As we didn’t hear back from the fishing guys at Col’s work, we decided to spend the day exploring Litchfield instead. We left at 8.30am and drove via McDonalds for brekkie (of course) and then headed to Blyth Homestead in Litchfield Park. If you want to feel like a millionaire and never complain about your life again, go here! The pioneer families did it seriously tough. This was not a homestead but more like a humpy. In the middle of absolutely nowhere. It was 36C and humid with many water crossings to get to the place and the water crossings had Salties in them. It was a great 4WD track in, but I must admit I got a little scared with the long and deep water crossings, knowing there were salt water crocs swimming around. If we got stuck there was no way that I was getting out of the car!!! We had no coverage so couldn’t call anyone. Luckily we saw that the Rangers drive around pretty regurlarly and check the area. Also luckily, we didn’t need any assistance after all.  Col put the GoPro on the front of the FJ and we got some good video footage. He will put together the video, but I managed to grab some stills out of the footage to give you an idea.
When we got there we learned that it was only the kids of the family that stayed there and worked the tin mine nearby. One 9 year old kid had to cook for their other 7 siblings. They had farm jobs and it was hot and tough. I felt bad that I was complaining about not having air conditioning in our van after seeing what these kids lived through. Using dynamite to blow up the tin mine and crawl down into the shaft to dig out the heavy Iron. Cart it up to then wash it and crush it. Then sleep in a tin shed with a dirt floor (no air-con). LUXURY….
It was great that they had a photo album with some of the stories of the kids that had lived here. It really made the visit personal and helped you to appreciate the tough times that they survived. Definitely worth a visit if you have a 4WD with a snorkel.
Seriously, made me realise just how good we have it. It was a great drive in, some interesting 4WD expereiences with water crossings and many mud puddles and a beautiful landscape. Col also used the opportunity to fly his new drone and test the tracking.
We then went to Florence Falls and Col went for a swim but I sat on the edge of the pool watching the fish. It was seriously packed full of people and it just ruins it honestly. I know we were some of the people packing the place. It should be a natural, peaceful, beauty but it is a crawling tourist metropolis. I don’t like it. The place itself is really beautiful but I couldn’t go swimming with 50 other people, a blow up row boat and a blow up donut. So I just sat and watched instead and tried to imagine being there if the place was empty.
It is a relatively short walk from the car park to the falls, with about 150 stairs to contend with. Well worth the effort and a beautiful walk in.
We stopped to check out the Magnetic Termite mounds on the way out. These termites are interesting as they build their termite mounds from East to West facing so they have minimal sun shining on the face of the mound. The interesting bit is they are blind, so they don’t use the path of the sun to build in this direction, they apparently have a built in compass where they know North and South. This was tested by putting stronger magnets near the termites and it confused them and they modified the direction of the mound building accordingly. I thought that was a really interesting fact.
Col admiring a Cathedral Termite Mound.
The day was fairly hot and humid, 35C and over cast. We were standing and looking at the termite mounds when the heavens opened and the rain started to fall quite heavily. It was amazing to watch the temperature guage in the car dropping from 35 to 28 in a matter of minutes. It was a nice relief. But still so surprising that it just suddenly dumps that much rain, so different to Adelaide!
BTW we did hear back from Col’s work mates during the day and they did go fishing. You don’t get much notice. Disappointed we missed out on the fishing trip, but we both enjoyed our day at Litchfield too.
Awesome blog, photos, narrative. Thanks xxx
I have seen many photos of tge water hoke swimming pools abbd everyone i know that has been there said the same as you ,to crowded
Definitely worth going as they are breath taking, but just be prepared for the crowds!
Yeah you’re having outback adventures again !! Great blog up date and photos thank you. Looks amazing. Mud driving looks fun, weather (humidity) outside not so good for the hair – not that it would make an impact on Col’s hair or rather lack of !
Amazing homestead and family story. Thanks for sharing. We are a very fortunate bunch and owe a lot to those that trail blazed.
Thanks Tania, it was a fantastic day.
You are right, Col never has a bad hair day!
Glad you liked the Homestead stories, I find them really interesting. I am really keen to go to the house in Mataranka, near Katherine, as they have built a replica of the house from ‘We of the Never Never’. It is on my list of things to do while we are in the NT. Just incredible what the Pioneers lived through. We are pretty soft these days!!
Great post Kris. Looks fantastic and Col would have been in his element with the 4WD. Good to see you both back to your adventures. We do definitely live a different life now – I struggle to get a 9 yo to help with the dishes lol xx
Thanks Son, you are right that Col was loving the 4WD stuff and also flying his new drone.
My days of wrestling with 9 year olds and dishes are now long gone! Now I have to do them on my own but that is way easier than coercing a 9 year old any day! xx
That made me laugh, our days are filled with slightly different stuff at the moment