Kids jumping off the rocks at Buley Rock Pools
Tjaynera Falls (Strick's and my favourite)
River crossing to get into Tjaynera Falls and Blyth Homestead
Wangi Falls
Cascades
Florence
Walker Creek
Tolmer Falls
Buley Rock Pools
Well after leaving Darwin we travelled about 80km to a little park called Tumbling Waters Holiday Park. We were booked in here to stay for 2 nights, but when we arrived we had a really nice spacious spot that was shady and grassy so decided to stay here for an extra 3 (total of 5 nights) and just complete day trips into Litchfield from here.
Due to us being on the go we took this opportunity to relax for a few days and the car actually didn't move. Tumbling Waters has it's own café, bar and restaurant. Saturday the kids caught up with some diary entries and had a chill. They had an opportunity to feed some fresh water crocodiles some chicken, without success as it is too cold for the crocs. Louise even had her chicken wing land on one of their jaws and it didn't flinch. The Saturday night the park had a starlight movie which was Charlie and Boots which the kids loved with both Jacob and Lou having a good chuckle. Hannah decided she was tired so her and I missed the end of the movie (I am determined to hire the movie to see the end). The kids did enjoy at the start of it recognising some of the towns they had also visited. Now everytime I go to give them information about where we are going I am being called Boots. For those who have watched the movie you will understand.
Sunday again there wasn't much on with the park having a little market in their restaurant gardens so we all went down and had a look and a drink in the café. They also had someone from the Territory Wildlife Park (that is only 8 km down the road) bring in a blue tongue lizard for the kids to have a hold and ask questions. Of course our kids took this opportunity and enjoyed it. Kids caught up on some more diary writing and they explored the park pool (annoying some of the grey nomads who were wanting to relax in the pool). We were booked in for tea that night for a Sunday Roast in the parks restaurant ($15 for adults and $8 for kids) it was a bargain and with a good feed of Vegies well required.
Monday we were up early to head into Litchfield NP to explore. We went in and started on the West side of Litchfield and went down to the bottom to hope to see Blyth Homestead. We encountered our first river crossing and was required to complete another. Unfortunately the second crossing was more sandy and with Strick feeling a little unsure (as we were on our own) we decided to turn around and go on to explore Tjaynera Falls. This involved a 3.4km return walk into the falls. We found only one other family in there swimming and originally not planning to swim we all snuck behind some rocks to change into our bathers. We all managed to swim out to the falls. We then had to walk back.
The next stop in Litchfield NP was Wangi falls. Where we also put some hot dogs on the butane burner. This was easier access than the first, but also had alot more people we had to share the water with. The kids and I swam out to the falls and sat up on a rock where mum then took a photo of us. We had had enough of all the people so decided to move on.
The next stop on the Litchfield NP line was the Cascades. This also involved a 3.4km return walk. This was classed as difficult with a challenging walk in with a number of river crossings and needing to climb over a number of rocks. We discovered a number of very awesome rock pools and cascades. We shared this spot with only one other couple. This was another great spot we would recommend. We had to head out as mum went back and swam at Wangi while we were in here and had said we will be out by 5.
Due to the time, we finished the day by heading home. The kids (especially Hannah) had done a fantastic job walking a total of 6.8km for the day (& that was just for 2 of the falls) and carried their own backpack with water and their towels. Needless to say they slept very well that night.
Tuesday saw us have our 2nd day in Litchfield NP and this time we entered going via Batchelor. Looking around Batchelor we found a miniature replica of a castle. The girls were excited so of course we stopped for some photos.
We moved on with our first stop being Florence falls. Although it was nice there were alot of people and we were a little disappointed with the number of rocks we had to climb over to enjoy it. We still swam over to get under the falls as I was determined where possible we would swim out to each of the falls. Once we achieved this we decided to move on. Our next stop was supposed to be Buley rockhole. But with the number of people we decided to move on and come back later (this proved to be a wise decision).
We went back around to the west side to Walker Creek which was one area we missed the day before due to time. On the way we called in at Tolmer falls. These were one falls that you couldn't get to base of due to protected species of bats. We had a quick look and continued to move on.
Walker Creek involved a walk of about 3.5km return, but we found a beautiful little swim hole that we ended up having to ourselves. There was a small fall with a little spa pool under it that when you sat under it you got a great back massage. It also had a swim hole that was deep enough for the kids to jump off. Strick was teaching them to do bombs so the competition was on. Unfortunately it was time to move on and revisit Buley.
Buley was fantastic there were alot less people than earlier in the day. Again we found a deep pool where the kids were jumping off rocks. The current in this part was quite strong. The kids had a great time and it was hard to get them out.
We then left to head back to camp where we again cooked tea in the dark.
The kids had ranked the falls and this kept changing each time we went to a new one.
