DAY 56 - MATARANKA HOT SPRINGS & BITTER SPRINGS (feat. a turtle) | Road Trip Australia Travel VLOG
Day 56 - 27th October 2017
We rented a campervan in Cairns and set off on a 2 and a half month road trip around Australia. It’s a heck of a long way (20,000 km!!) but these videos will show what we got up to on the road!
We spent most of our day in the water today. Mataranka hot springs were up first, followed by bitter springs and a new chef makes their mark on CAMPERVAN KITCHEN!
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Which Spring is Better? Mataranka vs Bitter Springs. Ep.21
Mataranka to Daly Waters!
Well, well after a good fee weeks in the NT outback we arrived at Mataranka! Home of the never never land.
After reading wikicamps comments, Little Roper Stock camp was our camp of choice in Mataranka! We stayed a total of 3 nights ⛺️and loved it! Des was the nicest host and there was a great atmosphere at the stock camp! Animals galore to interact with, hot showers, communal fire pit and every morning for a silver coin donation Des put on a pot of billy tea and made fresh johnny cakes! Yummo.
We checked out Bitter springs first, for a dip! It was pure paradise. The stunning clear water and fauna and flora around the springs were breathtaking. We then headed to the Mataranka hot springs and was rather disappointed...
Firstly as you walk to the springs it stank of bat poo ???? - from the bats in the surrounding trees. The springs itself felt very commercialised and did not feel natural, it felt more like a pool. Concreted walls around the whole spring and for us, it was smaller than what we had imagined. We both walked away rather disappointed of Mataranka springs overall. Hands down prefer Bitter springs any day. ???????? We actually spent the whole following day, back at bitter as it was nice and the weather was hot! ????????♀️
On one of our nights in Mataranka, we managed to go and see the famous wh!p cracker - Nathan Griggs perform his show! Definitely worth the effort to see. Great down to earth bloke and a real talent on the wh!p. ???? We checked out a few more sites around Mataranka before calling in grabbing a famous Mataranka meat pie ????before hitting the road! Best meat pie we have had on the road so far!
We had decided it was already to hot to head to Darwin and we wouldn't have enough time to explore the top end before the next wet season kicked off, so we made the decision to head south! Next stop being the WW2 Gorrie Airstrip! Kurt had a go on the runway with the Nav but couldn't take off
Had a look around and set up camp for the night on the airstrip! How many people can say they have camped on an airstrip?
It was great star gazing that night, up into the milky way. Next day we packed up and continued the trek south. We spent the morning checking out another WW2 hospital campsite before calling into the Pink Panther / Larrimah Pub for lunch! ????
What a great surprise this pub turned out to be! Lots of fun and quirky things around the place and we found out they even have a small zoo! Like what!? ???? They had birds, wallabies & a totally blind croc to name a few. The food from 'wing-nut', the barmen was also delicious! After our meal, we popped across the road to the local museum for a look around before heading back on the road.
Next stop Daly Waters! Again, this pub had been on our radar for a very long time and we couldn't wait to check it out! Its covered in travelers mementos and a really cool pub! The staff were all super friendly and we camped next door which was great! We treated ourselves to the famous beef and barra for dinner while watching the live entertainment and having a yarn with new friends.
The following day, we decided to leave one of our road trip hats ???? there as our contribution. We wrote on it, signed it and hung it up - pride of place out the back in the alfresco area. (See pictures) Keep an eye out for it, if your ever passing on through!
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Spectacular Australia Ep. 15 - Bitter Springs NT.
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I am currently traveling around Australia with my family in a little caravan. Throughout this series, you can join me behind the camera as I capture many of Australia's most beautiful locations!
Bitter Springs NT
Absolutely gorgeous natural hot springs with the clearest turquoise water I have ever seen!.
Bitter Springs, Mataranka 14-11-09. AUSTRALIA
Mataranka , bitter springs in the northern territory
Bitter Springs Mataranka is BETTER than Mataranka Thermal Pool (2019)
Finally!! We have made it to the NT border and leaving QLD, but what an exhausting long drive. Not to worry, Mataranka Hot Springs and Homestead is not far away and we jump right into those springs for a dip upon arrival!!
