Daly Waters, Mataranka

Jeannie Gunn lived for a short time at Esley Station near Mataranka and was the author of the books 'We Of The Never Never' and 'The Little Black Princess'

Chris enjoying the Mararanka Thermal Springs. Just so refreshing!
Daly Waters Camp Draft

Daly Waters Historic Pub

Diesel, not cheap in Daly Waters. No, we didn't feel the need to top up!

We enjoyed the Camp Draft

In my cowgirl hat - I feel right at home in the bush.

Inside Daly Waters Pub. A must visit if you pass this way. Artifacts left behind by visitors.

More artifacts!

Friday 3rd June 2011: Visited Daly Waters - Historic Daly Waters has Northern Territory's oldest pub. The original building is still intact and it contains a cornucopia of artifacts left behind by visitors and historical items. VISIT A MUST. A Camp Draft and Rodeo was in town and we watched a camp drafting competition. Australia first international airport was in Daly Waters. It was the rear guard base during the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese in WW2. A flying fox was used for transporting food to the airport.

Mataranka: The town of Mataranka has a spring fed thermal pool surrounded by a tropical rainforest of palms. Naturally we went for a swim. The town is famous for the Elsey Station and homestead where Jeannie Gunn lived and wrote, many years later after leaving Mataranka, "We of the Never Never". Today you can visit the site of the original homestead, the homestead being knocked down to build a road. There is a replica of the homestead near the thermal pools. We visited the Elsey Cemetery where Jeannie Gunn's husband is buried and many other pioneers who worked and lived on Elsey Station.