Chefprefers BLOG

Litchfield national park

The park is about one and half hours drive south of Darwin. There’s a circuit road which takes you pass the numerous water holes within the park. My son mentioned that there is an another 4w drive track which meanders around the whole national icon. Perhaps another time. We took the circuit clockwise. We past a huge 10 Mw solar farm near Batchelor. Apparently it will be operational in the New year. NT has a goal to produce at least 50% renewable energy by 2030 and they are on track.

Our first stop was the termite mounds, well after looking out the car window for the first hour, how many can there be? Lots of Anthills, so many along the road, it’s ridiculous. The stop into the sparingly crowded car park, we walked to the viewing platform (photo) to see a field of tall flat facing mounds sprinkled across the clearing. Why are they all flat facing and pointing the same way? I ask. I belong to a Facebook group called the orienteering mappers and my first thought was “it would be an interesting place to map since termite mounds are displayed on an orienteering map as triangles. The information display explains that they are Magnetic termites. A known species that knows the Magnetic North direction. So when you look at the mounds, they are all facing North. Amazing! Anyway if you were an orienteer you would have an advantage in this area.

There were a few swimming spots that we stopped at, my favourite was the Buley rockhole (photo). Great spot, a natural jacuzzi with lots of jumping holes, my favourite so far. Our last swimming stop was Wangi falls. (photo) Sitting admiring the falls, we were pestered by a Monitor wanting our lunch. It was persistent and when we went for a swim, it came and sniffed through the lunch bag. Anyway, if you come here, pack your swimmers. I saw an old geezer wearing his Bonds entering the water. Not a good look, especially when he started to chat up another old geezer as he was entering the water.

The water hole had a crocodile cage at the water’s exit and swimming is at your own risk, when I mentioned that there was some bubbling in the middle. I was soon left alone in the water since our group left promptly. Chickens! It’s like my Bear story again. Next post, more on jumping crocs and favourite Australian words.