Mon, 21st March, 2022 Devil’s Marbles Conservation Reserve campground to Newcastle Waters Rest Area, north of Elliott, NT (Exploring Devils Marbles, Stuart Hwy history items & Newcastle Waters)

25 degrees as the sun rose over the hill - perfect. Clear blue sky.

Nice colour on the rocks.

After breakfast we started the longest walk. Not much in the way of wildlife except for 4 green budgies, a hawk and the markings on the track made by a small goanna. Lots of different ‘marbles’.

The lovely green is not so lovely when you bump into it - spinifex with nasty spikes.

Continued along the trail.

This rock broke in half and then the half broke again on the ground.

We then did the 4^th walk which left from the other side of the campground.

Found one of the types of rocks described - Cottage Loaves. The other one mentioned is Cheeserings (because they look like flattish slabs of cheese) - there is a good example but the locals have asked we don’t take photos of any rocks in that area.

I call this the Easter Egg section - the big one with lots of little ones around it.

Looking across the campground to where we climbed up for the sunset photo last night.

We met an asian couple on the side of the road taking photos of each other in front of the marbles. I offered to take their photo which I did. They asked what else to see so we explained. We went back to the camper and Steve put some air in the tyres while I used the wifi supplied. The couple drove over and the chap asked if Steve could check his tyres for him and pump one up. Lucky Steve is such a helpful fellow. 

We had a cuppa then headed north again with the wind on our tail.

Steve tyre pressure/temperature sensors started beeping after he inflated the tyres. He might have put too much in for what they are set at. Will have a look at the settings when we get to Tennant Creek in the meantime we just have to listen to the beeps going off.

Into Tennant Creek for the last time. Topped up with water again and then the fuel tank. Still $215.9 and an extra 3 cent discount. Very nice people at the United Tennant Creek Service Station.

Headed out of town and back across the actual Tennant Creek. Just up the road we turned off to the Telegraph Station. We stopped first to check out a plaque placed on what looks like the old Stuart Highway. It was an Engineering plaque for the work on the road.

We knew it was closed for renovations after flooding but the chap said we could walk around it. When we got there the gate was locked so I just took a couple of photos from the fence line.

Zoomed in on the info board though I have a pamphlet on it. “The Overland Telegraph Line was built along a 3,600km route from Adelaide to Darwin, which had been successfully traversed in 1862 by John McDouall Stuart’s expedition party. Completed in 1872, it was Australia’s first telegraphic link to Britain through the colonial telegraph system. A temporary bush timber building was made out of stone quarried from a site nearby. The Telegraph Stations not only ensured the operation of the line but also acted as important points for water and supplies to early explorers, pastoralists and travellers opening up the unknown country. The discovery of gold by a linesman in 1925 quickly led to the establishment of the present Tennant Creek township. By 1935 a post and telegraph office was operational in the thriving town leading to the closure of the old Telegraph Station. However, the station continued to play an important role in the development of the region, supplying meat to the new town and water from its bore until 1966.”

Back on the road we turned off onto the dirt again to check out The Pebbles. Interesting information. We followed the trail around the rocks. There were signs about the almost endangered pebble mound mouse - we didn’t see any or their mounds.

There is a ridge along further covered in more pebbles. We had lunch which we were parked up. 

Continued north. Stopped by the ‘count-down’ red light for the roadworks at the corner of the Barkly Highway. When we first came through a chap was on the UHF telling his mate to check out the Nissan 6 wheeler. When we drove past it must have been the same guys as they waved and gave us the thumbs up. We gave them a wave and toot back.

Just past the Three Ways Roadhouse into the rest area near the Rev John Flynn’s memorial. He certainly was a remarkable man.

The road sign says 989km to Darwin as we headed off again. Next stop was the rest area at Attack Creek. Steve’s tyre alarms still going off so I dug out the booklet for him to reset the levels and I went wandering with my camera. Very interesting reading about Stuart and his party being turned around here by Aborigines and then the killing of one of the men bringing sheep and goats north to be first to go all the way to Port Darwin. I didn’t realise about South Australia having control of the Northern Territory first.

