Sun, 3rd April, 2022 Florence Falls campground, Litchfield National Park (exploring Litchfield NP)

In the quiet we can hear the waterfall then the birds start and there is always a crow!

Darker clouds are coming over as we headed off. Got phone reception in the truck with the aerial and a few more birthday texts came through. I sent one off to Rick M as it is his birthday today.

We drove down to the 4WD campground for a look. Maybe you needed 4WD when it was a dirt track as the track drops down to the side of Florence Creek. Longer walk around to the pool and falls but no steps. Couple of nice spots along the creek if you were allowed to hope in for a quick dip.

The dark clouds have moved on - we are hoping to get some charge into the batteries with the solar blanket as the camper is under the trees. Forecast is for 36 degrees today in Batchelor.

Back up and along to Buley Rockhole. Plenty of day use picnic areas here.

We walked into the upper pools - the water has just stopped flowing into this pool.

It should be called rockholes as there are many and lots of paved accesses down to the spots. They needed the campground here so you could cool off without the big walk.

Bigger pool at the bottom with an info board.

Met a couple from our campground that just walked around. Said it was an easy walk and there were other spots for swimming along the track. Very humid now as the dark clouds come over again.

Back to the main road and past the turn off to Lost City and a new area called Central Valley (still to be opened) but the road is still closed till May. The Lost City gets its name from the formation of sandstone blocks and pillars so that it looks like a lost civilisation. We skipped the Tabletop Swamp.

Turned off into Tolmer Falls for the walk to the lookout - no swimming here. Stacked rocks in the car park.

Interesting information. We will skip the longer walk today. Wide path to follow.

Turned off and down steps and path to the lookout. Lovely view of the long thin falls. Zoomed in on the water further up the creek and the balancing rock up on the top of the hill.

Big pool below with caves where the bats live.

Great view down the valley too.

Climbed back up then around to a big platform with lights along the path and under the shelter. Maybe they have sky viewing from here - can’t think of what else they would be doing out here in the dark. You can only see the top of the falls from here, across the top of the lookout and the view of the valley.

Next is Greenant Creek and walk to Tjaetaba Falls but we will do that one tomorrow morning.

The Reynolds River 4WD track (heads south to Daly River Road) is also closed till May so no access to Blyth Homestead ruins and Surprise Creek Falls. The homestead was built in 1929 by the Sergeant family and was eventually abandoned in the 1960s.

We turned north now up the west side of the national park. Turned off to Wangi Falls. There is a campground here. Used our butane stove for the first time to boil the billy for a cuppa. Steve spotted a wallaby on the other side of the fence. Mr Crow who had a lot to say.

A group of young boys - probably Cubs arrived and with their leaders rushed off to do the walk. More people arrived - popular spot but some people were disappointed to find out they can’t swim in the bottom pool as yet.

The ranger arrived so Steve informed him the toilets were all clogged up - he wasn’t too happy about that news. I asked about the platform at Tolmer Falls. He said they give talks there in the ‘season’ and it is hired out for functions and weddings - interesting. I still think it would be a great place to look at stars.

Checked out the info boards and the ranger’s notice board about what is open etc.

Walked down to the next level where more picnic tables were. They even have Wifi here. Handy to know if you want to make a booking as it is all online now. The water level is still high in the bottom pool therefore no swimming and there might be crocs! You can see how high the water came over the bottom picnic area.

Around to the viewing platform. The spray is reaching us here - very refreshing.

We went back and I put on my boots - Steve stayed in his sandals and we started the walk. Two blokes were just about to take a photo of the truck - he said he son loves 6 wheeler so the boys chatted away about the truck while I got ready for the walk.

Back to the viewing platform then continued along the boardwalk. Plenty of spiders and their webs hanging across the track. Lovely and shady too.

Now the climb up the hillside. No flowers on the ginger yet - looks a bit sad actually. Dad loved chewing on ginger - they had plants at the back of the carport.

Continued along then started up the stairs to the viewing platform.

Then we continue up and out into the open. Nice view from up here and a bit warmer in the sunshine.

Further along we can see down to the car park. Kept going till we reached the top of the falls. Around us is sacred ground with fences and signs to keep us out.

Further around is the Tabletop Track which is still closed. It crossed another creek that flows into Wangi Creek so we stopped to give our faces a wash.

We continued on then started the descent. Then we had to go up again as we went along the edge of the cliff which provided a nice view.

Then we walk in the shadow of a big wall. Again we are thankful to the original people who put in the pathways. Back into the monsoon forest again where it is cooler but very humid.

Found some lovely fungi.

Nearly at the bottom where we can see the pool and one of the falls. Then back to the bottom picnic area.