Their final ranking was:
1. Buley
2. Walkers Creek
3. Tjaynera
4. Cascades
5. Wangi
6. Florence.
Strick and Kylie's ranking:
1. Tjaynera
2. Walkers Creek
3. Buley
4. Cascades
5. Wangi
6. Florence
The best achievement was that we swam in every possible swim spot in Litchfield and enjoyed every minute.
Due to us being on the go we took this opportunity to relax for a few days and the car actually didn't move. Tumbling Waters has it's own café, bar and restaurant. Saturday the kids caught up with some diary entries and had a chill. They had an opportunity to feed some fresh water crocodiles some chicken, without success as it is too cold for the crocs. Louise even had her chicken wing land on one of their jaws and it didn't flinch. The Saturday night the park had a starlight movie which was Charlie and Boots which the kids loved with both Jacob and Lou having a good chuckle. Hannah decided she was tired so her and I missed the end of the movie (I am determined to hire the movie to see the end). The kids did enjoy at the start of it recognising some of the towns they had also visited. Now everytime I go to give them information about where we are going I am being called Boots. For those who have watched the movie you will understand.
Sunday again there wasn't much on with the park having a little market in their restaurant gardens so we all went down and had a look and a drink in the café. They also had someone from the Territory Wildlife Park (that is only 8 km down the road) bring in a blue tongue lizard for the kids to have a hold and ask questions. Of course our kids took this opportunity and enjoyed it. Kids caught up on some more diary writing and they explored the park pool (annoying some of the grey nomads who were wanting to relax in the pool). We were booked in for tea that night for a Sunday Roast in the parks restaurant ($15 for adults and $8 for kids) it was a bargain and with a good feed of Vegies well required.
Monday we were up early to head into Litchfield NP to explore. We went in and started on the West side of Litchfield and went down to the bottom to hope to see Blyth Homestead. We encountered our first river crossing and was required to complete another. Unfortunately the second crossing was more sandy and with Strick feeling a little unsure (as we were on our own) we decided to turn around and go on to explore Tjaynera Falls. This involved a 3.4km return walk into the falls. We found only one other family in there swimming and originally not planning to swim we all snuck behind some rocks to change into our bathers. We all managed to swim out to the falls. We then had to walk back.
The next stop in Litchfield NP was Wangi falls. Where we also put some hot dogs on the butane burner. This was easier access than the first, but also had alot more people we had to share the water with. The kids and I swam out to the falls and sat up on a rock where mum then took a photo of us. We had had enough of all the people so decided to move on.
The next stop on the Litchfield NP line was the Cascades. This also involved a 3.4km return walk. This was classed as difficult with a challenging walk in with a number of river crossings and needing to climb over a number of rocks. We discovered a number of very awesome rock pools and cascades. We shared this spot with only one other couple. This was another great spot we would recommend. We had to head out as mum went back and swam at Wangi while we were in here and had said we will be out by 5.
Due to the time, we finished the day by heading home. The kids (especially Hannah) had done a fantastic job walking a total of 6.8km for the day (& that was just for 2 of the falls) and carried their own backpack with water and their towels. Needless to say they slept very well that night.
Tuesday saw us have our 2nd day in Litchfield NP and this time we entered going via Batchelor. Looking around Batchelor we found a miniature replica of a castle. The girls were excited so of course we stopped for some photos.
We moved on with our first stop being Florence falls. Although it was nice there were alot of people and we were a little disappointed with the number of rocks we had to climb over to enjoy it. We still swam over to get under the falls as I was determined where possible we would swim out to each of the falls. Once we achieved this we decided to move on. Our next stop was supposed to be Buley rockhole. But with the number of people we decided to move on and come back later (this proved to be a wise decision).
We went back around to the west side to Walker Creek which was one area we missed the day before due to time. On the way we called in at Tolmer falls. These were one falls that you couldn't get to base of due to protected species of bats. We had a quick look and continued to move on.
Walker Creek involved a walk of about 3.5km return, but we found a beautiful little swim hole that we ended up having to ourselves. There was a small fall with a little spa pool under it that when you sat under it you got a great back massage. It also had a swim hole that was deep enough for the kids to jump off. Strick was teaching them to do bombs so the competition was on. Unfortunately it was time to move on and revisit Buley.
Buley was fantastic there were alot less people than earlier in the day. Again we found a deep pool where the kids were jumping off rocks. The current in this part was quite strong. The kids had a great time and it was hard to get them out.
We then left to head back to camp where we again cooked tea in the dark.
The kids had ranked the falls and this kept changing each time we went to a new one.
Their final ranking was:
1. Buley
2. Walkers Creek
3. Tjaynera
4. Cascades
5. Wangi
6. Florence.
Strick and Kylie's ranking:
1. Tjaynera
2. Walkers Creek
3. Buley
4. Cascades
5. Wangi
6. Florence
The best achievement was that we swam in every possible swim spot in Litchfield and enjoyed every minute.
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