Fri, 8th April, 2022 Bush camp on West Point, Mandorah to Bush camp by Murrumujuk Beach, Shoal Bay (Dad 8mths, exploring Berry & Howard Springs, Dan & Fran engaged)

Lovely sunrise colours over Darwin - looking out the window by my bed.

My darling Dad left us 8 months ago.

Back out through the wall of tall spear grass to the Jetty.

Got out our rods and went along the jetty to where the rod holders were placed. There was a few people already out the front fishing.

Steve wandered out and down the ramp to try and get some bait with the cast net. Another chap was trying too. Unfortunately the bait is too small so he came back empty-handed.

I watched the two rods that weren’t doing anything while the sun and humidity increased. Chatted to a lady who was heading to Darwin on the ferry. A shout got our attention and then a huge fish leapt out of the water. 

The chap battled for a while and the fish leapt out a few more times which was exciting to watch. He was heading towards me with his rod and two young chaps ran by asking me to wind in my lines as they were going to get the fish to the bank so they could climb down to get it.

The chap was from Singapore and had the biggest grin when I asked if I could take a photo when he walked back with his prize.

Unfortunately that was the only action for the morning other than a turtle popping up now and then. Chatted with two couples from Caloundra who had taken photos of the camper. Steve said $10 please!! He reckons we could fund the trip if we charged for photos taken! 

Packed up and went back to the camper for a cuppa.

I have started reading Di Morrissey’s, ‘The Red Coast’, which Steve just finished. It is set in Broome carrying on from her other two Kimberley books which I thoroughly enjoyed. The first page says they are on a cruise boat and were going on Zodiacs up the Horizontal Falls. How’s that for a apt book to read just before we do the cruise. 

Back on the road and south to the main road. Cross the Darwin River - which I missed as I was writing up stuff. And I missed the turn off to the Darwin River Recreation Area. Will call in on our way back.

Past the Territory Wildlife Park which we visited 30 years ago.

Into Berry Springs Nature Park but the pools are closed due to the high water level etc. We wandered down through lovely open picnic areas to check out the falls and then the main pool but we can’t get down to the water. Nice walk down to the main pool. It is a cold water spring.

On the way back we chatted with the Ranger who said it won’t be till mid May till it might open. They have to wait for the water to clear up then do a 5 day/night croc watch before they can open up. Mainly freshies but there have been salties come up with it is flood. He said we could go over the ropes to go down to take a closer photo of the falls etc but to be mindful of where we are walking etc. Got the photos and headed back to the truck. Main pool, Kangaroo Falls, up then down stream of Berry Creek. All the roots are exposed along the creek edge.

Continued on to the Stuart Highway then drove alongside Strauss Airstrip from WW2 days. There were some info boards and three little planes but we missed the turnoff. There is a big water pipe running between the dual lanes that provides Darwin with water from Menton Dam south of here. Will call in a check it out on the return trip.

Turned off to Humpty Doo - lights at the intersection!! Haven’t seen those in a while. 

Stopped for fuel at the Big Croc United - 195.9c/l. I snapped a photo of Snappy while Steve filled up.

Around to Woolies at the shopping centre for some fruit and vegies then a couple of pies for lunch for a treat. 

Drove around to the school where the Community Library is - got a look of attention from the students, who were going back into class, as we drove around the car park. Got the cruise documents etc printed - they had sent updated ones from the original ones I had before we left Cairns. 

Back to the Stuart Highway passing another WW2 airstrip by the road. Turned off towards Howard Springs and Gunn Point.

Dan sent through a message that he had just proposed to Fran so we gave him a call. They sound very happy and are having a couple of nights at one of the flash new hotels on the Cairns Esplanade. Fran sent through a photo of the ring - beautiful - just like the two of them together. Shame we aren’t there to enjoy with them but we will see them in July next year when we return to Cairns for Jon and Annalise’s wedding so will have to see what date Dan and Fran decide on for their wedding. 

Rang Kaylene and Wendy and they were very happy to hear the news. Erica & Terry are away at a van rally so hopefully Dan will be able to get hold of them to tell them the news himself. 

Pulled into the ‘Springs’ and wandered down the track to where the water flows up out of the ground. Another cold water spring. We have vague memories of swimming around here.

Drove around to the picnic area near the big pool and checked out the information about how the pool area was created in WW2.

Lots of stripeies zooming around. Walked across the top of the weir checking out the info boards. Stripeies are Barred Grunter - I didn’t know that, Steve did of course. There are some big ones here.

