No Boundaries Australia: Mount Isa - Mataranka - Katherine

Mt Isa to Threeways – Sunday 31 July 2011

Up and on the road by 7:15am, we had 637km to drive to get anywhere, and I mean anywhere as there is nothing in between or even when we arrived there was nothing there.

The first step was to Camooweal, arriving about 10am, a town with a population of 500, and 188km from Isa. This was our first fuel stop for the day, we set off again, and about 25km out we came across a van on the side of the road with one wheel missing, the wheel went travelling down the road. A wheel bearing gave up and it all went bad, no damage and they had the parts coming from Camooweal, so we headed off. Soon crossing the QLD / NT border and gaining 30 minutes.

Camooweal Road sign

NT border sign

Just to prove we crossed the border in a clean car

Our next stop for fuel was Barkly Homestead, don’t be fooled it is just a rough fuel station nothing else, a fill up at $1.88 a litre, lunch then on the road for the final leg to Threeways. We had covered 400km by lunchtime so all was good.

We arrived at Threeways about 4ish, and yep refuelled again, cheaper here $1.81, the difference here is you have to hand over your drivers licence before the bowser is activated. Threeways is a roadhouse at the junction of the Stuart and Barkly Highways, there is caravan accommodation here and also roadtrains come through all night. So if you are looking for a nice out of the way holiday destination, go elsewhere.

Road Train passing us

Our outfit looks minature against a road train

Threeways to Mataranka – Monday 1 August 2011

We picked up the trophy again today for being first on the road, leaving abut 7:30am, with only 540+km to go up the road. If you are travelling in this region there is a private campground 70km north of Threeways called Banka Banka, a far better spot to stay, it even has some green grass. We kicked ourselves for not going the little bit extra yesterday.

We fuelled up at Elliott an aboriginal town of about 100, nothing else there then set off for final 340km to Mataranka.

and another road train passing us - they cruise at an easy 100kph

We stayed at the Mataranka Cabins and Caravan Park, a private property with only a short walk to Bitter Springs thermal pools. Just what the doctor ordered after, what was for us, 2 big days of driving, travelling just over 1100km and 182litres of fuel.

Here we are at Mataranka

The thermal pools were just great, a constant 32deg with crystal clear waters, we spent some time in there just soaking up the beautiful waters.

Bitter Springs - just so natural

Marlene at Bitter Springs

Ken in the pools

Mataranka – Tuesday 2 August 2011

Easy day today, a bit of washing and then hit the thermal pools for the afternoon. We went for a drive over to the Barramundi feeding, Marlene was chosen to feed the fish then off to Mataranka Thermal pools. These are pools are very commercial and busy, it is just like going to the local pool. so back to Bitter Springs they were much nicer.

Check out the Barramundi

Mataranka Thermal pools

Mataranka to Katherine – Wednesday 3 August 2011

Another easy day today with only 120km, we were very slow and we were on the road by 10am, arriving in Katherine by 12:30. On the way we stopped off at the Daly Waters Pub, one of the oldest pubs in the NT and they say the first international airport!!.

Ken outside of the Daly Waters pub

A nice clean car at the Daly Waters pub

We called into the Katherine Information Centre, where it was Caravan Pitt Street, there was easy 50 vans in the carpark and in the general area of the information centre and fuel station. Katherine is the stop off spot for vans travelling north, south and from the west, very busy.

We stayed at the Shady Lane Tourist Park, a nice place with a little bit of grass and cement slabs, pure luxury. Went for a drive down to the Gorge then across to Springvale Homestead for a look. Saw 2 fresh water crocs sunning themselves on the backs of the Katherine River. We finished the day off with a swim in the thermal pools then home for dinner.

Croc on the banks of Katherine River

Katherine to Darwin – Thursday 4 August 2011

For all those tracking us we are a couple of days in front, but that is fine as we now have time to see a bit of Darwin and get organised for our visitors on Monday.

It was a nice easy 350k up the highway to Darwin, more traffic than we have had for a while and lots of livestock road trains running south. We have booked into the FreeSpirit Darwin Resort, about 20k from town, nice park with a cement slab and green grass, more pure luxury.

We caught up with friends (Jess and Angela) we met in Mount Surprise, seems so long ago now, and had a great evening with them at the Mindil markets, saw the sunset over the bay, ate great food from the markets it is a true tourist attraction.