Wednesday 7th February 2007. Darwin. Northern Territory.

Up and out and today we are on our way to Litchfield National Park and our first stop the termite mounds that thrive on the grassy plains of Northern Australia. These plains flood in the wet season and bake in the dry. To survive the conditions the termites build mounds which create a stable temperature. Termites thrive on warm stable temperatures.
The different angles of construction used provide for local shade and wind conditions and allow for the centre of the nest to be cool.

Cathedral termite mounds are amongst the largest built by termites anywhere in the world, sometimes exceeding 6m in height.

Litchfield National Park has been home to aboriginal people for thousands of years. It is sad thus that it was not until 1976 and the Aboriginal Land Rights Act that a basis was established on which aboriginal people in the Northern Territory could claim rights to land based on traditional occupation.

The park is home to many and varied habitats yielding a variety of bush tucker and plentiful wildlife. Named after Frederick Henry Litchfield, a member of the original Finniss Expedition of 1864 which was aimed at establishing a settlement at Escape Cliffs at the mouth of the Adelaide River, the park area saw its first tin mine established in 1888 . Mining continued until 1951/52 with some of the miners marrying local aboriginal women (many of their descendants still live in the area today). Logging began in this area in 1948, but by 1985 the national park had been created.

Our next stop is Florence Falls. In the wet season the sandstone plateau around this area sheds large volumes of rain water. However, some water is stored in the underground cracks in the sandstone, which acts like a giant sponge. In the dry season water slowly seeps out feeding creeks and waterfalls.

After visiting the base of the falls Paula, Heather and I walk back via Shady Creek Walk.

Lunch is at Wangi Falls which are spectacular.

Litchfield National Park is dominated by a huge sandstone plateau with cascading waterfalls, pockets of monsoon rainforest and tropical woodlands. With wildlife ranging from dingoes, small marsupials and freshwater crocodiles; to birds like the blue winged kookaburra which we actually saw at lunch.

Back in Darwin I checked into the Value Inn on Mitchell with Rob and Philippa...her two big brothers are protecting her. It is actually like a uni hostel. Paula is next door and Amanda and Carly are in the hostel across the carpark. Who would have thought one month ago that I would be sharing a room with a nineteen year old school leaver and sharing a bed with Mr Cool!!!

The whole group meet at Wisdom for drinks before we head for a very elegant dinner at the Hanuman; Jimmy Shu's iconic Thai restaurant and one of the finest dining experiences in the Northern Territory. Tonight we bid farewell to the two Julia's, Heather, Marianna and Marco.