Darwin (Litchfield National Park)

After Fogg Dam, we headed off to Litchfield National Park. It didn't seem like a long way on the map, but it was certainly long when driving. We drove back from Arnhem to the split at Stuart Highway, and then to the turnoff from Stuart to Batchelor Town. Batchelor is a very sleepy and peaceful town ... looks like time left it behind for us to savour. We drove around looking for the Visitor Info Centre. Found it unmanned opposite the town centre - a sign says to help ourselves to the brochures. Then we thought we'd head off to the town centre which isn't really much to talk about as the photos show. There was a general store there but nothing much. It was a good thing we bought our stuff at Coles before we came here. You can grab a bite at the neighbouring shop - fish n chips, I think.

The big signboard/map just before Batchelor

Lots of accommodation to choose from

Quiet lonely streets all over

Almost missed the Town Centre sign - so inconspicuous!

Visitor Information Centre at Batchelor - good!

Love the ancient gas pumps

So we headed off, excitedly, for our first destination, the Magnetic Termite Mounds. 18km seems like such a short distance on the map, but it isn't. Guess I'm not used to the distances here. When we finally reached the Termite Mounds, we were quite sorely disappointed. First, I think we went there at the wrong time - almost noon...and it was hot, hot, hot!! The joke was that this was the best part (as rain would have been worse), and given what came next. Only 2 mounds are open to the public...TWO!! And they're really old, maybe even dead? I think the termites fled or died long long ago. I would if I were them - can you imagine your home being molested and photographed by thousands of tourists every year? I thought we could come up close and personal with many other mounds ... man, was I ever so wrong!!

There is a boardwalk around a shelter with some information inside. You walk along the boardwalk and try to make out the hundreds of mounds out there, far away. You squint in the sunlight, and that's all you do. You can't walk out to them as it is out-of-bounds. So we travelled all this distance to see 2 mounds and squint at the hundreds more that look really like ant mounds because they look so small. It's not polite but I can't help agreeing with one lady there who told her boyfriend it was a waste of time. My research failed miserably!

On hindsight, I should have reached there early morning or late afternoon. It wouldn't have been so hot and we could have spent more time there. Bring along your bino for a good look. The flies there bite - so be forewarned. There are also numerous termite mounds as you drive around - I think they are more authentic, although not as big as the Cathedral. I regretted not stopping to check them out. Wonder if there is any Australian law against doing that?

Good signages all over

The distances

Must take photo!! And so hot, hot hot!!

The first termite mound open to public

The scene from the boardwalk - you can't wander off from here.
So what can you see?

Need zoom lens to zoom to this distance

The second so-called Cathedral Termite Mound
open to public

Toilets there look like this one at the Termite Mounds

And since we were already at Litchfield, might as well see some of the rest of the attractions. So we drove on and came upon Buley Rockhole. What's a rockhole? A rock in a hole or a hole in a rock? It's a small stream - I'm not the water kind but I guess many Aussies are so they'll enjoy soaking in the water. We just walked around, came upon a local inhabitant looking for lunch and then went on our way as it started to drizzle.

Signboard for ignorants

Hungry water monitor looking for lunch

Excited waiters and waitresses

Not exactly our cup of tea but they like it

Next on the list, Florence Falls. Lady Rain, not Luck, was with us and it started to pour. We hibernated in the carpark for 20 min but the rain got heavier. And that signalled the end of our Litchfield trip ... truly unimaginative trip. The drive back was bad as visibility was very poor because of the heavy rain. Haven't driven in such wet conditions for a long, long time. My sympathies to those who drove out 2 hours from Darwin to see the Termite Mounds on this the late afternoon.

My take on Litchfield - very generally speaking, Asians are kind of different from Aussies and their perspective of the outdoors couldn't be more different. So Litchfield, and Darwin in general, will appeal to those who are fond of the outdoors. The shopping kind, typical of many Singaporeans, will not be so thrilled with the attractions in and around Darwin. Distances between attractions can be quite far apart by SG standards, eg driving to and from Tuas to Changi just to see a waterfall may not be so appealing. If like me, you find that part of the fun is in the getting there and not the reaching there, then perhaps it might be more worthwhile. If you like checking out the little towns as part of the "getting there" (we like doing that), then make more allowances in your planning so that your trip will be more leisurely.