Mataranka Bitter Springs

Jen reminds me that we have gained half an hour since entering the Northern Territory. With driving the long distances over the last few days, we are into a habit of waking up early and hitting the road to make the most of the day. So half an hour extra is greatly appreciated as we will gain that at the other end.

DRIVE: Banka Banka Station NT to Mataranka (466km).

Heading north up the Stuart Hwy, we leave Banka Banka Station and the flies to make tracks to Makaranka. The journey is uneventful and as we make our final petrol stop at Elliott, we calculate just enough fuel in the tank to complete the remaining kilometres. Don’t worry, we have reserve fuel in the red jerry can on the back of the campervan so that we don’t end up remote, lost and forgotten like the car we passed on the way up (see pic).

There’s a strong head wind so fuel consumption is up and we are close to our limit. To break the journey, we adjust the speed of the car to maintain 2,000 revs and better fuel consumption and see if we can make it to Mataranka. I know, boring isn’t it but it kept us focussed and entertained for a while. I crawled in to Mataranka at 100km/hr with 30km of fuel to spare.

Another tactic to keep us alert and occupied is provided by the termite mounds and the creativity of travellers. Now we have passed thousands of termite mounds on our travels through red country. You can see them on the side of the highway in all shapes and sizes looking like proud statues or knights on a chessboard.

One day, someone was passing and decided to stop and dress a termite mound with a tee shirt. From that day on there was a tipping point, the idea caught on and literally everyone is getting their kit off and dressing up the mounds. As far as the eye can see we view termite mounds dressed in tee shirts, undies, knickers, bras and hats. One was even dressed up with a full miners outfit on.

It’s fun but I am too precious with my t shirts to sacrifice one...

CAMP: Mataranka Cabins and Camping. 1 Night.

Arriving at Mataranka on midday, we set up camp and head to Bitter Springs about 1km away. It’s an amazing place, a freshwater spring oasis in the middle of outback Australia with lush palms, tropical plants and exotic lillies floating on the bright clear aqua water. It’s totally FREE and a paradise on earth.

The spring has been created from cracks in the rock formations below which holds the Great Artesian Basin, a massive expanse of underground water.

The Great Artesian Basin is one of the largest underground fresh-water reservoirs in the world. It underlies approximately 22% of Australia, occupying an area of over 1.7 million square kilometres beneath the arid and semi-arid parts of Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Although not a spa, the water in the Bitter Springs is a pleasant 30-32 degrees which is about the temperature of the day. So sliding into this oasis is as refreshing and invigorating as it gets. There’s a gentle current which slowly draws you downstream floating for 80m. It’s time to look to the vivid blue skies and the lush palm trees and take it all in.

Fresh water Crocodiles have been occasionally spotted in the springs and as you float downstream, you often touch the odd tree branch or underwater log which may stir the senses a bit.Weiterlesen