169 - Douglas Daly, Katherine, Mataranka

A cooling sit in the Daly River, playing spot the croc

Again as per normal, our travelling itinerary changed from the last post. We were suppose to go from Bundy Station to Douglas Hot Springs, then onto Edith Falls and then Mubuloo Station at Katherine. Well guess what, none of that happened, so what did we do:
(a) Ended up at Douglas Daly Tourist Park
(b) Shady Lane Tourist Park Katherine.
(c) Territory Manor Tourist Park Mataranka

...............why!!!!!

We headed to the hot springs at Douglas Daly, and after having our insides shaken out on the 7kms of corrugated dirt road, the bride took one look at the camp ground and gave me the "don't want to be here look." No need to argue, so it was back in the Val, and back down the bone jaring 7kms of dirt to the end of the road where we first commenced our journey.

Resigning to the fact the bride still wants that umbilical chord and the security of a CP, we saw a sign for Douglas Daly Tourist Park. That will do I thought, so off we went, and what a pleasant surprised at this CP, basically in the middle of nowhere.  Great atmosphere, not jambed up like Sardines, and all in all a lay back joint, with restaurant, bar and right next to the Daly River. Plus the place generates its own power.

The neat little restaurant area at the Douglas Day CP

We spent three nights there, and the bride was busy. Met a million nice people, especially the management, and workers. Could have stayed there for the whole season. On one the bride's busy days I went for a walk along the Daly river where all these isolated camp spots are, and took a few photos.

The Arches @ Douglas Daly

The weir @ Douglas Daly

Although we were advised the river was croc free, there were enough signs to advise the other, so we spent our swimming activities in the parks pool.

Our three days were relaxing, and didn't really want to move on, but Cairns is a calling.

At the time of writing this we are at the Territory Manor Tourist Park in Mataraka. But just to back track, we missed Edith Falls, and headed to the Shady Lane CP in Katherine. Spent three days there too....why I don't know really. Met some great people there as well, however Katherine is the sort of place one doesn't spend a lot of time wandering the streets. Katherine reminds me of a wild west town, with heaps of outlaws with the sheriff unable to control the crookies.  Sign of the times it seems.

After three days in Katherine we headed further south and decided to camp at the Territory Manor CP, as we were advised by friends of ours travelling ahead of us, that the staff and semi permanents of the park were hanging out to meet the bride.

Now into our fifth day here and the bride has been busy, plus the starter motor in the Val has shit itself. Hence that has meant a trip back into Katherine from Mataranka 105kms, then return to Mataranka. However it doesn't stop there............there is a need for a new starter motor....and what does that mean........one has to be shipped in from God knows where, with great expenses to your truly. So early next week I will be returning to Katherine to have the new starter motor fitted, then return back to Mataranka. Another round trip of over 200kms.

In hindsight however I am glad the SM shit itself here, rather somewhere across the Barkley in the middle of nowhere. To add to that I have not been all that happy with the starter for a long time.

We look like being in Mataranka till about the 25th of July at this stage. We will add some photos when we go to Bitter Springs, which is just down the road from where we are staying.

Stay toooooooned!!!!!