A friend told us Mataranka was a place in the Northern Territory that you simply must visit. And after coming here, we couldn’t agree more.
Famous as being home to the story of We of the Never Never, written by Jeanie Gunn who was the first white women to call this place home when she came here with her husband in 1902. He died a year later, but she wrote a book that captured the imagination of a nation. It was even turned into a movie.
Visiting the Mataranka Thermal Pool
It’s a flat, hot drive in. And then all of a sudden, Mataranka appears, filled with thermal springs and lush green trees. Just like an oasis.
We headed straight to “Bitter Springs”, Mataranka Thermal Pool, where the water is 32 degrees! These natural thermal springs feed more than 30 million litres of water into the nearby Roper River each day and are one of the main attractions in this outback town. I was a little hesitant on the way in, concerned about crocodiles, but everyone kept assuring me there were none here. “Well, if there are other people in there, then I am in. If not, then I am not so sure”, I thought to myself.
Sure enough, as soon as we arrive, you could hear laughter coming from the watering hole. You walk down the path and there’s a gathering of travellers from all over the world swimming without a care. You let the current take you down the river and everyone from 18 months to 90 years old is here, with their goggles, noodles and floaties. Everyone is enjoying the therapeutic warmth and freshness of the water.
We swam in the water till the sun went down and even saw a turtle! It was like a warm bath from the gods.
If you come to the Northern Territory, you simply must come to Mataranka!
Tell us about your hot springs experiences in the comments below!
Beautiful place!
Lovely relaxing place to stop for a swim. Busy place when we were there with many overseas visitors on bus tours.
Yes been there ☺ But I think Bitter Springs not far from there is so much more Naturally Beautiful ☺ Very pretty to walk through the bush n come across this natural wonder ☺ I think I spent most of my days there taken pictures of it while floating down the springs Mmm now I wana go back
Loved it
Plus a pie 🙂
Yes we have been there. We enjoyed it immensely.
Yes I’ve been there!! So amazing.
Bitter Springs is incredible, 5 mins away, the caravan park is lovely and can walk to the water. One of my favourite places on earth 🙂 Dont miss it.
Yes love it!
Kez King
Was very relaxing even with the bats ☺
Spend more time at bitter springs next time ?
Definitely Bitter Springs over Mataranka.
Yes lovely place remember Clare
Rocky Rocky Arena I want to get here someday
Go just do it you won’t regret it
Yes loved them both
Yes, and worked in the area as a ranger too
Its stunning
Absolutely loved it. 😎
The bats had taken over when we were there a few years ago. Glad they have moved on…
Love that place!!!
Been there back in the day, great pub there too!
Have been there and it’s magic.
Kate Beckley
Been there 🙂 wanna go again
Been there twice in the early 90s
We loved it!!!
I was there in Jan/1981. I still think about it during the cold Canadian winters.