Swimming, swimming and some more swimming.

After a slow start this morning we head off to explore Litchfield National Park. Our drive today only a short one as Litchfield is aprox 100 kms from Darwin. We decide to stay out of the park in the town of Batchelor. We learn that this town, along with its neighbouring town of Adelaide River were important areas during World War II. Adelaide River was used as a major military base for 30,000 Australians and US soldiers, and Batchelor was established as a large air force base.

Not a bad place to park your van! All set up in time to watch the bird feeding. Unfortunately due to recent hawks and rain only a few birds came for a feed. But no worries, lovely company,a beautiful sunset and an informal history lesson by the campsite manager, was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Our angelic faced children.........................  smiling and pleading to be allowed to play on the 18 hole mini golf course within the caravan park!!!!!

Not exactly sure how long on the road, but yes we are still enjoying our 24/7 time together. Doesn't he look cute in his new head band that Timna won at the Mindil Sunset market in Darwin!!!!

The next morning we head for our day at Litchfield National Park. This was only officially opened as a national park around the mid 80's. Prior to this only the locals knew about it and access was 4 wheel drive only. During that time it took 4 hours to get to Florence Falls. You can see on the sign, Florence Falls is now only 24 kms away, that is less than 20 minutes!!!! Litchfield is a very popular place with the tourists but also very much so with the locals. They love it because of all the croc free swimming, and how easy it is to travel from one waterhole to the next.

First stop the magnetic termite mounds.  In the top part of Australia, nobody builds in timber!!! This is a Cathedral Termite mound.

  We thought this looked like a cemetery with lots of tombstones. Actually it is more termite mounds.

These are the Magnetic termite mounds. They are all aligned from north to south.

Next stop Buley Rock hole. The water is so clear and cool. You can make your way all the way from the top...the water runs quite fast at the waterfall bits. It makes you wonder just how fast it must run during the wet season. Dare say it would not be as safe place to be then!!!

Still at Buley Rockhole.

Still there.........we could have stayed  all day.

This is from the lookout at Florence Falls. 140+ steps to get down to the base. Or 1.3km monsoon forest trail walk. We opt for the steps to go down. Rob and Boaz will later take the monsoon walk back up, they say it was one of the most beautiful walks.

We found this gorgeous rock wallaby sheltering from the sun. He looks like he is sitting on his derriere, all that appears to be missing is the TV and cold stubby.

At Florence Falls, schools of fish and a powerful waterfall. Once again, considering we are at the end of the dry season, would love to see the falls during the wet. That actually goes for the whole of the Northern Territory.

The monsoon walk back to the car park.

This the creek that connects Buley Rockhole and Florence Falls, you can follow this to get from one to the other, and have a cool dip when you get too hot.

A Golden Orb spider.

Next stop, Wangi Falls. It is such a hard life exploring this incredible part of the territory.

At the base of the fall, those 2 little specks are Benj and Linda. We all climbed up the waterfall rock face and sat in this extremely deep little rock pool. At one point it was just Timna, Benj, Linda and 2 other men. All relaxing, until Benj pops up from exploring under the water saying not so calmly....I think I just saw a croc!!!! Lets just say we all moved extremely quickly. The only crocs that inhabit these areas (most of the time) are the fresh water variety. They wouldn't choose to bite a human unless you really annoyed them....their teeth aren't designed to bite on anything too hard. If they do their teeth will fall out. However, a croc is a croc is a croc!!

The kids finally get that game of mini golf.

Cloud formation pre sunset at the caravan park. We are now moving closer to the beginning of the wet season. The temperature is still climbing, but there is the added bonus of some storms and some rain. With this the temp drops as does the humidity. It is very monsoonal weather. Around 3.30-4pm, a front may come through, thunder, incredible electrical storms, wind and if you are lucky enough it might rain. If it rains it buckets down. But then it all stops, the heat comes back and all the rain dries away like it had never happened. We experienced some amazing rain in Darwin. It absolutely teemed down. During that time we managed to wash the car and the caravan. It was the most beautiful clean rain we have ever seen. So different to what we experience in Melbourne. The car and van looked almost brand new!!!!

A tough round of golf had by all. This completes our visit to Litchfield National Park. Next destination Katherine.