7 - 2024 - Nitmiluk National Park, Leliyn Edith Falls, N.T.

 

Entry 7 – 2024 – Nitmiluk National Park Leliyn-Edith Falls , NT

Arriving at Leliyn Edith Falls campground car park the first thing our eyes focused onto was the beautiful backdrop of the steep rocky walls alongside of the water falls pool. We were instantly in a sense of excitement with anticipation to experience a very special location.

We had already forgotten about the overflowing, super large day visitor car-park crowds we had negotiated our way through (alongside of the campground) when our eyes focused onto the surrounds of the falls.

The below photographs best show the Edith Falls setting taken the following evening as the sun was about to set, with the long weekend crowds gone.

We set up our camp for a planned extended stay, feeling buoyant to be once again, at Edith Falls. It is one of those extra special, delightful locations in Australia.

The campground consists of many circular shaped grass areas with camp sites spaced out alongside of the grassed areas.

As with most national park camp grounds, sites are predominately covered by shady trees. The site we managed to book, with some help from the adjoining road, provided good sunshine for our roof mounted solar panels as the arc of the sun travelled along this road.

Well, that was our last experience at this site. Since our last visit the nearby trees had grown much taller, greatly restricting our solar energy access. Thankfully we had recently acquired some portable solar panels to supplement our power needs at times like this. Foresight worked a treat for us on this occasion and we were able to obtain our required levels of solar power.

The atmosphere and scenery of Nitmiluk National Park - Leliyn Edith Falls area provides good incentive to push your bodies to “just do it,” and get out there for a look-about.

Our minds and eyes were saying, you need to experience as much as possible of this magnificent setting each day. But our legs and respiratory system were saying, “give us a go,” we’re not capable of supporting that sort of cardio-vascular work out. There was the hilly terrain with some steep, strenuous sections and so many steps.

So, we came up with a compromise. Every second day we walked the upper-falls loop walk, each time rotating our start/finish direction.

After a few loops, even our cardio-vascular system was showing some enthusiasm to be out and about in the fabulous setting.

During those periods of walking/hiking our bodies would look forward to the many recovery dips in the coolish waters of the upper pools along with the main, lower pool on the return hike.

We do love the magnetism of these locations. Consider the above photographs of us in the water together. They require a special act for accomplishment. First the camera is setup on a tripod, balanced on an uneven rocky surface on the water’s edge. Second, the model is positioned in the appropriate spot. The nearby pool is inspected for obstructions, especially for any submerged rock outcrops. Third, with the 10 second timer on the camera activated, Steve dives into the water, carefully, hoping not to splash water onto the camera lens and swims underwater as fast as he can. Fourth, he surfaces nearby Mary, orientating his position close to Mary and with an appropriate angle towards the camera. Fifth, he flicks the water off his face, trying not to look like a drowned rat and hay presto, a photograph of us both together with a magnificent backdrop.   

On the non-hiking days, we would swim out to the falls and enjoy some walk-about time nearby the main falls area viewing the “locals,” and admiring the beautiful setting.

The Nitmiluk National Park - Leliyn Edith Falls area is grand viewing. It oozes with charisma, providing a beautiful boost to one’s well-being. Thank you, mother nature.