We’ve had 2 days here at the Mataranka Homestead Tourist Park, otherwise known as Mataranka Springs. We were rather conflicted whether to stay here or at Bitter Springs, which is also in Mataranka but about 7 k’s here from the Homestead. After being at both we were very happy we chose the Homestead.

The thermal pool was close to the park and with the Bar and Bistro, combined with music of a night time you couldn’t ask for much more. One thing we didn’t expect was the crowd, the place has been packed out not to mention the day trippers who also come to the pool. It’s a long weekend here in the top end so I suppose that has contributed to the numbers. With everything turning to crap in Melbourne with stage 4 restrictions, you would not know there was an issue here, if it wasn’t for the COVID signs on display. Certainly a different world up here.

Speaking of different, the park has been full of campfires, the difference being the locals are huddled around them constantly. When we walked down to the pool for our final swim this afternoon, all the campfires were burning surrounded by people and it was still 30 degrees, we were utterly dumbfounded. Also different was the class of red wine from the bar, ice cold glass from the fridge and the wine was also from the fridge and just as cold.

We have really enjoyed our time here, had 4 swims in the thermal pools, 3 here at the Homestead and one at Bitter Springs. One of the best memories of the trip so far.

Tomorrow we head south to a station stay at Banka Banka about 100 k’s north of Tenant Creek and then Tuesday we turn east before crossing the border into Queensland on Wednesday. Our time in NT has been rather brief but we covered what we wanted to see and more.

To our family and friends back home in Melbourne about to go into stage 4 lockdown, we are thinking of you. All I can say is “Be Brave”!