Litchfield – Monday

Last night when we were walking about we saw several Cane Toads and it makes me wonder if they’re the reason for us not seeing any small lizards or even bugs. There are plenty of dragonflies and butterflies but I’ve only seen one other little Shieldbug around here.

Cane Toad in the shower block

This morning we drove back into the National Park as far as Wangi Falls, they are tremendous and the lush Monsoon Forest was good to see. We heard bats arguing in some treetops. Alex fancied a nice big breakfast at the cafe but their power had been cut off somehow so the place wasn’t operating until that was restored.

Wangi Falls

Orange Eared Bats

Fruit on Palm

Wangi Falls treetop walk

Wangi Falls

Several roads are still closed so places like The Lost City, Surprise Creek Falls and Blyth Homestead aren’t accessible. Tolmer Falls were open though and we enjoyed the river walk. You don’t get close to the river because the area is undergoing rehabilitation but there are excellent viewing places.

The track we walked

Cycads

Tolmer Creek Walk

The “path” down from the Tolmer Falls lookout

Tolmer Falls

Tolmer Falls lookout – grand rock formations

Tiny bug

After Tolmer Falls we were ready for a swim and cool down so we continued on to the Florence Creek where we were lucky enough to get the first rock pool to ourselves. The water is crystal clear so you could see leaves on the bottom and also the shapes and sizes of the rocks. It appeared to be an infinity pool with the water disappearing over a rocky ledge.

Rock Pool, Florence Creek

When we left the Florence Creek we headed into Batchelor for some lunch at the Rum Jungle Tavern. There were some interesting characters in the bar, I think the town must be a comfortable place for people who don’t fit in the mainstream. Bernie Havlik was a Czechoslovakian who left his mark at Batchelor. At first he worked underground at the Rum Jungle Uranium Mine then in the treatment plant when it changed to open cut mining until it closed in 1971. After that he worked as a town gardener and was frustrated by the rock pile in the garden so when he retired he started work on his castle. It took him 5 years to create and he was still adding finishing touches to it until he died in 1990.

Bernie Havlik’s castle

We came back to camp for a cup of tea but first we had to deal with the frog in the kettle!

Froggie in the kettle lid – it got into the kettle via the spout