass Daly Hot Springs

We also visited the hot springs, the water ranged from boiling hot to tepid, you could pick the area you wanted to swim in, very popular spot with a small unpowered caravan park 6$ P/P per night.

Leitchfield National Park

Next day we went to Leitchfield National Park via the back way, definitely 4 wheel drive country, with about 6 creek and river crossings where you had to drive in the creek/river for some distance.  The first thing we came across was Surprise Falls, we were the first there, had the place to ourselves.

Next was Blyth Homestead, a small place built in 1928, it was built here because of the nearby creek and a tin mine.

Next was Wangi Falls a very popular spot for day travellers from Darwin, there were about 400 hundred people there, you will see by the photo’s how popular it is. There is a short walk near the falls where we saw wild pigs which were not concerned by our presents.  I forgot to mention how cold the water is, very refreshing.