Douglas Hot Springs

Is a campsite that has water (that you need to boil) toilets and showers. It also has hot thermal springs which are (in parts) hot enough to burn you. Pay attention to the signs and it is a great place to visit. The spring itself is about waist deep at the deepest, and knee deep throughout most. You can light fires anywhere, and firewood isn’t too hard to find, but generally best to gather some on the way in.

Long weekend in Wagiman Country

Just got back from an amazing long weekend away.

On the first day we got to Douglas Hot Springs to find the camping ground was packed! I guess you can’t really expect much else on a long weekend. We found a nice spot and then went to the thermal springs. I was expecting them to be like the luke warm pools of Mataranka, but I was wrong. Parts are hot enough to burn you! Everyone sits up a bout 20 metres downstream and the water temperature is fantastic, ranging from a hot bath to cool.

Claire and I had a swim and a drink, before heading back to camp. We were treated to an amazing sunset. I used this to take some snaps of Suzi with her new roof rack. (And everyone knows bullbars double as clotheslines).

The next morning we went to Butterfly Gorge, and I managed to leave my camera at the campsite! We had been there before it wasn’t so bad. It is one of the best places to swim in the NT. I have to admit the rock hopping can get quite difficult – I am always a little relieved that Claire manages to get out uninjured.
We went back and hit the thermal pools again in the afternoon, it was much needed, as the water at Butterfly Gorge was freezing.
The Sunday night was slightly less crowded but unfortunately it brought out the camping behaviour that makes me avoid busy periods. A shame, but I would still recommend the campsite, especially to those with young children.
Got up on the Monday and headed to Umbrawarra Gorge. It took a bit of finding, but it was a really lovely spot, a nice beach next to a striking gorge. You could have spent a lot of time moving up it, but we only had a few hours, so we just had a swim and some lunch, before having to head back home.

Edith Falls – Location

Edith Falls is roughly halfway to Katherine from Darwin, probably a bit closer to Katherine. It is a great campsite. There are three main pools to swim in. The first is a 100m flat walk to the campsite. It is a very large rockpool, it can be hard to enter without good footwear.

The second is the main one, it is pretty short, from memory 300m, however it is pretty steep and quite rocky in sections. But it is worth it, as the pools are great.

 


The second pool & Edith itself


The third pool

Tjaynera Falls (Sandy Creek Falls) – Litchfield

Tjaynera Falls is amazing.

In Litchfield so easily accessible for a day trip, it has rudimentary camping facilities, though I have never stayed there.

It is down a 4WD track that is moderately challenging, you need to cross some water.

The bushwalk is moderate when you get there it is definitely worth it.

A great waterfall that flows all year round, a great swimming hole, and usually only a handful of people.