Tues, 29th March, 2022 Camp by Edith River, south of Pine Creek to Pussycat Flats campground, Pine Creek, NT (Edith Falls & Pine Creek history)

The cockatoos greeted the sunrise this morning then a couple crows joined in.

Packed up and then dropped off the rubbish at a truck stop before heading back across the river to the turn off into Edith Falls which is part of the Nitmiluk National park. 

20km in on bitumen. Over two creeks which still had water in them then across Edith River again. To the north there is a No Entry road leading to a mine (it says abandoned Wolfram mine on our map).

All quiet here. We are the only ones in the car park and I can see one car in the campground. 9am and the kiosk isn’t open so we put on our togs and boots and headed off to explore. Fabulous photos of wet and dry seasons here. Lovely green grass.

Unfortunately no swimming yet in the bottom pool. Nice view to the waterfall.

Walked over the bridge for another nice photo and a look downstream.

Back to the car park then up the track to check up the Upper Pool and maybe do the long walk.

First 500m section has steps.

Good view across to the mining area.

Onto the flat now.

Met a couple who were staying in the campground coming back. They said the walk was good and they had a nice swim but not at the top pool as it was a bit dark and gloomy there. 

We kept on then - will do the Upper Pool on the way back. Not much of a track but Steve was on the trail of the little triangles hanging in the trees.

Reached the Longhole section. Kept walking up till we reached the rapids.

Kept going with the creek on one side and the spear grass trying to stab us as we walked.

We had to cross a smaller creek walking on the rocks around one end then across the small section where the water was flowing.

Back in the grass again. Then rocky hills appear.

Pretty flowers but they have spiky bits.

Up and down and then onto flat rocks. Looking back through the trees at the top of Longhole pool.

I just have to keep that bloke in front in sight.

At last we reached Sweetwater Pool. It took us 1.5 hours. Very big and nice looking but it is still and looking at the weeds below it doesn’t look inviting for a swim. I like to see the bottom and what is around me.

There is a camping area around here somewhere with a toilet and an emergency phone. We followed the track for a bit through the grass and Steve could see something further up on the hill.

We decided to go back to the rapids for a dip. Checked the top side. Nice view downstream.

Walked to the bottom side and Steve found a great spot with a tree to hang my sweaty shirt and pants on. He got in with his shirt as it was dripping wet any case. The water was cool and the ground sandy and with the water rushing over the rock it was heavenly.

Further along Steve found a flat rock that we could both sit on. So relaxing. There were lots of little fish but they didn’t nibble us which was good.

Back to the turn off to head to the Upper Pool.

Wider track and proper steps as this is the loop track around from the campground.

First the lookout - over the waterfall we saw then the bridge we stood on.

Down the steps to the Upper Pool area. Looking across to the boardwalk to get to the other side.

The falls come into view.

Over more rocks to the boardwalks with the water then rushing below us to head down to the bottom pool.

We could hear voices and realised people were swimming on the other side of the rock island. We couldn’t figure out how they got there.

As we had enjoyed our swim and it was nearly lunch and it is getting quite hot, we decided to keep going. Up the rocks for a great view down to the waterfall.

Kept on. Interesting tree - its bark is yellow.

More walk then another lookout to climb up to. Worth it though.

We are starting to tire as it is quite hot so dragging our feet a bit which is not good on these rocks.

Nearly back - we can see the campground. Nice view from the top of the hill.

Back down to the bottom pool.

Met a chap on the bridge who was most upset he couldn’t get in for a swim here.

Got back in time for a late lunch. A van has pulled in beside us and they have a Gecko on the back. They thought our geckos looked great. Chatted with them for a bit. They are just heading up to do the walk with two young girls just in their togs and shoes. Hope they go ok.

Spotted a balancing rock on our way out.

Back to the highway and north again. Across the Fergusson River (mentioned in We of NN book when it was flooded and she was taken across it using a flying fox) - hardly any water in it now. I am seeing things through different eyes while reading her book - how ever did they survive! She also spoke of the tall spear grass and after having walked through it today I can just imagine how she felt when the headed off through it all with no road to follow, just some tracks. Lots of tall grass here as we head north with salmon gums and wide & tall ant hills.

Turned off into the township of Pine Creek - very quiet here. Drove up to the Mine Lookout - bit of a steep climb up but the truck handled it well. Had a cuppa and read all about the mine and how they filled the hole with water. Bit of a discrepancy in their signs - one says they got 764000 oz and the other one only 64000 oz for the 10 year period. Bit of a difference.

It took 14 months to fill. I wonder how long the Super Pit at Kalgoorlie will take when they decide to finish with it. 

Up the slope a bit was two platforms covering rectangular pits. Not sure if they were apart of the mine or just for display.

No one about in town so we parked at the outdoor museum, Miner’s Park, and read about all the machinery. It was very well done.

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Old water well.

More info about the different minerals they have found over time around this area.

This was an Employee’s residence. The station master’s house was where the brick wells are in the machinery display.

Mango tree.

Checked out the railway area. The station was also the Post Office from 1889-1946.

There was info on the boards beside the trains but we couldn’t get in to read it. A few more boards along the track.

Followed the path along the grassy area - lots of interesting information presented on tiles.

Heard the familiar screech and looked up to see heaps of flying foxes hanging in the trees.

The lithium batteries haven’t come back up after a few days in the shade and the 12 volt fridge going most of the time trying to keep cook in this heat and not much travelling so we decided to stay at Pussycat Flats Campground just out of town on the road to Kakadu National Park. It is the old horse racing track and Bruce the caretaker was there to help us. Nice green grass and we plugged into power to make sure nothing was going wrong with the batteries.

Susan and Ross rang as we were heading in as they saw I had put up posts on Facebook. Ross wanted to ask Steve about hot water systems for his van and then Susan and I had a lovely chat.

Set up camp overlooking the racecourse with the Par 1 mound behind us.

Wandered around checking out the place. Some interesting items in the bar area.

Steve won by a nose! Nice wide track.

There was one other camper in the non-powered area on the other side. Bruce gave us a huge bundle of snake beans that he is growing.

Huge ant hills here. Bruce said there might be some brumbys wander in tonight.

I noticed Russell had put up a post that they are in quarantine again but this time they have Covid. I gave Valerie a call to see how they are faring - not too bad which is good news.

The bugs arrived again on dusk but we had a few things to do on the phone and laptop so battled on till they won and we turned off all the lights. I stood outside for a while having a cuppa but they got me there in the dark too. It was worth it though as the sky was so clear and the milky way was so full of stars it was spectacular. I thought a few stars were falling but it was a heap of fire-flies zooming around me.

We gave up and went to bed. Susan had mentioned that she noticed people pulled up their blinds early on their vans - maybe to stop the bugs getting through the mesh. Will try that tonight if they are bad again.