Growing Up Troppo - August

Reviews, tips and advice for travelling the world with kids.

By Libby Larsen

While lots of families headed out of town for the holidays we stayed local and revisited some of our favourite haunts, including an awesome weekend away at Litchfield National Park with cousins from Melbourne. 

We had good intentions to camp, but ended up staying at the boys’ favourite place, the Batchelor Butterfly Farm – which I’m happy to report, is as wonderfully eclectic and welcoming as I remember. 

Chris, the owner, is always a huge hit with the boys and this time was no different.

They were enthralled once again by the bunnies who’ve recently upgraded to five star quarters; were in fits of laughter feeding the noisy pigs and piglets, feisty goats, ducks and gaggling geese; and befriended Nick, a black-headed python, and a new addition since our last visit. 

We arrived in Batchelor late on a Friday afternoon and headed out to Buley Rockhole for sunset. As you may know, it’s pretty rare to get these sublime plunge pools to yourself, but as the soft afternoon light set in and people left we were all by ourselves – pure bliss! The cousins were impressed. 

The next day we set off for Tjaetaba Greenant Creek which is a 2.7km return walk along shady sections of the creek to a gorgeous round plunge pool with a picturesque waterfall.

We saw a Mertens’ water monitor, and the boys were pretty chuffed with their efforts jumping into the rock pool. I even proved to myself that I can still do it!

We were all spoilt from the evening before, so when a big group arrived we decided to head off to Walker Creek, one of my favourite places in Litchfield.

No secret to locals, Walker Creek comprises a series of lovely little private rock pools along a creek with a small camping site at each waterhole.

We arrived late afternoon and checked the board at the track entrance to see which sites were free – they were all taken by campers. With fond memories of campsite three – pre kids – I was determined to check it out again.

Thanks Rob and Anastasia for sharing it with us for a while! It was the most fabulous way to end the day and the highlight of the waterholes for the Melbourne cousins. 

Following an icy swim at Wangi Falls on Sunday, we headed back to Darwin. Despite being really busy, Wangi is always spectacular – the perfect way to finish our getaway.

Libby Larsen
Travel is, and has always been, Libby’s passion and she believes that this shouldn’t stop when you have kids. Libby knows that the best travel advice and tips come from other parents and so she started Growing up Troppo. It has loads of inspiration about hip places to stay, play and eat with kids that, importantly, parents love too.  
 

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