We decided to have two in the Mango (John and Harry) and two on bikes (Ferg and me – obviously) for the trip to Mataranka Falls – about 4.2km from our camp. It would have worked out quite well if Ferg and I hadn’t missed a track marker and found ourselves doing hike-a-bike over the river’s edge boulders. The Mango made it to the falls, but Ferg and I turned back, half melted in the heat.

Here’s the happy paddling team.

We packed up after the morning expedition and headed to Bitter Springs, just 6km from Mataranka (on the north side of town).

This was way better than the Mataranka Spring. It’s a long pool along the Little Roper River that you can float down, and then wander back in the shade of the trees. I challenge any landscape designer to come up with a better plan than this one!

We did several laps!