Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mataranka's crystal-clear
thermal pool
, shrouded in rainforest, is 10km from town be-
side the Mataranka Homestead Resort. The warm, clear water dappled by filtered light
leaking through overhanging palms rejuvenates a lot of bodies on any given day; it's
reached via a boardwalk from the resort and can get mighty crowded. About 200m away
(keep following the boardwalk) is the Waterhouse River, where you can rent canoes for
$10 per hour.
Stevie's Hole
, a natural swimming hole in the cooler Waterhouse River,
about 1.5km from the homestead, is rarely crowded.
Elsey Station Homestead
HISTORIC BUILDING
(admission by donation; daylight hours)
Outside the Mataranka Homestead Resort en-
trance is a replica of the Elsey Station Homestead, constructed for the filming of
We of
the Never Never,
which is screened daily at noon in the resort bar.
Never Never Museum
MUSEUM
(120 Roper Tce; adult/child $3.50/1.50; 9am-4.30pm Mon-Fri)
Back in town, the Never
Never Museum has displays on the northern railway, WWII and local history. Access via
the Rural Transaction Centre next door.
Elsey National Park
NATURE RESERVE
(
www.nretas.nt.gov.au/national-parks-and-reserves/parks/find/elsey
)
The national park adjoins
the thermal-pool reserve and offers peaceful
camping
,
fishing
and
walking
along the
Waterhouse and Roper Rivers. Bitter Springs is a serene palm-fringed thermal pool with-
in the national park, 3km from Mataranka along the sealed Martin Rd. The almost unnat-
ural blue-green colour of the 34°C water is due to dissolved limestone particles.
4
Sleeping & Eating
Jalmurark Camping Area
CAMPGROUND $
(John Hauser Dr; adult/child $6.60/3.30)
Located at 12 Mile Yards in Elsey National Park,
this scrubby camping ground has lots of shade, toilets and showers and access to the
Roper River and walking trails. There's a kiosk here in the Dry from which you can hire
canoes.
Mataranka Homestead Resort
CAMPGROUND $
( 08-8975 4544;
www.matarankahomestead.com.au
; Homestead Rd; unpowered/powered site
$24/29, dm/d/cabins $25/89/115; )
Only metres from the main thermal pool and with
a range of budget accommodation, this is a
very
popular option. The large camping
