Goes With The Territory

 Northern Territory

August 9 to August 25, 2025

Welcome to the Territory where everything is big, vast, red and, in August, parched

Making way for some monster ore bodies on the Barkly Highway

Giant grasping goannas at Barkly Homestead made entirely
from recycled road signs and vehicle parts 

A spring-fed dam at Banka Bank Station, our first overnight stop in NT

Full moon rising over Banka Banka Station

The next night we were thinking to stay at Daly Waters Inn but quickly changed our minds when we saw the number of vans, the mounds of red dust and feverish activity  

We retraced our steps to the nearby Hi-Way Inn and found a patch of grass, a refreshing swim and a semblance of peace.

The curious thing is that 10 years ago we stopped at the Hi-Way Inn and voted it the worst stop in the entire two years on the road. In 2015 the amenities were filthy, the sites dust bowls and there was a 'dead' man beside the putrid green pool.  

Bonus points in 2025 for a free drink each and a free pool table

We did return to Daly Waters early the next day ... 

just to check it out before the crowds rolled in 

Interesting adornments and signage

Keg urinals to suit all ages and abilities

And a short stop at Larrimah and the Pink Panther Inn

Elsey National Park south of Katherine has always been a favourite stopover

Lots of crocodiles in the Roper River so we played it safe in the rapids

.... or on the banks and rocks

The thermal pool at Bitter Springs is sublime

Edith Falls in Nitmiluk NP is another favourite with gorgeous waterfalls and deep cold water holes

However, this time around Litchfield National Park was the winner!

Collecting firewood first

Then on to our camp site at Wangi Falls 

It's hot through the day - 30 plus - but cool at night

Top of Wangi Falls

A small plunge pool at Tjaetaba Falls after a beautiful walk through a monsoon forest

Florence Falls from the top

No one here?

Oh yes! The noodle doodles are here in force!

A bower bird building his nest next to our camp site

... and flashing his sexy pink spot to catch the attention of the girls

Lazy water monitors 

Lazy FAT water monitors

Not so lazy monitor

Magnetic Termite Mounds 

Jen and G in front of a Cathedral Termite Mound

A wee break in Darwin from the national parks

Via Dundee Beach, famous for its fishing and crocs

Darwin Port, currently under a 99 year lease to a Chinese company. Go figure

Darwin's WW II fuel storage tunnels.
Long story but another fine example of government and military ineptitude

Amazing street artist levitating at Mindil Beach Market
It's a clever trick

Chinese dragon in Darwin Botanical Gardens

Beautiful orchid although we were denied access to the shade house. 
The Botanic Gardens, like much in the NT, suffers from under funding and a lack of resources 

Crocs everywhere. Quite the NT icon
This sculpture in the Botanic Gardens

This one at the marina. Poor bunny

This one at the Lazy Lizard Hotel at Pine Creek, north of Katherine

Speaking of which.  After Darwin, we stopped in at The Lazy Lizard for a few days. 

A great pub. Cold beer, cold swimming pool and cool pool table 

Blue-faced honeyeaters coming in for a drink from a dripping tap

There's a queue. A Friarbird takes his turn

A little side trip to Gunlom Falls in Kakadu NP.
It's only just reopened after being closed for six years due to a dispute between the NPs and the Indigenous owners.

Stop the photos Jen!

Gunlom Falls is an infinity pool but was a little underwhelming

Not because of the view - which is stunning - but because of the lack of fresh water 
and the number of women baring their buttocks for that ultimate photo

The lower plunge pool shows how little water is flowing at this time of the year.
It was closed as salties had been spotted :(

Camouflage King or Queen

 Time to head towards Western Australia

So long Lazy Lizard Hotel 

Our last camp site in NT was at Victoria River

Gorgeous at dusk

Striking ancient sandstone escarpments line the Victoria Highway

Boab country

We stopped for lunch and some backpackers were telling us the sad story of hitting a 'roo that morning. Their windscreen was cracked and the driver's door wouldn't open. 
"I can fix the door," says G. And he did!
Tragically, the 'roo could not be fixed :(

And then we crossed the border into Western Australia. 

On we go .... 😀😀