Day 2 - Litchfield National Park

Up and Out early, we climbed aboard a Tour Bus along with 54 total Strangers for a day packed full of Sightseeing..

Our morning made more mysterious as we drove through a thick layer of Fog and Smoke that had settled over a large area of the Top End.

Our first stop, a mere 109 km and 90 minutes of constant narration by the Driver. We stretched our legs and grabbed a Cuppa at the Banyan Tree Tourist Park and "Cafe".

Not much more than an Urn and a Tea Bag.
A good little source of income at "$5 for a Mug with A free refill".

And as many photos you wanted of the (rather underwhelming) Banyan Tree.

Next stop - Florence Falls.

We chose to walk the 1 km track along the crystal clear waters of Shady Creek

Climbing the 160 stairs to the lookout and view of the triple cascades.

While others took the easier 3 minute walk from the car park and an opportunity to cool off in the Plunge Pool at the base of the Falls.

20 km down the road and another Photo Op.
This time Tolmer Falls.

Being the Dry season (with an unusually dry wet season last year) there wasn't much water cascading over what is one of the Top End's most spectacular waterfalls.

(Swimming is not allowed here.)

35 deg C and a Total Fire Ban.  Someone lights yet another Fire.
This one jumped the road just up from where we stopped for lunch.  These fires never reach our news service 'down south' but they can be devastating with some grasses burning at 1000 deg C - you DO NOT want to get caught in that!

Turning our bus away from the smoke the next stop, and another chance to Cool down was at Wangi Falls with it's large pool and beautiful surrounds.

The Bus driver, very keen to give us LOTS of Photo ops also stopped so we could see the magnificent 50 year old Cathedral Termite Mounds.
These particular termites only eat Grass and rotting vegetation.

Magnetic termites who have totally different architecture  built their mounds across the road. All aligning North/South to minimise the exposure to the Sun during the hottest time of day.

The day is not quite over yet, as we turn and head back.  Our driver advises us that he will give us some Peace for an hour or so as he returns us to Darwin with just one more stop.

Howard Springs Nature Park has a healthy population of very large Barramundi (Fish) as well as a couple of Water Monitor Lizards, all with a taste for Whitebait and are well aware of when the Tour Bus arrives!

11 Hours and 384 km later, we were deposited safely back where we started.

To finish off the day - A beautiful meal, Ice cream in a Cone and a stroll through fragrant Frangipani Trees at Darwin Waterfront.





Tomorrow - another adventure awaits.