Streams in the Desert

I imagined the Northern Territory quite barren, but right through the centre is a large strip of underground limestone, and during the wet season the limestone is pourus, soaks up all the water, warms it, then releases into streams.  This has created magnificent springs of warm water dotted through the territory.   For the last week we have been staying at Mataranka Springs (home of the book 'We of the never never) - originally an overnight destination for us, but as always there is a story that has seen us stranded yet again in beauty and provision.

We planned to cross the border to NT early in the morning, with the kids in PJ's all strapped in to set off, but the car didn't start.  Thankfully it was only the battery - we hadn't switched the fridge to GAS and it drained our van battery, followed by the car battery.  Lesson learned!  We were quickly jump started by a kind stranger and in no time at all we were on our way.


It was going to be a big driving day, so for the first time since leaving home, John handed me the wheel of the car to share the driving.  Sam was a bit worried about this and asked 'mum, are you sure you have driven before'.    Photo below proves that yes I did drive, but not at the 130kph limit, I stuck to a steady 80.

We drive into Tennant Creek desperate for groceries.  After seeing the asking price of up to $9 for Tim Tams at the few and far between little grocery stores, we were eating the last rations of the cupboard with no treats.  The most we splurged on was a bottle of the cheapest wine we could find - $15, and we made it last. 

Driving through the town of Tennant Creek it was afternoon and the street was sprinkled with gorgeous little aboriginal children coming home from school.  They were just so dark and delicious I wanted to put one of them in the van and take them home with me.  Somehow I am sure that is not the done thing.   I had been warned that there was a rough side to the town, but the people in the supermarket were as friendly as they come. 

We decided to stay at a caravan park here the night because our battery was still flat in the van and needed to be plugged into a powered site for charging.  

We sat outside after the kids were tucked into bed to enjoy the amazing canopy of stars in the outback (you can see the deep swirl of the milky way so clearly).  We were serenaded by the sound of drunken fighting in the street and soon went inside.

It is also here that we discover our gas ignition switch on our caravan fridge, which had caused a minor problem earlier in the day had actually broken.  The means it need to be plugged into electricity. Now so glad for the flat battery on the car and van in the morning which had forced us into a powered site that night.  We would have been in a spot of bother if we were bush camping with no gas power for my fridge full of fresh groceries. 

There was no one in Tennant Creek to fix our fridge, the only repairer was in Darwin, so we decided to head quickly there.   Because we still needed electricity to run our fridge we stop at Mataranka Homestead for a powered site on the way.  .... plus hot showers, flushing toilets and running water -  luxury.

We find it hard to figure out what day it is, let alone what time of year - and the campers next door advise us that it is coming into the long weekend and Darwin is booked out.  So we need to stay "plugged" in at Mataranka or another 5 days before heading in.  

But as God's grace prevails once again we discover we have stayed at one of the hottest places for live music in Central NT, and they have two vacancies for a muso while we are there.  The money earnt pays for all the powered accomodation we need while we wait for our fridge to be fixed, and enough spare cash to relax and enjoy Darwin.   We have experienced a new meaning to 'springs in the desert' (Isaiah 43).


We spend our days swimming in the Thermal Pools and the boys get really confident in the water.  Amy also demanded to have her nappy off and do a wee in the toilet, which was a wonderful milestone for us to enjoy.  Meanwhile John and Sam watched the Star Wars saga (thank you Tegan for lending us the box set).  I also secretly enjoyed watching it, but don't tell my three brothers.


Still so much of NT to see, Katherine, Litchfield National Park, Kakadu, and of course a catch up with our new friends on the road in Darwin.

The price of unleaded petrol - WOW