We left Lorella Springs and jumped back on the Savannah Way. Stopped off at an amazing sandstone rock formation called the Southern Lost City, where weather and time had eroded the rock into a series of pillar-like structures. It was fascinating to walk around, and quite eerie. And damn hot, we have a knack of going on walks in the midday sun.

Back in the air-conditioned comfort of the Navvy, we made our way to our campsite for the night, on the banks of the Towns River. There was a large rock platform with a 3-foot sheer drop down to the water, Lee declared it croc-proof, so Lea begrudgingly agreed that we should camp right on the edge, to maximise our water views.

The next morning as Lee was ambling along the rocks, a flash of silver in the water caught his eye. Quick as a wink, he was back to camp and grabbing his fly rod, 30 minutes later he hooked up on a very nice queenie. Good start to the day!

We packed up camp and hit the road, that afternoon we hit the tar again, and there was much rejoicing to be had. Camped at Mataranka and Lee cooked up his morning's catch, it was so good even the locals wanted some (see photo).

Next morning we visited Bitter Springs, a natural thermal spring, relatively undeveloped. Its heaps of fun, you can hop in one end with your mask and snorkel on and drift with the current down to the other end, one hundred or so metres. Unfortunately, being the slackers that we are, we didn't get there 'til lunchtime, so all the fish had been scared away by the hordes of swimmers. Though Lea did manage to see a tortoise's butt as it scrambled into the weeds, she was very pleased.

Dried off then went to check out the Mataranka Homestead and their own more landscaped spring, as well as a replica of the homestead from We of the Never Never, which was based around this area. Shame neither of us had read the book.

Time to hit the road again, next stop Katherine.

L & L