Daly Waters to Edith Falls

Had a low key night drinking and playing pool at Daly Waters Pub before packing up and heading north this morning.  We stopped off at Mataranka Homestead; where the book We of the Never Never is set.  Never heard of it myself and after poking around the replicated homestead, it seems there is good reason.  Something about a woman making it in the bush.  Yawn.  The real reason for the for our visit was to take a dip in the thermal pool.  The pool is filled from Rainbow spring with lukewarm water (34C) at a rate of 30.5 million liters per day.  Citation not known, just trust me.

The springs were a welcome relief after a bit of driving.  To prevent erosion and increase ease of access for the oldies the edges of the pool have been cemented.  Not the most natural of places but pleasant enough and free.

From there we headed north to Katherine, after a brief stop over for supplies we set up camp at Leliyn (Edith Falls).  We took a short hike to an awesome little water fall and swimming hole.  Along the way I managed to destroy a flip flop and walked most of it bare foot.  A little unnerving to swim in as it is very deep and we are in crocodile territory, but we made it back in one piece.