Hi from Mataranka. We left Daly Springs early yesterday morning and with only a lazy 150 km to travel were in Mataranka before lunch!

We had decided to have breakfast on the road as this often adds a big chunk of time into our pack up in the mornings. Emily fell asleep in the car and we hadn't found a place to stop and eat when we drove through Larrimar and were lured by a sign advertising 'home made pies'. We stop at Panther Cafe and devour 3 yummy pies (pies are pretty much the only thing they sell) before grabbing one for the road. We then drive the 100 metres through the rest of town and see the other place to eat advertising the same. Seems pies are this towns thing! Funnily enough when we arrive in Mataranka all the boards advertise 'Home made scones!'

So we find ourselves a nice shady grassy spot in a campground, pitch the tent, have lunch and head over to watch the Barramundi feeding they have on site. William decides to give it a go and puts his hand in the water but they don't take his pilchard. They are very shy. So, Mark jumps down to feed them. It takes a while but eventually one heads to the surface and sucks it from his grasp! They are so quick!

We love the feel of this place, it has an outdoor camp kitchen, a great sandpit, wallabies and kangaroos at night and a funky wee bar and restaurant. There are lovely tall green trees and lots of different birds, parrots, kingfishers, kookaburras etc... Plus resident guinea fowl and peacocks.

When they turned the sprinklers on this morning William soaked himself running through them. One of the oldies told him that he would be in trouble with his Mum. I can tell you for a fact she enjoyed him doing it more than he did!

At night you can hear the cane toads and occasionally they make an appearance (such as when you're trying to charge your phone in the kitchen!) Best to take a torch with you when you walk around!

For morning tea we had some yummy homemade scones! Mark has taken William down to the bitter springs and Emily (who is a little bit poorly) is sleeping on my lap. The washing is on the line, hung out 1 hour ago and should be dry. The line is right on the edge of a dusty road and gets dust in it every time a vehicle drives by but this is the outback and dusty clothes are the norm! Time to read a magazine I think!