Edith Falls to Litchfield National Park

From Mataranka we went to Katherine for 3 days for rest and relaxation, stocking up etc .Had several tries at locating Gouldian Finches with absolutely no success.  Seems I am doomed to never find them although the experts tell me there are plenty of them around these days.  Next stop was spent at the magic spot of Edith Falls.  Birdwatching, walking, swimming and relaxing.  The Northern Territory National Parks do a great job with their camp areas.  The Leliyn Loop walk was especially scenic and the plunge pool under the falls is magnificent. About 150 metres in diameter with the falls roaring down through a cleft in the surrounding cliffs.  The rest of the pool is surrounded by tropical vegetation, pandanus and paperbarks etc. Most appealing.
Douglas Daly River area was next on the itinerary and it was also an exceptionally pleasant spot to spend a couple of days.  More swimming, but in their pool as, apparently, crocs are no longer culled so the swimming hole at the Arches is no longer recommended (unless one is a real risk taker). The Arches is an area of the Douglas Daly river that pours through a narrow sleft in the rocks and empities into a lovely pool.  We spent several sessions there birdwatching.with not a croc in sight.  The  35 km drive down to Oolloo Crossing on the Daly river passes through an interesting agricultural area where  there are large melon farms, huger sandalwood plantations and also a plantation of turpentine trees.  The Daly river was clear and fast and deep and it seemed to us that it would be a foolish thing to take the Toyota across the causeway.
Next stop Litchfield National Park.  The first afternoon we visited the magnetic termite mounds and were disappointed to discover that there is now a boardwalk that keeps the public well back.  At Florence Falls we just viewed them  from the Lookout as it was far too hot to climb down 135 steps. However, Buley Rock Holes provided an excellent refreshing swimming stop.
The next day we bumped into the Lost City which was well worth the trip early in the morning, then walked down to the Lookout over the very high Tolmer Falls, before ending up at Wangi Falls in time for lunch.  Bought a nice fresh egg and lettuce wholemeal sandwich to share and an absolutely delicious large slice of home made apple shortcake and cream. Spent the afternoon swimming in the plunge pool.  Cool fresh clean water at a perfect neck high depth almost the whole way across the pool to the waterfalls.  A very pretty spot very similar to Edith Falls.
Yesterday morning , the 8th July, we moved the van to a spot in the van park where the proprietors were happy for us to leave it while we flew to Sydney for 6 days to spend time with the families, in particular for Angela's 50th birthday celebrations.  Only an hour and a half to Darwin.  Lunched in the city centre and had a stroll and drive around before heading to the airport.  Darwin is a most attractive city, good public buildings and plenty of tropical vegetation.  Took off at 3.30 pm and landed in Brisbane about 8.00 pm.  Had time to grab some chicken casserole and rice, which was rather tasty, fortunately, as the minimal food offered on the plane was disgusting and we were starving

Edith Falls

Views of the Leliyn Loop Walk

Turkey Bush in flower everywhere

.  Arrived in Sydney at 10.30 pm after being given only a snack of a tiny piece of cheese and 4 tiny dry bits of cardboardlike biscuits to eat.  The worst plane food we have ever encountered.  Bed, at last, about 11.30 pm.