Turning off the main highway into Edith Falls we were greeted by a sign saying that the campgrounds were full and to ring and confirm a booking. The Next G phone would not work in this area so unless people had a satellite phone nothing else would work either. The heavy load on the campgrounds was due to school holidays in the NT and some other states.
We continued on and as we approached Edith Falls, the air was filled with smoke where National Parks had been burning off. On arrival we were able to get a site for our van. We booked in for one night but soon decided on staying another night.
Edith Falls is a great place and the campgrounds is run by National Parks and costs $9.00 / person / night. It has flush toilets, hot showers, drinking water and good campsites but no power. Unlike Katherine Gorge, all areas are accessible provided that people are prepared to walk and one does not have to pay for boat trips to see the attractions. It consists of three waterfalls with good swimming pools at the base of each waterfall. The Edith River is also a great walk especially above the top falls to Springwater waterhole.
The 1.2 kilometre track to the top falls is a good climb and is rather rugged and rocky in some parts. The 1.6 kilometre track to the top falls on the opposite side of the creek is even more rugged and care needs to be taken. The Jatbula Trail finishes at Edith Falls and I took the opportunity to re-walk a section of it the first day we were here. The second day I did the circuit walk to the top pools and had a swim at the top. I am amazed at how well my knees have performed on these rugged tracks. No problems at all. To think that twelve months ago I would not have been able to walk them without severe pain that would have last for several days.
TheEdith River below the Waterfalls
The Edith River below the Waterfalls
Looking down on the middle pool from above the second waterfall
The top waterfall and pool.The Temperature here at present is rather warm for Mid Winter. Saturday night (3/7/2010) at 9.00pm the temp was 32C and Saturday morning at 5.00 am it was 21C. That evening was cooler at 28C. We had the caravan fully open to catch any breeze but we need the screens for the mosquitoes.
There is a reported area 15 kilometres back along the road where Gouldian Finches are supposed to be found. I went there at 6.30 am on Saturday morning for a couple of hours and found nothing. The campgrounds are full of Great Bowerbirds with some Red-wing parrots. I have found the bird life to be very poor around here. Tomorrow we head north again with a stop at Pine Creek to look for the Hooded Parrot.
The Bowerbird in its Bower at Edith Falls
Sensational report as always. Envy grows !
ReplyDeleteI really love to see your photo's. Never been to Edtih Falls, neither to Mataranka springs, must go back.
ReplyDeleteWe travelled to Cairns with our two dogs and stayed at Mataranka Roadhouse instead. Very noisy with fighting locals. Driving through the Red centre is really an amazing experience.