The road from Roper Bar to our next stop Butterfly Springs was better than the dirt section of the road we travelled to Roper Bar so the 200km trip took us about 4 hours. Butterfly Springs was situated in the Limmen National Park so the campsite was a primitive one with drop toilets and no showers. The plus side was the sites were big and the whole campsite only had 11 sites with a few for overflow over a nice big area.
We had the added bonus of a waterhole which we could actually swim at. It was a little disconcerting looking at the map of Limmen National Park not being able to swim north, south, east and west of us due to crocodiles but somehow we could swim at our campsite.
The waterhole was a very short walk from the campsite so after we set up in the heat we headed down for a look. We had the place to ourselves and the view of the falls trickling down into the waterhole was really special. The first time we went in for swim we were a little tentative envisioning a giant crocodile just lurking in the depths waiting for us but we soon got up some courage and were floating around looking at all the bird life.
After a lovely night sitting around a fire star gazing we awoke full of energy and ready to explore. The adventure of the day was to drive to the western Lost City which was about 20kms down a 4×4 track. We had been told that we needed to go the ranger station to get a code for the gate and to make sure we signed in and out of the visitor book at the locked gate. Neither of us still hadn’t put two and two together as to why we might have needed to do that but we soon realised when we got through the gate. It was a proper 4×4 track with sandy and steep creek crossings, rocky sections and correlations so big you couldn’t get on top of them. Our Ute bottomed out on one of the crossings and we were a little concerned we would get stuck going up one of the steep sandy sections but our Amarok powered up them. At about the 10km mark we nearly turned around. But we are glad we persevered.
When we signed in there were only two other cars on the track and we were glad we didn’t run into them on the sections of sandy single track! We hit a few waterholes where we kept an eye out for crocs but didn’t see any and after about an hour and a half came upon the “Lost City”. Our jaws dropped. The track wound its way through kms of towering sandstone structures/spires. Some seemingly gravity defying.
The best part was we had the place to ourselves. Literally not another sole around as we had passed the last car as we entered the city. There was not a designated walking track so we just took our time and walked along the edge of the structures taking in the views.
The Northern Territory of Australia is fast becoming one of our favourite places. Its frontier feeling coupled with the spectacular natural wonders is blowing our minds. You really feel like you are on an adventure and with names such as the Lost City I do feel a little like Indiana Jones, especially with my Akubra hat on. All I need is a whip!
The trip back along the 4×4 track was almost more daunting as we knew what was coming but we made it no worries. Once back at the campsite having our afternoon swim/shower in the waterhole we couldn’t keep the smiles from our faces. We topped the day off with a siting of the rare Azure Kingfisher which happened to be having a drink in the waterhole when we arrived. We had been keeping an eye out as Brad our neighbour at the campsite and avid bird photographer had told us he was keeping an eye out and lo and behold we saw two of them. Such beautiful colours and our photo from our phone definitely doesn’t do it justice.
We had another lost city to explore the next day, this one was 20kms east of us down the Savannah way and only a measly 3kms of easy 4×4 track. We thought there might be a few other people around when we arrived but it was just our neighbours Brad and Marianne at the site. At this lost city we got to complete a little 3km walking track around the structures and it was spectacular. Like the western city some of the structures were gravity defying. Judging by the number of loose boulders around some would be close to toppling over.
Feeling as if we were staying in a pretty special place we decided to extend our stay by another night and just relax and enjoy the bush surrounds and the waterhole. Definitely worth it. We also discovered why the waterhole was called Butterfly Springs. Along one of the rock walls that is in shade thousands of butterfly’s roost. When you get closer they all take flight and surround you. Magical.
Butterfly Springs and the Lost cities was one of our favourite off the beaten track adventures so far. S