we're up with the birds at hayes creek caravan park
our campervan one of quite a few nestled under the trees
one of the better caravan parks we have had - very pleasant
breakfast is bypassed in favour of getting an early departure
we hit the stuart highway again heading north to adelaide river
upon arrival we spot some roadside sunday morning markets
a few arts and crafts stalls - and a trailer offering frozen seafood
fresh is best - further up the road we take a left turn to batchelor
and get some advice at a visitors centre set up in a container
map in hand we then plunge on into litchfield national park
first stop is a site of multiple large and live termite mounds
a loud guide providing interesting details of the constructions
then onwards with a plan to head to the northern end of the park
another hot day and a yearning to find some more swimming pools
first stop is coopers creek and we gear up for a 30 minute hike
a single lane path follows the creek then up now familiar terrain
shale, boulders and gravel repeatedly traversed amongst the trees
it is hot - hats, sunglasses and sunscreen combining to protect us
arrival at the small but deep pool a relief and we take the plunge
the pool fed by a small waterfall and a few other tourists indulging
as is a metre long water monitor lizard - and click go the cameras
feeling good and a re-trace of our steps, into the van and head south
next stop - cascades - a promise of a series of pools and waterfalls
we elect to take the long path to the upper cascades - quite a trek
we get up quite high with some stunning views of litchfield park
the terrain, fauna and waterways explaining why it is a national park
it's quite hard going in the heat over the scarred and hostile terrain
but as we descend to the stream the lure of cool water is rewarding
in we go - the volume of water flowing does seem to be quite low
the width of the bed of the stream suggesting it copes with floods
and thus easy to imagine in the wet season it would be dangerous
but we are lucky - we can gently work our way down the rocks
several more pools found and entered then it's curtain falls
so named as the stream plunges over a long circular formation
it is possible to go behind the falling water from the pool below
more fun had and then we head further down the rainforest
stunningly beautiful scenery - so glad we came to this point
but wait - there's more - wangi falls - the most popular here
no trek involved so there's plenty of day tourists and campers
first job is to secure a parking spot requiring some argy-bargy
some people just not happy about sharing adjacent parking spots
when all sorted we take the short walk to the wangi falls proper
jaw-dropping - a huge pool fed by 2 x 100 metre plus waterfalls
very civilised steps and rail providing a very gentle entry point
but we resist - initially - there's a bottle of champers to be downed
a walk to a lookout point above the tree line in a tree house structure
down she goes (the plonk) and more pinch-me moments at this time
back we go - and in we go - a gentle swim across to the waterfalls
it's getting past sundown and there's a near full moon up in the sky
possibly explaining the decision to go not-fat dipping in this place
and it just does not get any better - especially under the largest fall
we work our way back and head back to the campervan for food
eaten out under the stars and full moon in this pristine place
sensational day - again - we are so, so lucky to be here...
