Lorella Springs Wilderness Park

Lorella Springs Wilderness Park offers a retreat experience with an atmosphere of solitude and serenity. With an 80 km frontage onto the Gulf of Carpentaria, Lorella Springs Station is a virtually untouched one million acre wilderness sanctuary. The Lorella homestead and camping and caravanning area is situated on the Lorella Thermal Spring. It can be reached, in the dry season, by most outback prepared vehicles.

Away from the idyllic, unspoilt beaches on its 20 kilometres of ocean frontage, past the bird filled lakes, past rivers, hills, forests and savannah lands, climb past chasms, past waterfalls, past thermal springs, up the towering glittering crystalline escarpments, surveying this majestic massive country, and, as far as possible  in every direction, all you can see is "Lorella".

Huddled at the base of the Tawallah Range is the beautiful natural, crystal clear, hot thermal spring, bubbling and pushing its way out from underground, cascading thousands of litres of water from this pretty pandanus lined rock hole in the gap of the ranges. Flowing straight past the picturesque campground, this spring is the head waters of the pristine and unspoiled Rosie River , which winds and turns about one hundred kilometres through rugged and spectacular terrain  to eventually flow through to the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The Rosie River is bubbling, teaming, bursting with wildlife.

The camp ground spreads extensively with the creek meandering along the lush paperbark lined banks. There are acres of green grassy sites running down to the waters edge, so that you can select your own camp and relax to the gentle sounds of flowing water trickling past.  Perhaps even fish out of your tent. There is a section of the spring which has been cleared out and converted to a natural hot water swimming pool.

Below: Wildfire Gorge

In The Area

Much of Lorella and its coastline is untouched and approx 80 km or more from the homestead campsite and some can only be reached by extreme 4WD Driving by experienced drivers. Many previously untouched areas are now accessible to visitors. Unexplored swamps, lakes, and creeks full of wildlife. Crocodiles, wild cattle, buffalos, wild boar, wild horses, kangaroos, wallabies, goannas and countless varieties of wetland, forest and sea birds can be see throughout the region.


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There are three particularly attractive water holes that are ideal for swimming. Wildfire Gorge, Inkspot and Emerald Pools are places where you could easily spend a whole day in the water. At Eagle's Nest Creek, you can borrow the locals' canoe for a paddle up and down the creek. Eagles Nest Billabong, now known as Hot Foot Billabon, is another popular swimming and fishing hole.

As its name suggests, the spring-fed Waterslide is an awesome waterhole with a smooth natural rock slide. The water was the perfect temperature and the perfect depth.

The Arch is one of many unusual rock formations and offers a great view of Lorella Springs. The Four Archers (Barrkuwirriji) is particularly spectacular rock formation in the park. They were named by explorer Dr Ludwig Leichhardt after the Archer family of Moreton Bay who funded part of the expedition's costs. In fact the Savannah Way from the Mitchell to the Roper River closely follows the original Leichhardt expedition route. At Musterer’s Cave, you can crawl inside the little cave and see bats hanging around, not to mention some pristine examples of indigenous rock art.

Below: The Arch

The best time to visit is from April, after the wet, through to October - November, when the Territory starts to heat up.

Location: Nathan River Rd, near Borroloola. Website. Ph (08) 8975 9917.

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