227 kms / 9 ½ hrs (day drive) 255 kms / 3 ¼ hrs (night drive)

Edith Falls - Pine Creek (fuel + lunch) - Katherine (fuel, groceries, vote) - Bitter Springs (swim) - Mataranka thermal pool (swim) - Warloch Rest Area

Rog had a quick swim at Edith Falls this morning then we were on the road by 8:15am. We drove straight to Katherine and refuelled then did our biggest grocery shop. It was still a bit of a nightmare at the Woolworths there as they don't have enough people at the check outs and we got a really rude lady but it had to be done. We then went and voted so we now don't have to worry about where we are on the 7th.

We finally left Katherine and headed to Mataranka and Bitter Springs. We had a quick lunch and then headed to the beautiful thermal pool which is very natural with trees on either side and the water is very warm. There is also a slight current so the kids used their rings and we used their noodles and we all floated down about 200 metres then you climb out and walk back and do it all again. We loved it and kept going again and again for about 2 hours. We were all pretty tired and hungry after that so we had a quick snack and then drove the short distance to the Mataranka thermal pool. First we looked at the replica homestead from 'we of the never never' which also has contains some of the original costumes. It is similar to bitter springs but not as natural as they have concreted the edges and put seating around. It is a lot more crowded than bitter springs but it was still nice relaxing in the water as there is no current so really just like a swimming pool with warm water. We chatted to a few people that we keep bumping into and then after another 2 hours spent in the warm water we thought we better make tracks. We drove a short 37kms south of Mataranka to Warloch Rest Area where we are staying tonight.

As soon as we arrived a little Swedish girl came straight over to play with our kids. She was very cute and not shy at all. She was desperate to come in the caravan and play with the kids toys but instead I set-up a table outside so the kids could play the matching game. Her mother came over and asked if we had any gas that she could buy off us. I thought she meant butane gas so I was just about to get a cylinder for her when I realised she meant fuel. Rog was quick to say we didn't have any. The girl didn't want to leave our van when it was time for dinner, she kept wanting to come inside but we said that the kids had to eat and then go to bed. As soon as she went back to her car the family left straight away. We think they are like gypsies so we were very happy when they left. Rog was chatting to a few other campers and asked if they were asked for fuel and they hadn't been asked.

We could then eat our sausages in peace!

So at 9:30pm our night got very interesting.....our gypsy friends turned up again and parked right next to our caravan (I think if I put my arm out the window I would have been able to touch them) and had the headlights beaming straight into our caravan. Luckily, I had just started reading so when i heard their noisy car I quickly turned my light off and went around and closed all the windows. They spoke for a few minutes amongst themselves and then they left the campground again heading back towards Mataranka. Rog and I were freaked out as to why they stopped right on top of us (as the camp area was very spacious) so we decided at 10pm that we would leave the camp ground and drive further down the road incase they returned for a 3rd time. (There were four French girls also staying at the campground and they were sitting at a table talking and they thought it was very strange aswell and could understand why we would leave). So we put the two sleeping kids into the car and hit the road. We saw lots of kangaroos and rog spotted a snake on the road. There were a few close calls with kangaroo's but we didn't have to slam on the brakes so not that bad. We missed the sights that we were going to stop at the following day including Larrimah Zoo and Daly Water pub. The road was very quiet and we only saw about 2 trucks and 4 cars. The next rest area wasn't for a further 255 kms (and all the caravan parks along the way were closed due to it being the middle of the night!) which we pulled into newcastle waters rest area at 1am in the morning. We were both very tired once we got back into the caravan but felt a lot safer at the next rest area which had lots of caravans parked here.