After an eight hour drive from Devils Marbles to Mataranka (as much as Sydney to Yamba!) we camped at the Mataranka Homestead. This was against the advice of Trip Adviser who said NOT to stay at Mataranka at all as all the accommodation was lousy (sometimes they get it so wrong). Sure the amenities need an upgrade but the springs were part of the camp site in Elsey NP. They are the nicest part of the springs and only a 2 minute walk from our camp site. They made the visit worthwhile.
Since crossing the Tropic of Capricorn after Alice Springs, its been approx 34 degrees c and 89% humidity. Hot and humid. As soon as we camped, the kids jumped into the springs at late sunset. It was nice walking through the jungle (LEDs lighting the way) and being the only ones to swim in the springs. It was a bit like a bath but the kids thought it was cool (sic).
Another storm over night.
A movie based on Jeannie Gunn's classic " We of the Never Never", was shot around Mataranka in the early 1980s. A replica of the Old Elsey Homestead was erected for the film and is still here at Mataranka. The Elsey cattle station was established in 1879 by Abraham Wallace. After his death Aeneas and Jeanie Gunn managed the property for a year until Aeneas died of malarial dysentery. Jeanie left Elsey and returned south but the memories of the Territory stayed with her and are immortalised in the novel. All very tragic.
The homestead has two rooms and a few outfits from the film's character of Jeanie were on display - high necked, cream lace, Victorian dresses. The women must have sweated and dreded the itchy suffocating lace in these humid temperatures.
Onto Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge.
There was a python living in and around the springs when we first visited. Created havoc. Harmless but...
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