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Barrow Creek We stayed one night at the Barrow Creek Roadhouse but had a restless sleep due to the continuous crowing of roosters. The following day we noticed three roosters and only one hen! This recipe for disaster explained the chorus of the previous evening . From Barrow Creek we spent an enjoyable day at the Devil's Marbles. |
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Tennant Creek The Devil's Marbles 106 kms south of Tennant Creek off the Stuart Highway are a huge group of Immense granite boulders. The boulders are precariously balanced and were a spectacular place to visit. According to the children..."The Devil's Marbles was one of my favourite places because we got to play on the rocks. They were extremely round and there were hundreds of them. "...."I liked the Devil's Marbles but it was very hot and I found a cave. My hat flew away in the wind and Raymond found it."...."We played music on the rocks and there were good hiding places. We also had a picnic high on the rocks in the shade. We had a lots of walks around the rocks". At the Tennant Creek caravan park we went for a swim in the pool and had a barbecue under a sheltered tree in which a very temperamental light was attatched. Sometimes it decieded to work and at other times it simply refused. It was a hot day but the water was cold. We spent the next day at Mary Ann Recreational Dam playing on the lush green grass and watching the black kites flying around. Built in 1981 this man made lake has a shady picnic area, playground, nature walks, wildflowers and birdlife. |
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Mataranka Springs Mataranka was established in 1928 with the extension of the railway from Katherine. Prior to this settlers were located at Elsey and Mataranka Stations. Elsey Station is the location of the book "We of the Never Never" by Jeannie Gunn. Today the township is a service centre for Aboriginal communities, outlying stations and travellers. Elsey National Park is 100kms south of Katherine and home of the famous Mataranka Thermal Pool. Our family thoroughly enjoyed the Pool and were constanly making the most of our time there. Some of the children's comments include... "I swam in the hot springs". ....."I liked the rocky pool. A Park Ranger was moving the rocks to keep the place safe for visitors." ....."Lots of people were swimming there". ....."There were red and blue dragon flies and flying foxes." ....."A copy of the Elsie Homestead was there to look at". |
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Katherine At Katherine we stayed at the Springvale Homestead Caravan Park. This is the oldest original station in the Northern Territory. Established 1878 and located just west of Katherine the homestead was founded by Alfred Giles whom spent 19 months droving sheep and cattle from Adelaide to Springvale. An incredible feat to say the least. The homestead consists of a well preserved stone house , some original out buildings, a pond and huge trees called Raintrees. Giles planted one for each of his 4 children. These trees had canopy so broad that we parked our bus underneath one and still plenty of room to spare. At
Katherine Gorge we enjoyed a river cruise tour
with interesting comentary.. The Nitmiluk
National Park features 13 magnificent gorges of
which have sandstone walls, some towering up to
60 metres. |
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