NORTHING DAY 25 - SUNDAY 24 JUNE 2018

BINNS TRACK COMPLETED AND ON TO LIMMEN NP

The road from Top Spring to the Stuart Highway represented completion of the Binns Track for us. It was unsealed but through pleasant rolling country. 

Kangaroo tracks on the road.

The Stuart Highway and completion of our Binns Track travels.

Carpentaria Highway was mostly a single sealed track but being upgraded in places.

 

Turning north onto the unsealed Roper Bar road took us to Limmen National Park.

We made camp at the Southern Lost City in time for a beautiful evening.

NORTHING DAY 24 - SATURDAY 23 JUNE 2018

VIA HUMBERT TRACK AND BUCHANAN HIGHWAY TO TOP SPRINGS

Early morning photography was followed by the trip back along that stony creek into former cattle station country now national park.

The way out to Top Springs was via the Humbert Track - following an old trail used by early donkey teams delivering supplies to cattle stations in the area. It was quite safe but demanding driving - constantly up and down through gears from 3rd down to low ratio at times. Boabs are common in this area almost forming forests.

The track is well marked with arrow pointers and distance markers.

Out on the Buchanan Highway we passed through cattle station country with lots of gates to be opened by Beth (since she wanted me to drive).

Top Springs provided "civilised" camping on grass, toilet and shower facilities and a bush hotel .

Sunset was beautiful with stunning tall grasses just over a wire fence from our camp.

NORTHING DAY 23 - FRIDAY 22 JUNE 2018

ON INTO JUDBARRA/GREGORY NP (LIMESTONE GORGE)

 Following the main road towards Western Australia we encountered some striking escarpment scenery and the Old Victoria River Crossing.

The Nawalbinbin Walk at Joe Creek climbed high along the escarpment face past a gallery of rock art. The walk took about 90 minutes and involved some quite steep rocky sections.

Gregory's Tree was a must for us (having missed it on last visit) and a revisit to Hickey's Beach at Timber Creek.

Overnight camp at Limestone Gorge proved an "interesting" drive, some along a rocky creek bed, but was a lovely, lonely location, all to ourselves.

NORTHING DAY 22 - THURSDAY 21 JUNE 2018

WESTWARD TO JUDBARRA/GREGORY NATIONAL PARK

Although on a back road, Grove Hill is now right next to the northern (Ghan) railway line.

Refuelling in Pine Creek, we found that we had another flat tyre, the second in less than 100 kms, after all the trouble free bush travel that we have completed. A visit to Beaurepairs in Katherine solved the problem with two new tyres. After a couple of hours shopping and sitting in the riverside park we were on our way again.

 

We were anxious to get on with completing the Binns Track so pushed on to camp at Sullivan Creek, just inside the Judbarra/Gregory National Park.

NORTHING DAY21 - WEDNESDAY 20 JUNE 2018

LITCHFIELD AND ON TO GROVE HILL

We had so many interesting places planned for this day but most of them were frustrated by closed roads and no access - a seasonal thing, waiting for drying and repairs from "the wet".

 The Bamboo Creek Tin Mine in Litchfield Park.

Wangi Falls in Litchfield Park.

Douglas Hot Springs

Grove Hill Hotel and Museum. 

This relic of an old mining town is off the track but worth the visit, made on the whim that we hadn't been here before. We camped here for the night , also discovering our first flat tyre.

UPDATE -

 We're back at Laura, unpacking and cleaning Henry and tending to the garden before going on to Adelaide. Planned trip and actual trip ended up being rather different, as you will see in the following. As soon as possible we will continue the story day by day.