MATARANKA SPRINGS SWIM & DALY WATERS Day 35 NORTHERN TERRITORY
- Traveldriven
- Jul 19, 2017
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
MATARANKA SPRINGS
NORTHERN TERRITORY
The thermal water is said to relieve one's ailments. Located close to the Roper River, the pool can sometimes get crowded, especially during June to August. The pool is filled with fresh spring water from the Daly and Georgina basins, and it maintains a consistent temperature of 34 degrees. The walkway and springs are shaded by palms. However, the ground floor is dry and brown and devoid of greenery from the top down and unsightly. Mataranka Springs are about one hundred and seventy km north of Daly Waters.
BITTER SPRINGS
Bitter springs are nearby to Mataranka Springs. A short drive between the two. However, there is a big difference one to the other. In Bitter Springs, people float down a small waterway surrounded by bushland and shady trees to an area some two hundred metres downstream with an exit platform.
On rare occasions the springs are closed by rangers because of a saltwater crocodile sighting in the area.
Mataranka Springs are pools of water with one large pool for swimming in and set amongst large palm trees reached via a boardwalk.
Daly Waters
Is a locality in the Northern Territory. About six hundred kilometres south of the capital of Darwin at the intersection of the Stuart Highway and Carpentaria Highway of which only 48 km is sealed.
Daly Waters was established in 1927. Population of nine people. Daly Waters Airfield was a centre for the London to Sydney Air Race of 1926. A refuelling stop for early Qantas flights to Singapore and a World War II Airforce base. The historic Daly Waters Hotel was licensed in 1938. Free nightly live entertainment. Gets quite busy during peak holidays and its accommodation may be fully booked out. The Hi-way Inn Roadhouse may have available accommodation and is ten minutes' drive on the main north/south Stuart Highway. There are no other options.
Numerous outback hotels try to impress and differentiate from other localities by unusual self-promotion. Apparently the wackier the better. Examples are photographed below.
Larrimah
Located over 500 km south of Darwin this very small settlement off of the Stuart Highway is centred around the now infamous Larrimah Hotel. The hotel was often frequented by 'Paddy', the missing local man presumed murdered in the Outback by persons who are perhaps known in the community. The story is told in a major Netflix drama. Based on a true disappearance. As of 2025 the mystery disappearance of Paddy is unsolved.
The Larrimah Hotel lays claim to have the highest bar in the Northern Territory. Travellers may camp overnight in the local caravan park or stay in the hotel units.
Traveldriven
DRIVE KATHERINE - MATARANKA
- DALY WATERS
THE LONG LONELY ROAD
LARRIMAH HOTEL IS ONE HOUR'S DRIVE
NORTH OF DALY WATERS
LARRIMAH HOTEL
LAIDBACK AUSTRALIAN BARMAN
NOT A, 'BACKPACKER BARMAN'
ANYTHING TO ATTRACT TOURISTS
DALY WATERS ENTERTAINENT
DALY WATERS PUB EXTERIOR
DALY WATERS PUB TRUE BLUE......
A TOURIST SERVO DISPLAY
AND IS ACTUALLY USEFUL
DALY WATERS
OUTBACK PUB BUSY TIMES
THE BUCKING SHED
DALY WATERS PUB
ANYTHING FOR THE TOURIST DOLLAR
THE ROPER RIVER SIGNAGE
WALKWAY TO MATARANKA SPRINGS
BITTER SPRINGS NEAR
MATARANKA SPRINGS
FLOATING DOWN BITTER SPRINGS
WITH POOL NOODLES
STAYING AT MATARANKA SPRINGS
FREE NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT
JULIAN JAMES & PARTNER
CLOSING TIME AT THE OUTBACK PUBS. RSA NOT ADHERED TO.