Worth the trip in...just.
We nearly didn't make it in here. The reviews of the campsite all said that you had to get in early to get a site. It was 30kms of unsealed road of unknown quality and it would have been too much to drive in to find no space. We only arrived at the turn off at about 1530hrs, so we headed to the ranger station to see if we could find out about whether there was a spot and what the road was like. When we found the ranger/info station, neither of those questions were answered, as there was no one there! It was 35C so we had a little think in the shade.
In the end, the map and guide book folks said that it was one of their favourite parks in the top end, so we decided to give it a go. After all it was only 30kms. The road wasn't too bad, better than the one into Lawn Hill, and we arrived a little rattled around, to find that there were only two other camping parties in the whole camp! We did a lap to find the best site, and then did another one on foot to make sure we had some shade during at least some part of the day.
Our neighbours were very friendly, and invited us to share a campfire in the evening. The boys were impressed with this, as you can imagine, as there is nothing half so good as poking sticks into the fire. We sat around and ate dinner and Emma was inspired to make a damper, and just sat it on some coals, with some coals on top. It turned out a treat, with only a couple of bits of charcoal stuck to the outside to remind you that you were camping. Great work, Em.
The next morning, the idea was to do the 7km loop walk early, before it got too hot. Well...there was some significant resistance, and by the time we got going, it was starting to warm up literally and figuratively. Everyone was a little hot under the collar before we even got going! Once we were on the path, the irrits subsided a little and we were pleased to find that the southern part of the loop was quite shady. We wound our way around some amazing rock formations (very similar to the Bungle Bungles - so they say!) until we arrived at a lovely alcove to have a shady rest. It was fun there, and the kids made the absolute most of the accoustic until Emma and I had had our fill. A little further on, we found some Aboriginal art*, and decided that having reached a point 3kms from camp and it was 11am, a little discretion was called for, and we took the shady road home rather than continuing on the rest of the loop. The lookout will be there next time...
The rest of the day was spent following the shade around (with schoolwork on our laps) until another campfire cooked meal of red curry veg and a great damper.
In the end, the map and guide book folks said that it was one of their favourite parks in the top end, so we decided to give it a go. After all it was only 30kms. The road wasn't too bad, better than the one into Lawn Hill, and we arrived a little rattled around, to find that there were only two other camping parties in the whole camp! We did a lap to find the best site, and then did another one on foot to make sure we had some shade during at least some part of the day.
Our neighbours were very friendly, and invited us to share a campfire in the evening. The boys were impressed with this, as you can imagine, as there is nothing half so good as poking sticks into the fire. We sat around and ate dinner and Emma was inspired to make a damper, and just sat it on some coals, with some coals on top. It turned out a treat, with only a couple of bits of charcoal stuck to the outside to remind you that you were camping. Great work, Em.
The next morning, the idea was to do the 7km loop walk early, before it got too hot. Well...there was some significant resistance, and by the time we got going, it was starting to warm up literally and figuratively. Everyone was a little hot under the collar before we even got going! Once we were on the path, the irrits subsided a little and we were pleased to find that the southern part of the loop was quite shady. We wound our way around some amazing rock formations (very similar to the Bungle Bungles - so they say!) until we arrived at a lovely alcove to have a shady rest. It was fun there, and the kids made the absolute most of the accoustic until Emma and I had had our fill. A little further on, we found some Aboriginal art*, and decided that having reached a point 3kms from camp and it was 11am, a little discretion was called for, and we took the shady road home rather than continuing on the rest of the loop. The lookout will be there next time...
The rest of the day was spent following the shade around (with schoolwork on our laps) until another campfire cooked meal of red curry veg and a great damper.
The morning we were leaving, we made up a huge amount of carrot sticks and capsicum for morning tea and then gave away the small amount of fruit and veg remaining to those who were headed east. The quarantine station was only 4kms west of the national park on the highway. So we munched away and were just polishing off the last of our snack as we drove into the inspection bay.
The only caveat to this National Park is that there is nowhere to swim. Bit of a downer that in the extreme heat, but in the end, it was... worth the trip in.
*Emma's addit - the other caveat for me was that there was said to be a motherlode of indigenous art here. Turns out it's all fenced off now as a sacred site. Fair enough, if you ask me, having seen what some of the punters get up to, but I confess I was a little let down not to see it after having read about the some 2500 various paintings to behold.
The only caveat to this National Park is that there is nowhere to swim. Bit of a downer that in the extreme heat, but in the end, it was... worth the trip in.
*Emma's addit - the other caveat for me was that there was said to be a motherlode of indigenous art here. Turns out it's all fenced off now as a sacred site. Fair enough, if you ask me, having seen what some of the punters get up to, but I confess I was a little let down not to see it after having read about the some 2500 various paintings to behold.