There is a memorial to Stuart too and one for a mounted constable that was killed here in 1883.

The old road across Attack Creek.

Not far then we turned off onto the old Stuart Highway.

Up and down low hills on the old road which is still in good condition but with no lines. A quarter of a million military servicemen and women travelled this road during WW2 to defend Australia following the attacks on Darwin in 1942. They named a natural rocky outcrop after the British Prime Minister at the time, Winston Churchill, as they thought it looked like him and even put a branch in the rock crevice of his ‘mouth’ to look like the cigar he always had. This site became a popular military resting spot and is still known as Churchill’s Head to this day. I think they had a good imagination.

There is a nice view from here too.

Back to the main highway and across Morphett Creek which had a lot of water in it.

Through Banka Banka which has the original homestead and now a caravan park. The cattle station is managed by aboriginals and they have walks and cultural activities. Not far away is the WW2 staging camp for the troops going up and down from Adelaide to Darwin. 

Steve noticed that when he put his foot down to accelerate the truck would die so he thinks the fuel filter might need changing. He had put a new one in when we first got it so it could be due for a new one I suppose. 

We dropped down the side of the rise we were on. Mt Castle stood out on the flat ground.

Then we pulled into Renner Springs Station which has a roadhouse, pub, units and van park. I wonder where those statues are headed for.

We found a spot under the shade of a gum tree and had a cuppa while the truck cooled a bit. Interesting table and chairs - big slab of rock sitting on beer kegs which are also the stools.

Steve got to work under the bonnet. How he manages to get his hands in there - it is so squashed with so much stuff under there. I went for a wander around. Inside the roadhouse the walls are covered in signatures and notes from travellers etc - interesting reading. I didn’t find any info on the history of the station but as there is a big pool out back I imagine they have plenty of water on hand since the place is called ‘springs’.

We headed off and the truck seemed a bit better but it died again when he put his foot down hard. We can continue on but will have to get it looked at in Katherine - the joys of the electronics in the modern cars. Never had any problems like this with ‘Pat’. 

Clouds are build as we continue north towards Elliott. Roadworks at the Barkley Stock Route turn off with big overtaking lanes etc.

Into Elliott which I thought was just a station on the map. It is a long township with the buildings running down the west side of the highway. We turned off to the east to check out the WW2 Army staging campsite.

We were hoping to camp by a lagoon which was in my camps book but the track is closed off now by the station owner so we continued on.

We spotted the rest area by the road near Newcastle Waters but decided to drive in to the historical site hoping we might camp there. We were amazed to see so much water as we crossed the causeway.

The station homestead is in amongst the big trees. There is a helicopter flying around and the chaps on the UHF were commenting on the crazy pilot.

A group of locals were heading down for a dip. There is a community here which is why there is no camping allowed here. 

We stopped at the Drover’s Park and walked around reading the information.

Had to take a moment before getting back in the car to remove all the nasty prickles from our thongs.

The old church is still in use at times - next to the school.

Further down the road is the Junction Hotel and general store. So much information to read in here but unfortunately it was a bit dark. I used my flash to brighten things up.

The hotel was back in use again when they had the Bicentennial Last Great Cattle Drive arrived here in 1988. It was the last time cattle were taken across using the stock route.

Inside the hotel - the counter and fridge are still there and lots of information on boards - newspaper clippings, letters, info about each of the buildings in the town back in the day.

Nothing to see inside the store.

Unusual building down the road.

Further along we found Jones Store (1934) with bakery which had loads of information etc. Very interesting with lots of information here now it is under the National Trust.

The walls are very thick compared to the pubs thin walls. Interesting use of the bottles in the wall as decoration.

They had done a great job restoring the house. We love the old mower.

I found the baker’s oven outside.

Back across the causeway - there are hundreds of magpie geese in the trees and the water.

Back out to highway as the sun set and we parked in the rest area for the night. We are up on a ridge and the breeze is still blowing well. Might be a bit noisy as the trucks zoom by but they go by quickly too.

Quite hot tonight so we had an easy dinner and read and wrote my blog. The breeze cooled things down eventually.

Lightning flashing through the clouds in the east is putting on a spectacular show.