Threeways Roadhouse to Mataranka, NT

Our continued journey north had us traverse approximately 540 kilometres of the Stuart Highway landing in Mataranka to spend the night at the Territory Manor Caravan Park.  The landscape began to change as we headed north; the pungent red dirt arid landscape making way for a generous covering of trees with smatterings of green grass hemming the road’s edge. The Territory Manor is located only a short drive away from Bitter Springs a swimming hole fed by a natural underground spring in the Elsey National Park, so we decided to head down for a swim. We were thankful to have access to the park during the wet season (generally the park is closed between November and March) and enjoyed the refreshing water after yet another long, hot day in the car. That night we treated ourselves to a restaurant meal of locally farmed barramundi at the caravan park, however I learnt quite quickly that I don’t much like freshwater barramundi and couldn’t particularly stomach the fishy taste. I’m definitely a fan of saltwater barramundi and know now to ask for this instead next time. We showered with local frogs in the open to the fresh air and wildlife bathrooms and were treated to a glorious sunrise on the morning of our final push into Darwin. 

Bitter Springs Thermal Pool