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Day 29. Today we headed 80km south to the small village of Batchelor on the edge of the Litchfield National Park. Originally established in 1911 as a Government Experimental Farm and in 1941 as a heavy duty airstrip for General MacArthur's B17 bombers. In 1949 it developed further to service the uranium mine of Rum Jungle, Batchelor is a green, leafy tidy little town. We checked into the Batchelor Tourist Park, a lovely grassy, shady place and shown a great site by very friendly Jim, the proprietor. After lunch we headed out to the National Park for the afternoon, about 60km to the major attractions. First stop beautiful Wangi Falls for a swim in the large waterhole, a little spoiled by the large number of boisterous school kids on tour and the many young European tourists in scant attire, a common feature at the Top End. Next stop Tolmer Falls, a really picturesque ribbon falls with a clear blue pool below. Walked the upper circuit along the creek, many small pools and cascades with ancient cycads. We then drove 10km on a rough dirt track with sections of bull dust into The Lost City and found the huge weathered sandstone columns absolutely spectacular to walk amongst. Next stop the spectacular Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole, cascading water down the Florence Creek. Last stop on our way back to Batchelor was to see the huge Magnetic Termite Mounds on sunset, reminded us of a large cemetery of headstones all facing North South. Dinner tonight home cooked spinach and pumpkin frittata. Drove 250km today, temperatures eased to 27 degrees, much more comfortable.
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