While at the Homestead we also got to enjoy a live show from the whip cracking sensation Whippy Griggs, whippy is a multiple Guinness World record holder and can crack a whip quicker than you can crack a beer.
Whippy also likes to crack a joke and Joogzee got to experience that first hand!!
We also take a dip at Bitter Springs Mataranka to which we have to say was better, and by far our favorite as it was true to it's original state and we could snorkel around and explore.
But after the snorkeling and jokes are done we had to painfully rip ourselves away from the Mataranka Hot Springs and ventured NW towards Darwin City and found ourselves in a small and all but not forgotten country town named Pine Creek. The usual story of the Gold Rush in the early European days forms the all too familiar history, but what peaked my interest was the Railway Museum. Originally planned to connect Adelaide with Darwin City, the railway was constructed in sections over many years, but never made the full route.
After checking out Pine Creek, we made our way to the base of Litchfield National Park where we had to navigate our way from one end to the other with our off road caravan to make it to a pet friendly zone. Little did we know that off road caravans or caravans in general were not allowed on this track. However, after a day of driving to make it the entrance and with an off road caravan in tow, we decided that their was no turning around now.
Once in the pet friendly safe zone we then based ourselves in the pet friendly caravan park of Banyan Tree Caravan Park for 4 nights and took off to explore the Florence falls, Tolmer Falls, Magnetic termite mounds and the Lost City
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MATARANKA & BITTER HOT SPRINGS
Mataranka and Bitter Springs in the Northern Territory are just 2 of the amazing places you can swim in the crystal clear thermal pools of the Australian Outback. Pure bliss just floating around in this amazing landscape!
Visiting Mataranka Bitter Springs & Thermal Pool | Travel Vlog
Come with me and my friend Dalton as we go for a dip in some of the most beautiful hot springs in Australia!
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Darwin Trip - Sept 2014 - Bitter Springs, Mataranka
Description
Bitter/Mataranka Springs
Bitter Springs Mataranka NT
When travelling through Mataranka and you are looking for a nice relaxing place to have a dip and actually stretch out and do some laps, try Bitter Springs Thermal pool instead of the well frequented Mataranka Thermal pools.
The springs here actually branch off into a stream which you can follow down 100 metres to a bridge & ladder to climb out of then go for a walk around the springs.
Take a floaty with you to paddle down to the 2 exit points along the stream.
The Mataranka Thermal pool is the biggest draw card to the region. Nestled amongst tall shady Mataranka Palms (Livistonia ....) the thermal pools pump out a tremendous amount of warm water which has soothed many a traveller over the years.
Only a stones throw from the Roper River, the turquoise waters of the main pool add to the atmosphere of the springs.
Darwin Trip - Sept 2014 - Bitter Springs, Mataranka (Part 2)
Description
Highway 1: Great Australian road trip Ep2 Mataranka Springs
AT MATARANKA SPRINGS, TRAVELLERS run the gauntlet of little red flying-fox poo to reach translucent pools of clear, limey spring water that simmer at around 34ºC.
Few can resist a warm soak after tough travels on the Stuart Highway, especially since the pools are located right on Highway One at Mataranka, 105km south of Katherine in the Northern Territory.
Protected as part of Elsey National Park, Mataranka Springs is a dynamic spot that provides habitat for a colony of little red flying-foxes that at times number up to 250,000.
The little reds stake out the sagging canopy of the world's largest stand of Livistona rigida palms, and spectacularly fill the skies at sunset as they take off in search of food.
Less than 100m from the hot pools where the spring empties into Waterhouse Creek, freshwater crocodiles are often spotted swimming and basking on sunny logs.
Popular with travellers, Mataranka Springs lies a short walk from the campground at Mataranka Homestead which many use as a base while exploring other sites in Elsey National Park.
These include Bitter Springs, a few kilometres to the north where you can don a snorkel, slide into the water and float downstream in the current to check out turtles, fish and slimy green algae.
