Sat, 2nd April, 2022 Robin Falls camp, south of Adelaide River to Florence Falls campground, Litchfield National Park, NT (Exploring Adelaide River township and Florence Falls)

Slept in till 7.45 and awoke to being 59 - well not till 9am when I was actually born. So sad not to be waiting for a call from Mum and Dad this year. 

Steve said the kids let off a few firecrackers about 2am but I was out to it which was good.

We packed up and tooted farewell to the party goers who were quietly sitting on the ground by their cars.

As we headed off a Praying-mantis (stick insect) landed on the bonnet and did his level best to hang on as we took off. Eventually he took off.

Crossed Anniversary Creek - should have been birthday creek today.

Got phone reception as we headed into the township of Adelaide River and the phone started pinging with text and Facebook messages which were all lovely. Erica rang just as we drove into town so Steve found a nice shady spot to park while we chatted. She is feeling a bit better and they are heading off to see Aunty Maree who also celebrates her birthday today as well as her grandson Robert. They will then go to a caravan rally then down to Uncle Robbies’ farm for his memorial with all the family as he passed nearly a year ago now on 21^st April (just after Mum).

I uploaded some days on my blog, rang back people who had rung etc until it was time for lunch. We went to the Puma for fuel which has dropped now the government has released their budget and dropped the fuel excise for a bit so now it is 195.9c/l. The Adelaide River Inn is behind it along with the caravan park so we parked and went in for lunch to celebrate my birthday.

Checked out the Jock the Crock - 5 metres long, weighing 720kg. He was from Borrololoa where he was being aggressive and started attacking boats (not sure when he was killed).

The bar had a big buffalo head on the wall and another whole buffalo down the other end and some other old war bits and pieces - it was called the 303 bar. We ordered lunch which was very nice and filling.

Had a few more phone calls then we headed off to explore. Across the road was a sign about the WW2’s involvement in the area.

Drove back to the train Steve saw as we drove in. The railway workers were heavily involved with the military during the war years.

There is a museum on the other side of the railway line but we skipped that today after reading a lot of the same stuff at Pine Creek.

Stopped before the bridge to check out to history signs about the local hotel and the old railway bridge which is still standing to the left of the new one.

We drove across the river to check out a history sign.

Some good things came from the war time with all the roads etc that had to be put in to transport the army etc up from the south. Down and across the old low level bridge over the Adelaide River.

No jumping crocs here - they are further downstream closer to the ocean. We did that cruise 30 years ago too and were amazed to see how far they can push themselves out of the water after some food on a pole so imagine if you were just pulling in a fish - but of course these ones have been conditioned to getting a feed by leaping up for it. One was called Mariki and he was 17 foot long.

Back up and over the bridge again then back along the lovely green grass and trees lining the river (but you can’t see the river). Very pretty township.

We stopped at the War Cemetery which is very peaceful.

Read the plaques then the information boards under the shelter where a video provides a short documentary on the effects of the war on Darwin and Adelaide River.

Across the road was more information boards. We saw Robin Falls with more water than this photo - pays to come early in the season for that reason.

As we left we noticed some old concrete foundations that were from the war years.

Turned off the highway for the short cut via Crater Lake to Batchelor - didn’t see any lakes!

Passed a big solar farm - I wonder how long before they have to replace the panels. 

Into Batchelor, stopped to read the information about the Demonstration Farm here in 1911 when NT was still under the control of South Australia.

Another green grass and big tree town. We parked and while Steve made the cuppas I checked out the Info Room. Lots of info about Litchfield National Park. We have booked (online now) for two nights at Florence Falls as we are allowed to swim there at the moment.

Also more about the Heritage Walk and Batchelor. Ruth who ran the Zebra Stone mine near Mt Argyle in WA has moved here. Will pop in and have a look on our return trip after the cruise so we can do the history walk too. Outside was another big board about Batchelor.

They also have a book swap so Steve found a couple and we put a couple back that we had both finished. I need to do some catching up as he reads while I write my blog so he is way ahead of me.

Continued on. Drove past the Zebra Stone place.

Into the National Park - just the same as the drive up the Stuart recently - trees and spear grass!

Stopped at the Termite Mounds. Read the information. There are two different types of termites here.

We went onto the board walk which went around overlooking grass and some small which weren’t very impressive. These are the magnetic ones.

Across the car park we found a good one - Cathedral, it is over 50 years old. Now that is much better. We spotted ants going into holes so it must still be functional.

A bit further along in the long grass is a better one. Not quite as good as the ones on Branwell Station in Cape York but pretty impressive any case.

We wound around hills and there is still a bit of water about on the edge of the road. Up the Aida Creek Jump Up which was a bit steep then turned off towards Florence Falls. Got some phone reception with the phone plugged into the aerial which is handy in case the site we chose isn’t any good or we want to stay longer.

Passed the turn off to Bluey’s Rockholes (will check out tomorrow) then into the 2WD campground. There is another one called 4WD but 2WD can get there too. This one is closer to the falls which is why we booked here. Found our camp site - a couple of other campers here too. 

Backed in and off loaded the camper - aah goes Smokey. Nice shady site and it was a straight back in too. The one beside us is a curved entrance around some trees which would have been more tricky. That’s the hard part of booking online as you don’t know what the sites are like till you get here.

Chatted with the other couple nearby about the walk to the pool and she said it was ok but coming up is a bugger as there are 135 steps to come back up. Oh well we need the exercise.

Had our drinks then put on our togs and headed down the track. Lots of pretty blue bell flowers.

Read the information then headed down the track beside our campsite.

You would thing the Rangers could trim up the path a bit and move the fallen tree limbs etc.

Went around to the lookout first - very impressive. Just the trees tops downstream.

Down the path to the steps - won’t be looking forward to coming back up them though.

Crossed over Florence Creek. I worked out later the water coming in downstream is from Shady Creek.

Up along the side of the creek and the big pool opens up. There are steps down into the pool but had to hang out a bit to try and get both drops in the photo.

There are huge black bream swimming around the steps into the pool which is very clear.

I got in so Steve could take a photo and had to work hard to swim against the force of the water pushing down from the falls towards the creek. Good exercise swimming against the current. Glad we had our noodles.

We had a lovely soak tucked in against the rock between the two falls. Steve went in behind the falls on the right but I was trying to keep my hair dry as it takes too long to dry if wet in the afternoon.

Noticed some graffiti on the wall opposite - not sure how they managed to get the top ones done. Also a cave. Steve remembers that the walk way came down that side 30 years ago which might explain it.

As we walked back we noticed another walk - Shady Creek. It looked interesting and as it is cool now we decided to try it. Will take a bit longer but at least there are no stairs.

Lovely walk along the little creek, crossing back and forwards over it a few times. Information boards too.

Steve reckons that rock would make a good seat with the lovely rapids around it.

We must be climbing up a gully around the hill from the falls as it is only a gentle climb up then down and around, crossing over the creek a few times.

We startled a pheasant out of the long grass.

Around to the top of Florence Falls creek where there are picnic areas and to the other end of the walk.

We have to commend the original rangers or whoever put down the foundation paths for this walk - took a lot of work.

Found the car park then back around to the lookout as the sun is disappearing behind the hills. Had to take some photos of the falls - they are pretty amazing.

Back to the camper as the sun’s last colours filtered through the trees. Seeds or something keep plopping on the camper roof. Spag bol for dinner then sticky date pudding for dessert - a perfect birthday dinner.

Played cards - I won at Skipbo for a change - must be my birthday! Only a few little bugs came in and we worked out to just leave the lights over the sink on so they didn’t land on us at the table.