After packing up at Mataranka we backtracked 10km to the Territory Manor to see the barramundi feeding which occurs twice every day. The first thing we noticed was that this place looked much nicer than where we stayed at Mataranka Homestead including the peacocks strutting around - but thems the breaks.
The guy doing the barra feeding show has been doing it for a while and spoke very well and informatively. He showed us one of the long necked turtle that come into their waterways during the dry when other holes dry up. This one was here last dry season and not concerned at being handled.
Then he offered each of us to have a go at fishing for the eight male barras in the pond. Sean had a go first then myself - astonishing how fast these fish are once they home in on the bait. Then he showed us how he is able to handle and pick up these fish without complaint. It was during this session that we ran into Tex and Julie and their 3 girls - we'd last seen them near Alice Springs some 8 weeks ago.
After this down the road 5km to Bitter Springs. Expecting something similar to Mataranka Hot Springs, instead this area is a 150m long series of natural spring pools ranging from 1m to 3m in depth. One can simply float along with the current from one end to the other - hop out walk back and do it all again with water temp around 32C. We got the snorkeling gear out and had a great time for a couple of hours floating downstream then swimming back.
With Mataranka being he heart of the "We of the Never Never" film, there are plenty of references to the film around town including these statues in the park of the main characters.
Also int he park in the middle of town is these huge trees giving great shelter for locals and travellers alike.
Next down the road from Mataranka 12km down the road to Elsey Station Cemetery where lie the graves of many of the real characters upon whom the film was made. Includes Aenaes and Jeannie Gunn (the author of the original book).
Also includes the grave of the person upon whom the little black girl Bet Bet was based - she lived to a ripe old age of 95.
Then just down the road a bit from here is the original site of the Elsey Station.
Now late afternoon we went only 40km down the road to a free camp called Warloch to spend the night.
The Campbells
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