Yesterday left Adelaide River, drove up to Litchfield National Park for two nights. As our data connection is very poor here, no blog last night and having trouble with tonight’s blog so looks like that won’t go either. Today we spent most of the day exploring the Litchfield National Park. A big contrast to what we have seen so far. This park is all about waterfalls and swimming holes. A great day ending up swimming in one of these places. A refreshing way to end the hot day. Having our second night here. Off tomorrow to Berry Springs for one night. Really slowing down now.
Going back to yesterday we drove through Bachelor which is on the outskirts of the Lichfield National Park. The town is what you see. A post office, grocery store and a petrol station. This is common for these small places we pass through that’s all you get,
Bernie Havlik 1912 - 1990. Dedication.
Bernie Havlik spent his formative years in Czechoslovakia. Upon arriving in Australia he worked at many different jobs eventually ending up working in Bachelor for the town gardening crew. He became frustrated by a large rocky outcrop located under the castle replica. It was too large to move so in his retirement in 1977 he did not mean the end of his work. In 1978 he commenced construction of the unique structure you see in the above photo. The construction of the Karlstejn Castle replica solved the problem of the exposed rock outcrop in the park. Havlik worked on the construction of this castle for five years. He continued to add finishing touches and carried out repairs until his death in 1990. This park is dedicated to the memory of his life.
Back to today we left camp at 7.30am for our big day exploring the Litchfield National Park. This photo was taken for just a bit of fun. This shows how early we left with the sun coming up behind us forming this long shadow as it was so early. Right down to the two side mirrors sticking out.
Wangi Falls
We drove 52kms away from camp to start our day at the first attraction then we worked our way back to camp as we saw each different spot. We have now started at Wangi Falls. We walked along some boardwalks to see these magnificent falls. Stopping at the first lookout with more of a side on look.
Walking around to the next platform to see the full waterfalls. Someone’s finger got in the way when he was trying to shade my lens from the sun. (That was me, PT)
Tjaetaba Falls
We are now starting our hike along these rough tracks to do a 2.7km return walk to the top of the Tjaetaba Falls. Sounds easy but it was all up hill. Couldn’t get to the bottom of these falls only the climb to the top of them to look over them.
Just about at the top after a hot climb. Can just see the top of the falls through the trees so we know we are nearly there.
Phew, made it to the top to find a lovey swimming pool but still too early in the morning for a swim. We will save that until we reach the last swimming hole later this afternoon. This park is all about waterfalls and swimming holes. Looking up at the first little fall filling the shallow area.
This is the swimming hole. Water flowing from the shallow pool above to form the deep swimming hole before it flows over the flat rocks.
Looking back from the swimming hole where it drops off and forms the main waterfall we could see at a glimpse coming up the track.
Now going over the top looking down to the bottom. (And may I mention that Frau Thompson was virtually leaning over the water fall at 45 degrees taking photographs and I was yelling to her to get back. Phew)
Tolmer falls.
These falls can only be viewed from a viewing deck built up high looking down into them. The sun still not up high enough to see down into the water below.
Zoomed in to see the falls clearer.
These are the boardwalks we walked out on.
We are now standing out on a huge viewing deck hanging over the side of the hill looking the other way at the distant view in the same area.
PT wasn’t happy walking out on this.
Florence falls.
We are now looking down over the three Florence Falls. Which then flow into one big swimming hole. A great shady place just to swim or hang out.
Close up, we didn’t swim at this one but spent time chatting to people and just sitting on the rocks watching everyone.
There are 135 steps down to the pool where we stayed for sometime. The only trouble was there were 135 steps to climb back up,but well worth it.
So cool just sitting on the rocks taking everything in, looking over the pool where everyone was swimming under the waterfalls.
So relaxing.
Burley Rockhole.
This is where we had our swim. There are layers of different pools going down the hill with the waterfall drops from one through to the next.
You can see how one waterfall flows into the next waterhole, then flows over flat rocks to form the next waterfall to flow into the next waterhole. A great area, we really enjoyed it.
This is the pool we spent time in chatting to people for ages.
I have now walked up stream looking down on anther swimming pool.
Looking up even further to more pools. Not sure how much further it went up as I stopped walking from this point.
An amazing area that really brings the people in.
Just got out of the water to enjoy the sun and watch everyone else.
PT doing the same.
Our last place of interest for the day a stop at these huge termite mounds. Still drying off in my togs stood beside this one to show how big they are.
Although Termites are tiny individuals, together they leave a bold and lasting impression on the surrounding landscape building these mounds. As we have seen many times over our travels. This mound here reaches over five metres high, which is an impressive achievement for a 5mm long termite. Three quarters of termite species found in Northern Australia are hidden from view. These species build their nests in trees or underground. It just shows that these creatures are everywhere but hardly seen and we read that the temperatures within the mounds are a constant temperature of 24 degrees all year round.
We had such an enjoyable day so relaxing and fun. Especially swimming in the pools.
We have been out of range for two days exploring the National Park so haven’t been able to do my blogs hence this being a day late.
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