Thursday, June 2, 2011

Litchfield National Park

What activities can one enjoy, whilst visiting Litchfield NP?

Wander around the abandoned tin mine. Tin was mined at Bamboo Creek for about 30 years during the 20th century. Conditions were frighteningly tough and it was likely you would contract lung cancer as a result of exposure to silica laced air underground. Here there are remnants of the mine and there are bits if tin lying on the ground.

Listen to the birds at Tabletop Swamp.




It is difficult to count the number of birds which chirp, caw and whistle; but over it all is the highly recognisable screech of falcons, which sit in the highest branches, overlooking the densely vegetated swamp and its surrounds. Have a listen on the above video for an example.

Rough it in the bush (Walker Creek).
Pack your gear on your back, walk for about a kilometre, and immerse yourself in nature’s delights. We gathered together our tent, lilos, pillows, bedding, wine, beer, magazines, Sudoku, toiletries, toilet paper, steak, potatoes, bread, vegetables, mustard, jam, snacks, water, towel, bathers, cups, plates, cutlery, camera, and finally, guitar (which we couldn’t carry in the first trip, so Jase ran back for a 2nd trip and returned with it plus some firewood).


We had a lovely day and night, enjoying a little music, dipping in the river (which, by the way, is full of curiously tame fish and yabbies who delighted in picking at our feet!), cooking a delicious steak over a campfire, and sharing two bottles of wine.


This morning I awoke and leapt straight into the river for a bush-wash, then we ate toast & jam cooked by campfire. Bliss!

Have a dip with the tourists.
The many pools and rivers of the Buley Rockhole Falls attract tourists like white on rice. Here, families with young children splash in the shallows while bigger kids leap into the narrow-deep waterholes nearby. Girls in bikinis line the shore like seals soaking in the sunlight and young men drink a discreet beer with their mates. A perve’s delight!

Wait for bats at Tolmer Falls. Apparently there are many species of bats living in the humid caves adjoining the immense waterfalls, which fly out into the sky in their masses to hunt their evening meal. Alas we did not spot any, perhaps wrong location or time...?

Explore the newly opened swimming hole.
Cascade Falls has recently been opened. A narrow path winds through thick jungle for some time before opening up to several pools suitable for swimming.

Take a walk through the jungle.




Ferns, palms, vines and lichens are abundant on this short bushwalk at Wangi Falls. There is so much life and death here in the rainforest. Trees that are being eaten by caterpillars, are sprouting new shoots profusely. Ants haul dead insects along their path, and orb-spiders munch on dragonflies. Look out for flowering fungi, tiny lizards and colourful butterflies.

Next stop..... Darwin!

3 comments:

  1. haa haa you guys, sounds like the only thing you left behind was an empty caravan ;) Looks nice though. Tomorrow we fly into Bungle Bungles to start work. Yay.

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  2. p.s. we are the lucky ones eh, to be able to travel like this.

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  3. Indiana-M8/6/11

    The photos are amazing especially the close-ups of tiny things, like dragonflies and red beetles. Enjoyed hearing the noisy birds - doesn't sound like a "peaceful" place at all! How wonderful. What a thing to wake to each morning.

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