To Daly Waters, N.T.

Saturday 7^th June

Just north of Tennant Creek was that town’s old telegraph station, another really interesting complex.  The government has done a great job with information boards, making it easy to imagine life back in the 1870s when these stations were at their busiest.

Next stop was the roadhouse at Three Ways.  Hmmm, keep going north?  South?  Or east across the Barkly Highway?  No, we want to go west.  But we still have to go a fair way north to go west.  A left at Katherine to be precise.

So on we went, a few more monuments, roadhouses and termite mounds.  The countryside changed a fair bit along the way, not all flat and barren as many think but a few little hills, wooded areas and pretty green.  We turned off to Daly Waters to have a look at the pub there, a very popular place. 

Daly Waters is comprised of about 3 houses, with everything else part of the hotel – caravan park, cabins, a little petrol shed and that’s about it.  But what a happening place!  The caravan park was packed full of cars towing caravans … the grey nomad brigade!  The hotel was packed with said grey nomads and a small proportion of younger backpackers.  Music was emanating from the beer garden and the atmosphere was casual, welcoming, fun and outback.  The interior features walls lined with peoples business cards, name badges, paper money from all over the world, caps, t-shirts and a heap of bras hanging above the bar.  There are lots of artefacts to look at along with fun things like the “thong tree”.  

  

We bought a drink and sat out there listening to the musician sing mainly about travelling, places in Australia, and a few covers of classics such as Home Among the Gumtrees.  What a beautiful atmosphere on a balmy winter’s night up north!

Returning to our bush camp, we had a late tea then sat under the stars watching the night sky and were rewarded with 3 shooting stars.  It was a great evening.