Mataranka Springs & Daly Waters (By Simon)

Leaving Kakadu we headed south and stopped for the night just outside Mataranka.

After a good night sleep only broken by a few road trains passing by we woke up early and headed into Mataranka and to Bitter Springs for a pre-breakfast swim. The springs are about 30 deg. C and flow through a natural, tree lined creek. We hopped in at one end and drifted along enjoying the warm, clear water.

After breakfast we jumped back in the car and continued to head south. At lunch time we pulled into Daly Waters pub and had an amazing Barra Burger. Em also signed a pair of her broken thongs and added them to the collection hanging from the ceiling.

We continued south pushing to make it to Karlu Karlu (Devil's Marbles) for the night. Stopping at Tennant Creek for fuel we all felt the dramatic change in temperature. For the past 2 months we had enjoyed hot days and warm nights but as we headed south and inland the temperature at night was certainly dropping.

As darkness fell we pulled into Karlu Karlu and camped beneath the silhouettes of the iconic "marbles".

Travel Log:

Kakadu toMataranka: 441 km
Mataranka to Karlu Karlu: 691 km

Total Trip: 14,910 km