Both hot springs provide wonderfully warm, good fun and a place to safely swim on the journey north to Darwin. SUBSCRIBE: The official channel of Australian Geographic magazine.
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Our Visit To Bitter and Mataranka Springs, Northern Territory in The Australian Outback
Leg one of our 6-week travel adventure of Northern Territory and Western Australia saw us stop in ay Bitter Springs and Mataranka Springs in the Never Never, in the outback of Northern Territory.
We were blown away by the clarity and warmth of the water.
Bitter Springs was more natural than Mataranka but that doesn't mean it was less impressive. Both springs were simply amazing and it's a surprise that such a jewel can be in the Australian Outback.
Definitely, worth the 4000km drive through the Australian Outback to get there!
Cheers,
Glenn & Kay,
Unleash My Life
The Dusty Mules
CROCODILE close to popular swimming area Bitter hot Springs Mataranka Northern territory Australia
I know a lot of people see Crocks! But when you’re all alone, kids asleep in the back and 200 meters from camp. This is very exhilarating!
Just for the record it’s a fresh water Crock, practically harmless they say lol. I would not want to be in the water with it ???? Only 200 meters from bitter springs Mataranka.
Instagram- @hedleyfamilyadventures
Video 254-Stuart Highway - Bitter Springs To Mataranka Springs w/Photos
DashCam video of Stuart Highway. This provides you with the ability to virtually drive in the Australian outback. This video takes you on a 12km drive along the Stuart Highway from Bitter Springs to Mataranka Springs. This is another more famous hot spring which people have a swim in. There are also thousands of Fruit bats in the trees that also love the springs! I took a video with sound so you can hear the noise. However, you can't get the smell!
Interesting Sections:
- Back on Stuart Highway 03:55
- Mataranka Springs T/O 06:15
- Visitor Car Park Arrival 11:25
- Photos and Video 11:45
Bitter Springs, Mataranka NT
This Fabulous thermal springs stretch of river is 150m of bliss, floating down the warm water in its natural setting. Bitter Springs is situated approx 3km from the main centre of Mataranka NT.
Video created with the Socialcam app on iPhone:
Bitter Springs and Mataranka
Mataranka & Bitter Springs | Elsey National Park - Exploring the Never Never
Imagine finding paradise in the middle of the Australian Outback? That is exactly what we have done this week! Come with us to explore Mataranka and Bitter Springs in Elsey National Park, and uncover some of Australia's most beautiful history!
Hey guys!
Happy Wednesday, and I hope you are all ready from some more beautiful swimming holes and great Australian history!
This week we are in Elsey National Park, camping at Mataranka and checking out Bitter Springs and the Elsey cemetery and homestead.
Mataranka hot spring is a GLORIOUS natural hot spring that runs along the Roper River, just outside of Mataranka township. These hot springs are a comfy 34 degrees all year and are such a beautiful place to swim all day long.
Bitter Springs is a flowing spring located just north of the Mataranka township and is becoming very popular over time! This hot spring is slightly warmer than Mataranka hot spring and has a natural current and convenient entry and exit points so you can float along the river to your hearts content all day long!
Mataranka and Bitter Spring waters are believe to have some important healing powers and soaking in these waters are said to heal aches and pains! We certainly were feeling zero pain floating our troubles away for a few days
We also check out Elsey homestead, cemetery and learn about the fancinating lives of Jeannie Gunn, the first white woman to settle in the area, and her husband Aeneas Gunn who ran the Elsey Cattle Station. It is a beautiful story and well worth the read!
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Bitter Springs Thermal Pools, Mataranka, Northern Territory
Dipped into these super warm pools in the town of Mataranka, south of Katherine in the Northern Territory. Looked like a swamp, but the water was incredibly clear.
Bitter Springs/Mataranka NT AU - Nice early morning swim.
Just near Mataranka NT, there is a really cool place called Bitter Springs. N.T. Australia - Grab a mask & snorkel & swim along the channel. Soon it will be fracked & destroyed, so get there while you can.