Litchfield and beyond

Friday 23rd we headed out of Darwin down the Stuart Highway towards a little town called Batchelor very close to the Rum Jungle Mine. The caravan park here was to be our home base for touring the Litchfield National Park. The park's main attractions are the magnetic termite mounds and the waterfalls that exist within the park. Arriving late morning we filled the day in by swimming in the very cool pool, playing putt putt golf and collecting the two complementary cocktails at the bar (Judy drank them both while I had a cool ale). An early start next day saw us traveling to the Magnetic Termite Display area. I must say that Termite Mounds are a absolute feature as you travel the top end, they vary in color depending on the color of the surrounding soil and in shape and size. Some look like Forts or Castles and others are pointy at the top and some look like they have evolved like lava from a volcano. They are a constant point of interest as you are driving because we all see different shapes in them. The particular ones that are featured in Litchfield are tall tapering at the top, shaped much like a wedge. They are oriented on a North/South basis so that the ants move to east/west depending on the heat of the day.
Onwards to Florence Falls, after a beaut walk along a creek we eventually came to the falls which were hard to access for oldies like us. Climbing over slippery rocks is not easy anymore and even more dangerous with a buggered shoulder, needless to say we did not bother swimming here. We found that Litchfield was easily the busiest Park we have been to, its close proximity to Darwin causes it to have many bus loads of tourists, whilst this is great for the economy it takes some pleasure out of our visit, mind you young backpackers swimming in the plunge pools compensates somewhat.
The fall looks quite spectacular dropping from high up into a plunge pool, with the sunlight making the droplets look like diamonds. Hopefully I can attach a photo.
Tolmer falls is not accessible to swim in it is viewed from a platform lookout which hangs off the top of a cliff, I am really bad with heights these days and I could not wait to get off this platform.
Wangi Falls is the easiest accessed and most pleasant with grassy verges a big plunge pool and a very nice fall of water. We had planned to have lunch here but the crowds of people here left little room, so we returned to Batchelor and swam in the Park Pool. Next day, trying to avoid staying in Katherine we spent a long day driving and arrived mid afternoon in Timber Creek, after setting up van, time for a swim in the pool. This is the coldest pool I have en counted, The problem being that up here they cover their pools with shade cloth during the hot wet season and as a result they are shaded during the dry and don't warm up.
This caravan park has a creek area behind it with well grassed areas leading down to it. It has a large "Boab" Tree in the middle and a suspension bridge over the creek, from which at 5 pm, the staff feed the resident crocs. Overall we had a pleasant stay at Timber Creek, but were looking forward to making our first entry to Western Australia the following day.