Checked out the campground - nobody here. No point if you can get in for a swim.

Back out to the main road then further north to the Cascades. We ate another Anzac cookie as it is lunch time but we didn’t bring lunch as we thought we would be back to camp by now. We had an orange and water so off we headed. The Lower Cascades are closed to swimming so we headed off to the Upper Cascades in our sandals in case we needed to walk through water.

Started the walk then passed a big turkey nest. We can hear it in the bush somewhere.

Came to the intersection and headed up the Upper Cascades track. Nice to start with then it went up hill on rocks. Should have wore my sandshoes as the going was quite rocky and my sandals aren’t as good as Steve’s.

Stopped to admire the view from the lookout - trees. Continued on and up to the next lookout. You can see a road from this one.

Steve pointed out the berries on the palm.

Then we started downhill - yeah. But then we had to go up again.

Stopped to photograph a few flowers.

Downhill again to the water.

Lots of little pools where the water cascades over the big flat rock area. Walked up a bit further.

A chap mentioned there was a bigger pool below under the shade of a tree which sounded perfect to us. Looking downstream.

Steve got in for the ‘photo’ then we moved in under the tree. It was perfect though the water wasn’t too cool after it runs over all the rocks but it was refreshing after that walk at midday.

We ate our orange then walked further downstream. There is another good hole we should have tried out.

Steve had spotted people below in a much bigger pool under the actual Curtain Falls.

They were just getting out so we then had it all to ourselves. Just perfect. Took a photo then we had a lovely swim. Steve swam back to take a photo of me by the falls. There was a big rock to stand on.

The other people had walked back along the creek rather than back and over the top so we decided we would too. Found some lovely banksia flowers.

It was a bit boggy in places but otherwise a lovely walk. We went back and forwards across the creek making our way down.

Nice big pool.

Steve spotted a water monitor making its way along the water’s edge.

Continued on alongside the crystal clear water. Till we came to a dam of big trees that must have piled up from floodwaters but who knows how long they have been there.

We found a way around as the creek has divided here. Then the track went across the creek but there was no boardwalk. Steve checked if there was another track around - no. So we waded in - not deep but we sunk into the soft sand.

Further along we found the walkway - taken out for the wet season obviously.

There are three viewing areas of the marshy grasslands - exciting!! A few buffalo wading through would have been good!

2.30 we got back to the truck then headed back. We pulled into Greenant Creek carpark to check out the info for the walk tomorrow. I had felt something on my foot but thought it was the strap off my sandals that I had taken off but it was a leech. And I was bleeding from two places so either he had a friend or he had two goes at me. He had fallen off as he was full of blood so I flicked him outside and I couldn’t see another one. Steve had blood on his ankle when we had got to the Upper Cascade and he thought a stick had got him but it was probably a leech but as he was in the water the whole time he didn’t notice how much it bled.

It was still bleeding when we got back for our very late lunch - which Steve made as I was trying to stop the bleeding - first salt then sugar then two very tight bandaids.

We then had a cuppa and read for a bit to let our legs rest.

About 5pm we headed off to walk to Buley Rockhole (s) for a dip. This track needs a trim up too. Passed the turn off for the Shady Creek Walk. There are some nice picnic areas first by the creek.

There are sections that need ‘water across road’ signs as the water is still leeching out of the ground.

Further along we found the other spots the couple mentioned.

The parrots are having a lovely time in the banksia trees. I spotted this bird who sat still long enough for some photos - I think it is a kingfisher but the Azure one on the info board had an orange front. 

Arrived at Buley Rockholes at the bottom. Walked up past some young people with their glass beer bottles - I do hope they do the right thing and take them home.

Up to the top pool for a lovely back massage in the spa pool.

Tried out the next one. Steve decided we should give the thumbs up like the Geckos on the camper.

I had fun backing into the pool as it was washing my feet out from under me. Got my feet anchored - all good. 

As it was starting to get late we headed off. I picked up someone’s water bottle they left behind - it is so hard to believe people can be such grubs. We even spotted a nappy left by a path.

Checked out a picnic area by Florence Creek - very nice.

We got back to the turn off onto Shady Creek walk to head around to the falls for our last swim and I had forgotten to take a photo on my phone to put on Facebook.

The sun has disappeared and the pool had hundreds of dragon flies zooming over the top of it. It was very refreshing as we sat on a big rock in the middle. The big black bream started to get a bit close so we swam back and dried off. Now for the 135 plus steps to get back to the campground.

7pm home for dinner then a game of Tri-ominos which we haven’t played in a long time. Tired but happy bodies - worked off the sticky-date pudding from last night for sure.