12 – 14 June. 13474kms.
Koongurrukum, Mak Mak Marranungu, Werat & Warray Country.
We made it! That we weren’t able to be there when the Marinos side of the family had gathered to meet us in the Top End meant a day delay felt like a lifetime! So when it happened there were tears, laughter, squeals of delight, kiddy hugs and faux hugs from the adults. Alex was a day short of freedom day, and I was on day 4, so for now we would be social distancing, but this wouldn’t prevent the family reunion!
Our time in Litchfield was dreamy. The campsite at Florence Falls was perfect, such big sites that we could fit 3 capers into 2 sites, the facilities were great and just a short walk to numerous waterholes and swim spots. Best of all were the family times, 7 grown ups and 6 little cousins (just Andy missing – sending us messages from Pammi’s hospital bedside in Sydney). All in mealtimes, food prep, chatter, cousin chaos, setting up shop and selling wares to family members, group reading time on the swag. Campfires tended expertly by Dad, a late night focal point for catch ups on all things – politics, travels, life.
The swimming here was divine too. Florence Falls Plunge Pool just a 10min walk, passed some delicious green honey ants and down to a big luscious pool with a huge waterfall. Quite the destination, proximity to Darwin means there are people everywhere, we’re not used to it! A slightly longer walk to Buley Waterholes, an effort for 2 and 3 year olds, covid patients and 70 somethings, but we all got there! Basking in pools, jumping off rocks, feeling the cool rush of rapids on our shoulders. Snack time and Alex and I walked back to camp to grab the car and help the young and the infirm back;-) After lunch and some chill time we wandered back down to a previously spotted swing rope on the way to Buley for a creek side splash and beverage, Salvador making his rope swing debut with pool noodle tied around his waste.
The next morning was a final Litchfield hoorah with a drive and unexpectedly rocky bush walk, rewarded by a swim at the glorious Cascades, freshwater pools and falls, a few of us making the extra effort to a further waterhole where the falls hitting our backs were lusciously warm. Navigating and scaling slippery rocks continued to challenge our unwieldy group, but oh so worth it. The walk back was peppered with Salvador’s endless observations of nature, and once there, a carpark lunch spread and sights set on Nitmiluk / Katherine Gorge!
NB. Van’s luggage arrived via Qantas courier to Litchfield, sadly sans our replacement gas struts. Uh oh.
Florence Falls Campground & Plunge Pool
Buley Waterholes
Cascades
