Tuesday 26th July Wangy Falls 11,329

Tuesday 26^th July – Wangi Falls to 4WD campsite near Florence falls – 11,329 Km

Forgot to mention other than Michael and myself, everyone else had gone for a walk to the Wangi Falls. As they were not swimmable I had decided to stay 'home' and prep dinner – I would look at Malcolms photos :) A good start in the morning, re-airing the tyres as most of the driving would be on tarmac today and Malcolm and Rachael guiding Trev back to rehitch his trailer (with the flat jockey wheel). First stop The Cascades. A 1.7 km hike again, (but we were still fresh). Yet another pool and falls, so the inevitable 'play' in the water, before walking back via the creek (babbling brook). Either side of which quite thick monsoon forest. Interestingly 20 meters back from the creek the landscape changes back to dry scrub. On again to Tolmer Falls. As there are several bat colonies living here, you are not allowed to enter the gorge, but there is a lovely lookout to view the falls from. It was now lunch time and decided we had better hunt for and reserve ourself a campspot (learning by now the early bird gets the biggest/levelest site). Headed up to Florence Falls and saw a sign for 4x4 camping. Turned in and after jump starting someone with a flat battery, found ourselves a very suitable place for the night. It is only about a 20 m walk to some swimming holes and a 15 minutes 'easy' (so the sign says) walk to Florence. So I will close up here for now and head up there. Well, this is a choice spot. A 20m walk to numerous swimming holes in the babbling brook, all over hung by shady, palms and pandanas, quite a paradise, some little holes quite deep and sandy bottomed. Another 15 minute walk up this creek comes out at Florence Falls. Whilst these are quite high and lots of water with a large swimming hole around the base, it was far too busy – I guess because it was easy access by road, and all the tours from Darwin would head here. Nevertheless it was interesting watching a few young lads test their nerve climbing up the rock face to leap off the top. A beautiful Monsoon Forest through Shady Creek just past this. Most enjoyable. Got chatting to some other campers who had come from Cape York so we were all eager to pick their brains. Some challenging driving ahead of us I think. I looked at the boys faces whilst the stories were being told and could tell they are all itching to get there and test their driving abilities.