Thurs, 2nd June, 2022 Hidden Valley Holiday Park, Berrimah to Bush camp by Georges Creek (Robin Falls), south of Adelaide River, NT (Zebra Stone)

Had breakfast - cloudy again. We put the roof down so Steve could put the new solar panel on. All good except one of the old cables had corroded or something so he will have to get another joiner from Jaycar on our way south.

I paid our bill and thanked the van park’s staff for all their help. Other neighbours popped in to say goodbye. Some are heading to WA so we might bump into them again.

Loaded the camper on and moved off-site so they could mow the lawn and water before the next people arrived. We parked beside Rod and Christine’s. Christine had made us cappuccinos so I took over some date slice and anzacs. Exchanged ‘travel’ cards and hope we see them on the road again one day.

On the road again at last - heading south on the Stuart Highway. Turned off into Batchelor and stopped for lunch at a lovely big park. Lots of huge trees but one was full of squealing flying foxes so it was a bit noisy. Malcolm had texted so Steve rang him back - freezing down there.

Continued along the road toward Litchfield NP, over the Finniss River and into the Zebra Stone place. Kim & Ruth and their daughter Opal, mine the stone. Erica had given me a piece from when the visited the mine years ago. They have set up here now and offer their famous fish and chips and camping too. Fabulous tables outside. The gallery is free to wander around and there is heaps of zebra stones, crystals and jewellery for sale too. Amazing colours and patterns.

We headed back then turned off to check out Rum Jungle Lake. Down a dirt road to South Lake Reserve. Not very nice but we spotted fish in the water so it can’t be contaminated from the uranium mining.

Lots of lovely big trees. Not sure what they are.

No info here other than one stating ‘rehabilitated mine site’ but there was a stone with memorial plaques for the Litchfield family.

Back into Batchelor where we stopped to check out a castle that has been built on a rocky outcrop. Sad to see it isn’t being maintained now the chap has passed on. Amazing to read about the real one and how they killed all the people who dug the tunnel so no-one would find out about it.

Heading out I spotted a big rock with plaques so got Steve to stop - good lad he is. There was a history walk plaque too.

Back to the Stuart Highway and south to Adelaide River where we stopped for a cuppa.

For the last time - we hope, we headed down to George Creek and Robin Falls for the night. Chose a different spot. Another Qld ute was nearby so we parked back from the water but we will sit there for our drinks and watch the fish. As I was taking photos I spotted a small water monitor pop up for a look then went back down and along the rock wall that keeps the water in the pool here.

We had picked up a new cable for the solar panel in Palmerston so while the roof was down Steve climbed up and fixed it while I wrote up my blog.

Drinks by the water listening to the water bubble over the rock wall and the few birds flittering about.

Chatted with the young couple near us. They are originally from Lismore and have just moved up to Townsville then decided to do a Lap of Australia.