Litchfield National Park - part 2

Wednesday 24th we did the tourist thing again and visited Blyth Homestead, Tjaynera Falls, Tolmer Falls Lookout, Tabletop Swamp and The Lost City (which isn't lost anymore because we found it!!!)

8 km of this above and below to Blyth Homestead

The historic Blyth Homestead is found within Litchfield National Park, and is also the location of an old tin mine, which is now in ruins. The homestead site serves as a reminder of the tough conditions faced by pioneers in remote areas.

Built by the Sargent Family in 1929, the homestead was abandoned in the early 1960s. It has recently been restored and an interpretive display presents the trials and tragedies of this remote site. 

Tjaynera Falls

The Lost City

The Lost City

Thursday 25th August we pulled out from the Wangi Falls Bush Campgrounds, called at the Florence Falls then on towards Katherine stopping in at the Adelaide River War Cemetery on the way.

Florence Falls

Adelaide River War Cemetery Entry

A total of 434 war graves marked by bronze plaques are contained in this cemetery. The burials are made up of 14 airmen of the RAF, 12 unidentified men of the British Merchant Navy; one soldier of the Canadian Army; 18 sailors, 181 soldiers and 201 airmen of the Australian Forces and seven men of the Australian Merchant Navy. The Northern Territory Memorial to the Missing honours a further 292 Servicemen and women lost to the north of Australia. The adjacent civil section contains the graves of the nine Post Office staff killed on 19 February 1942 during the bombing of Darwin, one of 63 separate occasions from that date. The civilian casualties of WW2 include those of 31 Indigenous Australians.

Graves of the nine Darwin Post Office staff killed in 1942 when Darwin was bombed. 

We arrived back at Deb and Russell's at 'Eagle Park' just in time for afternoon coffee!!!!

Litchfield National Park - part 1

Monday 22nd August we left Lee Point Caravan Park, Darwin and headed south to Litchfield National Park.  Stopped at Manton Dam for morning tea. Called in to the Termite Mounds, drove around the town of Batchelor before arriving at Wangi Falls Bush Camp at lunch time.   The Bush Camp near the Wangi Falls was a beautiful quiet place to stay and just a short walk from the Wangi Falls.
Next day we went to see the Cascades and The Bamboo Creek Tin Mine.

Magnetic Termite Mounds - built by thousands of termites - these mounds have a north/south orientation to control the temperature inside the mounds

Me in front of a Cathedral termite mound - gives an idea of the height of the mound

A frequent visitor out the back of our van at Wangi Bush Camp.

Wangi Falls and swimming pool

A section of the walking track to the Cascades

Beautiful gum blossom in the bush near the Cascades

Section of the Cascades

Bamboo Creek Tin Mine Ruins

Discovered around 1906, the Bamboo Creek Tin Mine provides an insight into the small scale mining activities of the era, and its ruins are a reminder of the park’s varied past. Some sections of the old buildings are still standing, and you can see remnants of equipment relating to ore extraction, processing, transport, an explosives magazine as well as domestic objects. Tin was mined at the site sporadically until it was abandoned in 1955.

Get Out of My Tree!!!

I was here first!!!!         ------            NO I WAS HERE FIRST!!!!!!!

Supreme Court, Fannie Bay Goal, Houses of Government

After a few busy weeks of cleaning for David and I we both finished work on Wednesday 17th August.

  The next day Thursday Deb arrived in Darwin for a few days and needed a car and chauffeur - yippee!!! that's me!!!   After collecting Deb from Dee's we headed to Casuarina Square for coffee - met Julie and Joan.  Went to Palmerston with them and had lunch there.  Then Deb, Julie and I had avo coffee at Casuarina Square.  That night David and I went to the Mindil Markets again - and the sunset was different again.

Mindil Markets

Sunset at the Mindil Markets

Friday Deb walked to Spotlight so I collected her there then we visited Dragonfly Fabrics, Nightcliff  to check patchwork fabrics.   Don't laugh but it was me that bought fabric not Deb!!!!  (Now that's something eh!!!) Then we made our way to the Cool Spot, Fannie Bay, for smoko/lunch and Julie joined us too.  Then for coffee at the coffee club Casuarina with Julie and Joan.

At 3p.m. Deb, Julie, David and I went to the open Day at Government House.  It was great as you could go into all of the house (except their private apartment) and walk around all the gardens - the photos will tell the story. Had coffee and fresh scones in the courtyard of Government House. It  was a very enjoyable afternoon.   That night Deb, Russell, David and I went to the Darwin Wharf again for tea.

The Queen's Bedroom - Government House

Dining Table - Government House

Desert Rose - Government House

Front of Government House

 Cordyline Gardens - Government House

Heliconia 'Lobster Claw'

Standard Bougainvillea

'Tahitian' Red Ginger

'Beehive' ornamental ginger

Veranda - outside Queen's Bedroom

Julie on the front steps red carpet - Government House

Side veranda - Government House

Saturday morning we picked up Julie and went to see Fannie Bay Goal - Col, Dee, Deb and Russell were there too.  Smoko/lunch at the Cool Spot, Fannie Bay.   Then Julie, David and I went to the Supreme Court Open Day, then walked through Parliment House (their open day was the day before but we didn't go then). After we dropped Julie off to where she was staying David and I went to Casuarina Square for coffee with Bertie.

 Cell bathroom facilities - Fannie Bay Goal

Col in Solitary Confinement!!!!!

A shared cell 

Judge Julie - Supreme Court!!!!!

Court Room 6 - Supreme Court (this is the court room that the Murdock - Falconio trial was heard in)

Front Lawn of Parliament House

Parliament House Entrance

Parliament House Foyer

Front Lawn - Parliament House

View of a section of Darwin Waterfront from the walkway above the road

The walkway

So ended the last three very busy sightseeing days in Darwin for the 'Cruisin Aussies'.    
Goodbye Darwin - thank you for a great 5 1/2 weeks of perfect fine warm sunny weather - what a place to spend winter!!!!  (The coffee shops were great too)!!!