The Savannah Way stretches across the whole north of Australia from Broome in the West to Cairns in the East. Most of it is bitumen but as we seem to have some strange attraction to the rough stuff we hopped on the off road (1200km) section from Mataranka in the Northern Territory to Karumba in the Queensland Gulf.
Our aim was to get to Lorella Springs Station on the first day. After 180kms we came to Roper Bar, which has a basic caravan park at the Roper River Crossing and a small store that didn't look too welcoming....and that's it. Apparently it gets really crowded here in peak Barra season but you need a boat. The next part of the Savannah way was more like we'd expected. Rough, dusty, with plenty of pot holes and patches of bull dust to keep us awake. The river crossings had lots of water with steep entry and exits.
Part of the Savannah Way One of the river crossings
An unfortunate victim of the Savannah Way....looks like the remains of a caravan.
The next 130km through the Limmen National Park felt extremely isolated and remote. As it was getting late in the day we realised Lorella Springs was just out of reach so decided to try to find camp for the night. I had read about a few bush camps including one called Butterfly Springs. This Free camp turned out to be lovely. It was basic with a nice outlook. A short walk (2mins) from camp took us into the a pretty waterhole under the cliffs, that provided safe swimming, and yes there were butterflies. If you take a walk around the right hand side of the beach and wave your hands around the cliffs, hundreds of butterflies flutter all around you!
The entry to the Butterfly Springs bush camp and the waterhole
We travelled the Savannah Way with our friends the "Keigs" who we have met up with a few times on the trip. After our one night stopover we hit the dirt again towards Lorella Springs, stopping in at the "Lost City", a strange collection of domes and tall spires carved out of the sandstone.
The Keigs coming through a muddy crossing. We made it.
Lorella Springs Station is a family owned 1 Million acre property that extends all the way to the Gulf of Carpentaria waterfront. To get there its a 30km side trip off the Savannah Way, which lucky for us had just been graded, and apparently a huge improvement compared to what it was like just a few days before.
The Bar/Office and Communal campfire...Hannah has a hen on her lap!
If you are travelling this stretch of the Savannah Way then we recommend you make time to stay at this amazing place. Its so natural, remote and down to earth. There is a thermal spring at the homestead (they call Magic Spring) that we soaked in every day. The kids played with the hens, and each morning the boys took them down to the creek to check the yabbie net for more Red Claws.
Tilly taking preferring to hold the yabbie with the tongs.
The beautiful "magic spring" at camp
On arrival we were greeted by Rhett who gave us a warm welcome and proudly showed us his property on google earth. A stay here means you receive a mud map with different points of interest to suit everyone. You are free to explore as much of the property as you like, keeping it in mind its a million acres! Rhett just asks you to let him know each day where you are headed so he can send out the "search party" in case you get lost...or stuck. Here are some of our photos of our explorations on the property.
Some wild Brumbies Hannah on gate duty
I think I read on their website
http://www.lorellasprings.com.au/ that this property is bigger than many countries, yet shared by only a few people. An overwhelming thought as Hannah and I looked as far as the eye could see from a lookout!
The small entry to the bat cave We named this one the "dragon fly" cave
The outbacks version of "Wet N Wild"
The Lorella Springs exit sign says it all. No we didn't really want to leave but we'll never get home if we don't push on! Next stop Borroloola....
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