Mon, 4th April, 2022 Florence Falls campground, Litchfield National Park to Boat ramp by Finniss River lagoon, near Bynoe, NT (Tjaetaba Falls)

 Loaded the camper back on the truck and headed off to Greenant Creek and the walk to Tjaetaba Falls. Clear blue sky to start.

Interesting walk over Greenant Creek - didn’t see any greenants though.

Dodged a few bush ‘hazzards’ as we meandered along the side of the creek listening to all the bird calls.

Steve just missed this guy then walked into another web further along so we found a stick to clear the path with.

Lots of ginger plants here then the dry grass going up the hill with the tall palms etc beside the creek.

Across another creek then into the savanna country and the climb up the hillside to the lookout.

Unfortunately the trees block the view of the falls from the lookout. Luckily they put good photos up from below (where we can’t go) on the Info board.

Continued further along the track to a nice rocky area for a quick dip. There is a plunge pool but the fence stops access so we won’t do the wrong thing.

We didn’t think you could swim so didn’t bring out togs - so as nature intended again!

Headed back down feeling refreshed. Met a couple back on the flat again who were camped near us but only came in last night. They are from Darwin and he wanted to know all about the truck and camper.

Made a cuppa and stood in the shade near the Info board as it is very humid - who would have thought we had just had a nice swim.

Reread the info and saw that you can’t swim in Greenant Creek below the falls so we were all good having our dip above the falls. Should read the info more closely as the sign shows No Swimming.

Continued along and up the west side of the National Park heading north. It is all sealed now so there are two accesses into the NP from Darwin. Walker Creek and Bamboo Creek are still closed. There was a tin mine at Bamboo Creek from 1905 but it closed in the 1950s due to transport problems and weather issues. 

Exited the National Park. Across Finniss River - we were going to pull off for a look but the dirt track was very wet. 

Clouds are coming over again. At the T-intersection we turned west to head towards Dundee Beach as there is a good camp spot at Stingray Head. Spotted some good sized ant hills in the tall grass.

Passed the turn off up to Crab Claw Island - a couple we chatted to were coming here for a few nights. We turned off onto a dirt track when I saw a boat ramp sign and it appeared to be on the Finniss River according to the Hema. Passed a big mango plantation and over a wet causeway.

No info here other than a pumping station but there is room around from the boat ramp in between the puddles that we parked in to have lunch. Nice view.

A chap came along on his 4wheeler to check the water quality after the rain yesterday. He owns the mango plantation and he caught an 80cm barra and some 50cm ones here yesterday afternoon. The creek we crossed over on the causeway flows into here beside where we are parked. He said this is a lagoon off the Finniss River and is very popular when it is too windy on the coast at Dundee Beach. We were lucky that no one is here.

After lunch we decided this might be a good spot to try for a Barra so we moved the truck across so not to impede anyone who might want to come into where we are parked.

Steve got out the fishing rods and we started flicking our lures. Lots of birds here too making a lot of lovely songs.

Steve got a strike on this second cast but it was only little and didn’t hook up. 

We heard more Barra ‘boofs’ but none came and took our lures.

Steve wandered up the creek. A couple called in to check we understood the dangers of the crocodiles as there are some 4 metre ones in here - which we do understand. Though one husband walking along the creek probably wasn’t the safest idea!! He came back so all good and he is very good at looking for any signs of croc movement on banks etc.

No more strikes and the mozzies aren’t too bad after spraying ourselves. 

Steve had to pull his reel apart after getting his lure stuck in a tree in the creek so I made a cuppa while he worked. Listening to the birds is lovely and watching them flitter down to the water and back is very relaxing.

Had a few more flicks in the main area but nothing. Rumbles of thunder started as dark clouds moved over. Steve got his lure back by throwing rocks at the tree branch till it dropped into the water. Steve kept going as his reel was all good again and he had his lure back. I gave up and went inside to write my blog up when Steve called out that he had hooked one. I just managed to get a photo out the door of the camper before it flicked off the lure. You can see the swirl as the Barra got off to the left. Another little one but it was a Barra. Now where are the big ones?

The dark clouds are descending on us and the chap is back to have a flick too. After 5 minutes the heavens opened so he headed back and we went into the camper to close up from the rain. Cooled things down a bit.

After the rain stopped we flicked our lures again but only caught a tarpon each - well it was something.

Lovely sunset colour on the water as the flying foxes moved into the trees.

The birds quietened down then we could here some more Barra ‘boofs’ but it was too dark to be outside.

Just as we were going to bed two blokes arrived and backed their boat down the boat ramp. I thought that was a very bad time to be going fishing when they started the boat up and then turned it off and drove back up the ramp with the boat on. Must have just wanted to flush the engine in fresh water. 

Another car drove down shortly after then headed back out - weird.