Mataranka

Mataranka:  9 August [121 km]

We had a very relaxed morning, as we only have a short drive today.  We packed and were out of our cabin in good time.  First, we drove just down the road to visit historic Springvale Homestead.  This is the oldest original homestead in the top end – it was built in 1879.  The buildings are clearly of an earlier era but they are in good condition and the property is beautifully located on the banks of the Katherine River.  The homestead now has many mature trees around it and it is a very restful place as well as being a lovely camping ground.

Then we went into Katherine to top up our supplies and then we were off on the short run through to Mataranka.  There is not very much to Mataranka:  we walked around the park near the township, looking at the model of an enormous termite mound and the models of some of characters from We of the Never Never amongst other things.  [Question:  who wrote this book and what was the story about?]

As we were getting hungry, we reckoned that the barramundi also were getting hungry, so we set off for the Territory Manor caravan park for the 1.00 pm feeding time.  We enjoyed our lunch in the shady grounds of the park and wandered over the large pond.  As we waited, who should come up to us but the Lendrum family!  We had been wondering if our paths would cross and we were going to phone them this evening to find out where they had got to.  What a lovely surprise.  We spent some time with them as we watched the fish being fed (not the barramundi, because they apparently were well fed at breakfast time!).

The Lendrums then left to do some activities and we went to Bitter Springs to ‘ride the hot creek’.  There were quite a few people at Bitter Springs;  we jumped into the warm water of the Creek and, using our noodles, we floated the 200 metres or so to the exit point.  What a wonderful and sublime sensation:  the current moves quite quickly and it is surprising how hard it is to try and swim against the current.  We made a few rounds of the ‘floating down and then walking back to the starting point’ routine:  it was a most enjoyable and relaxing time.

We met up with the Lendrums for afternoon tea at Territory Manor and exchanged stories about our respective trips.  One of the local birds joined in our afternoon tea.

It was good to be able to chat with friends and catch up on news.  The Lendrum girls seem to be having a good time, with a number of memorable adventures already ‘under their belts’.  We won’t see them again until they return to Canberra later in the year.

After a beaut al fresco dinner at the Territory Manor restaurant, we had an early night ready for a long drive to Tennant Creek.