The remote stretches of Australia extending beyond the township of Mataranka is indeed a Never Never Land. When Jeannie Gunn wrote her 1908 novel ‘We of the Never Never’, she did a great thing by calling this part of the Australian landmass as Never Never. It’s almost in the middle of nowhere. This is the place to be if you care for whip cracking cowboys, great outdoors and a pool where you can just soak in the warm water.
About Mataranka
This is basically a remote township (a Wayside stop if you will). The stop is mostly on Explorer’s way tourism drive connecting Adelaid and Darwin by a road that is 3700 kilometers long.
With a small population of 250 people, the Mataranka is a very cozy place to be in. This township is south east of Katherine. Elsey National Park is only about eight kilometers from Mataranka. This is the biggest attraction of the area. The following picture shows a glimpse of the Mataranka rodeo.
Elsey National Park
This is one of Australia’s National Parks that extends over an area of 140 square kilometers with the Rope river cutting right through the wilderness. This is an awesome Australian outback. But, inside here make sure you stay away from those red ants. They can and will bite you at some point or the other and it ain’t pretty when they do.
Things to do?
You can check out the Lost City Sandstone features. These freestanding stark sandstone pillars are just awesome. I can’t wait to check them out. Bear in mind that you are not allowed to drive into the Lost City area. Some of these pillars are upto 25m. So if you rock climb or boulder, you can give these a try although, they might be loose rocks.
If you get tired, you can crash at the Heartbreak hotel. Beware, this was once upon a time city’s infamous Brothel. There’s also a chopper ride that can get you to Lost city from Heartbreak hotel. I think I might go for this deal.
Besides this, there’s the Poppy’s pool which is south of Borroloola, where you can take a dip and have fun in the water. Also, you can enjoy the scenic vistas as the sun goes down.
Canoeing and fishing are some great ways to spend the vacation around this place. There’s crocodile warning signs all over this place. So please beware while participating in any water borne activity.
When to go
June to September is the best period. Summer rains can cause road closures. From what I heard, September might be a good idea. It will be cool but not cold. The temperature won’t be that hot either.
Where to stay & costs involved
There’s a whole bunch of B & B inns all over this area. The nearest city of Katherine offers plenty of room and board options for visitors. There are lodges and campgrounds as well.
You can just fly to Cairns, Australia and hire a 4WD vehicle. A Pajero would be a good idea. Companies like Britz Campervans, Apollo campers, and Kea Campers are just some of them. Costs vary widely. Still, a rough estimate would be something like 200-250 Australian $ per day. I guess it’s not that bad afterall.
So what are you still waiting for? Come and play in the never never land of Jeanie Gunn. Get yourself lost in the Savannah grass lands. Catch a big fish this season and make your trip to Mataranka a lot more fun by taking a dip in the warm pool.
Image Links:
Australian explorer, Matarankacabins and Goaustralia
