A sunday drive in the bush

For the other Sunday a pleasant little drive was planned with some other Land Rover owners to a natural spring down by Adelaide River. Due to the distance that might be involved an early start was made with all meeting at 8.00am down the highway at Coolinga. Unfortunately one vehicle could not make it, the excuse being that there was work to be done in the garden!!

Leaving Adelaide River we took a track by the dump and after a few kilometres we came to a muddy section where a swamp was drained across the track. Due to the deep ruts the Discoveries could not climb out of the ruts to get onto the drier land and the vehicles lost traction only because their differentials were sitting on the ground so the wheels were off the ground. To get the first vehicle out my hand winch had to used then a snatchem strap which works like a big elastic band, pulled me through. The other vehicle was an older Land Rover and with the bigger wheels, it did not experience the same problem.

First boggy section. The leaning tree to the right of my vehicle marks the edge of a drop into a creek bed.

Second attempt to get up on to the drier land. The washaway into the creek forced all vehicles into the ruts.

Dan going through the muddy section.




Most of the countryside in this section was flat and the track went down the middle of the valley with the occasional dry creek crossing which had to be taken carefully as they were quite eroded. After a hour and a half we arrived at Land Rover Springs (yes that is what it is shown on the official maps), a pleasant shaded spot after the rather dry countryside we had passed through. We decided to go on and the crossing here had a deep hole which had the water coming about half way up the radiator.

Lunch stop was by the Adelaide River crossing where there is a wreck of a Toyota Hilux which had been washed off the crossing last year. After lunch the climb up the other side was tackled. Due to its steep and sandy nature several attempts had to be made by the vehicles until they were able to claw their way up lifting their front wheels off the ground in the process.

Stop at Land Rover springs.

The crossing at Land Rover Springs.

My vehicle using the crossing, just before the deeper hole.

The next section required several hills to be climbed over a very loose rocky surface so one vehicle at a time did it for safety. Two of the hill climbs were several hundred yards long and had to be taken in 1st gear low range with all the differentials locked just to get up. Earlier in the year a cyclone had passed through uprooting a few trees which we had to squeeze around. Some turns were tight and several scratches were made to the paint work. After another hours driving, some of it through the Buffalo grass which was higher than the vehicle and some deep crossings of dry creek beds, the road to Daly River was reached.

At the top of the climb up from the Adelaide River Crossing.

Where the Daly River Road joined the old highway we came across an accident. Fortunately the rescue crews were there. One of the large semi trailers carrying pipe for the gas pipeline was turning off the highway and being so large, it needed both lanes to turn but an inexperienced tourist tried to turn inside him and was then caught under the rear wheels of the semi. They were not badly hurt and should have learnt their lesson now. One on the Stop/ Go sign was also a Land Rover enthusiast so he had a good chat with all.

So the rather muddy, dusty and with a few scratches, vehicles arrived back in Darwin just in time for tea after a nice quiet Sunday drive.

Thanks to Lewy for the photos.!