Natures Architecture

Mataranka

We have spent several lovely days catching up with friends from Perth, WA, at Mataranka Hot Springs. We arrived on the 11th after driving down from Darwin and Ken and Cherie arrived on the 12th after coming across from Mt Isa/Camoweal area. We then spent time wallowing in the Hot Pools, catching up on news, enjoying the restaurant and live music and a drive around to Bitter Springs for a float along the river. All in all we had a great time relaxing and catching up.

(P:- Great to catch up with friends. Mataranka Homestead and Hot Springs are a favourite place and bring back great memories of the times I have flown in here by light plane with Friend’s Peter and Rad from WA. Road trips to places like this give a completely different perspective to flying – both great – How lucky am I / we to be able to do both!

We hit the road again, fuelled and fooded up for a few days “Off the beaten Track”. Following the Roper River from Mataranka we hit the narrow beef road for a few kilometres and then the gravel. A good solid gravel road that winds through scrub land, Savannah and along the river. Some good spots of Bull Dust sends dust flying, thankfully there are very few vehicles on the road and all are going in the opposite direction. In 250 kilometres we cross over 50 floodways. These varied from small shallow drains to large dips, creek crossings and open plains where water just flows over the road. It would be amazing to see in the wet. We spent our first night at Tomato Island Campground and watched several guys launch their dingys into the river. None were very positive about catching anything.

Next morning we continue heading south and stop for smoko at Thompson River Campground on the Thompson River. This was a gorgeous spot and we enjoyed viewing the river as we had our coffee and tea. At least here the fishermen had had some bites but nothing made it ashore. Heading further south we continue through ever changing country. Rocky tors, grass land, and burned off areas, spotting wild donkeys, horses, cattle and buffalo. We set up camp at Butterfly Falls, a lovely waterhole and a habitat for the Crow Butterfly, A neat little camp area and the only designated safe place to swim in Limmen Nat Park.

Limmen NP

Western Lost City

We are off to do a 4WD trip today from Butterfly Falls to the Western Lost City and return. This Lost City is a bit harder to get to. We have the gate code and are off just before 8am to beat the heat of the day. As we pass through the gate, we sign in and start the 28 kilometre route as it winds across Savannah lands, black soil plains, sandy stretches and through creek beds, over rocky knobs and past rapidly drying billabongs. It takes us about 90 minutes to make the trip. As we near our destination the Lost City comes into view and it is magnificent. As the last kilometres wind around the bases of these colourful rock columns we are amazed. Once parked we can walk around these towering spires and marvel at the various colours, shapes and sizes.

We flew over this area several years ago on one of our flying trips. From the air the spires look like a city with its towering skyscrapers, hence the name.

(P:- After flying over this area a few years back I promised myself I would drive back to explore at ground level. Of course the author was welcome to accompany me 🙂. Limmen Nat Park is one of Australia’s newer and lesser known Parks, established 2012. It is remote and noted to be one of Australia’s harder National Parks to access. The park is where the Nathan River Station was once, the old homestead and surrounding buildings now the Park Headquarters. Much evidence of the pastoral days is still there to see, stockyards, fences and station tracks. As for wildlife most we saw was introduced ( but still interesting to view). Herds of Donkeys, several Water Buffalo and we even saw 2 or 3 Wild “Scrubber” Bulls -massive and well aged ( from the station days) wandering around. When we stopped to take a photo they were off to the scrub. A park with basic facilities but we found most enjoyable and scenic).

Southern Lost City

Just half hours drive from our camp is the Southern Lost City. We have heard varying reports that this is the best one but we will see. The campground here was burnt out several years ago and not as many come in but we are here so we will do it.

Our initial thoughts were that they don’t look as impressive as the Western City, not as high or as colourful but as we start to walk the 2.5 kilometre walking trail we change our minds. Yes they are different but still impressive. Many are leaning over as if the wind came through and blew them all all in one direction. The walk winds between, around, through and above the columns giving us a close up look and taking us to the ridge line where we can look out across the valley at more outcrops of this type. Around every corner is another spectacular view. Even treated with communes of Crow Butterflies, flowering trees and plants to add to the beauty of this place.

(P:- the access road thru the Park is reasonably challenging and vehicles need to be well prepared. As is often the case I am approached for a screw or a bolt or some other hardware that has malfunctioned on a fellow travellers van or vehicle. “Phil’s Hardware” yet again gets the person out of trouble! I often think my Chev must have (invisible to me ) Hardware Store signs painted on it. Anyways it’s fun to be able to help out! The unfortunate part is the only currency offered is “free beer” in exchange and I don’t drink!