Chatted with a Ranger and she said the pool was closed to public swimming about 15 years ago. She said they are having a problem with the weed build up but she has created a couple of ideas to drag it out rather than trying to pull it up onto the boat. I asked her about the File Snakes - she said they are no good on land and usually hung around under the tree cover waiting for a fish to come by for dinner. As we were chatting about the fish a huge Barramundi swam by. It would be over a meter long.

They are put in from other places when they get too big and have their final days here. There are hatcheries that provides fingerlings for various places like Manton Dam etc. Steve asked about the spear grass and they will start burn offs soon to get it down. They are having problems with Gamba Grass which stays greener for longer and is thicker and doesn’t die off until late in the dry making burn offs a big problem. I asked if it was grown out at Tipperary Station and she said yes. It was introduced by the NT Government in 1930s as a pasture species from Africa. Now they are trying to stop the spread into natural lands - bit like the Cane Toad! 

We did the creek walk. A lot of trees have fallen down recently. We have passed a few huge ‘turkey’ nests that we should now be calling Scrubfowls.

Crossed over Howard Creek reading more signs along the way.

I think they put the culvert in the wrong spot. A couple of nice spots we could get in for a dip! 

Spotted an Orange-footed Scrubfowl.

Two very tall trees.

We came out at the other side of the pool where there was another info board with info about how it got its name.

Found some more WW2 information and where the soldiers left their mark in the concrete.

An Ibis!

Checked out the ‘rapids’ where kids can have a dip - what about us big kids!

Back to the truck which has been sitting in the sun getting good solar charge but it is now very hot. Drove around to the other side where we could park in the shade and open it up for a bit too cool off while we have our cuppas outside in the shade. Very hot and still here.

Headed back then turned back onto the Gunn Point Road and headed up to find our camp for the night. The lady from Stingray Head said it was good. On Wikicamps it had, “in 1972 Gunn Point Prisons Farm was set up to help with the overcrowding at Fannie Bay Gaol until 1995”. Not sure exactly where it was situated. There was a correctional facility on the way to the Springs (Howard).

The road is now a wide bitumen road compared to the dirt track marked on the Hema. I had written down the info off Wikicamps and thought we had the right turn off which was a steep drop off the side then down to a track covered in water.

I turned Wikicamps on and realised we had to go a bit further along. Got back up on the bitumen and went along to the next turn off - still onto dirt but only small pot holes. Found our way to a big sign and went for a walk. This section is call Murrumujuk Beach - Gunn Point is further north. Boggy approaches to the beach which I am not happy about going over.

Went down further south and entered the Tree Point Conservation Area where you aren’t allowed to camp. Big marshland to the left. Might see a buffalo or two!

Just up the track was another turn off - Steve reckons he can get around these boggy holes ok. I said we should try other tracks. We walked to the beach. The buoys are on the boundary of the conservation area to stop people driving on the protected beach area.

Headed back out and up towards the north end but all those tracks were under water too.

Back to the one with the sign to walk the track to the beach. A car has arrived with a 4wheeler and it is now zooming up and down the beach - not registered and definitely not keeping under the 40kph speed limit. No wonder places get closed off when ‘others’ can’t behave.

There was a burnt out camper-trailer there too so we decided to go back to the other place as Steve convinced me he can go around the left edge which is hard.

I trust him - well I did after we got to the other side!! I think I am getting more nervous in my ‘old’ age but I do trust him to make the right judgements as he knows he will have to get us out again any case. 

Parked ourselves up leaving room for anyone to drive up from the beach. The tree is providing nice shade from the hot afternoon sun which is good.

Steve brought me back some shells - photos only now.

Poured out our drinks and sat and listened to the waves roll onto the wide flat beach. This is Shoal Bay which goes out to Beagle Bay to the north of Darwin.

Ducked out while cooking dinner to grab some sun setting photos. Zoomed in on the north point.

Steve then took the camera for some more photos. Zoomed in on Darwin on the other side.

Had dinner and played some cards - quite hot and sticky.

Just as we were going to bed I spotted headlights coming down the beach then they turned into our track off the beach. Steve flicked on the back light so they could see where we were though they had big headlights blazing. The first car got a bit of a fright and the people yelled out as they zoomed past and through the bog hole then 4 more cars followed by the 4wheeler we had seen earlier. They disappeared into the trees so we went to bed with the waves lulling us off to sleep.