Kev M (Queenslander at Heart) replied:

Rip,

If you want some local advice when you get there go to the Health Clinic and see Mike (my Uncle) and he should be able to give you some idea of the local attractions that are not widely known.

When we were there last we had the hot springs to ourselves as the backpackers didn't like sharing them with a 2m long carpet snke LOL, SWMBO wasn't to keen either :)

Cheers Kev

mfewster replied:

About 4/5km away is Bitter Springs. Much nicer water with lots of interesting things to look at under the water. Well worth having anunderwater mask and snorkel with you.

Member - Jeff H (QLD) replied:

Sorry RIP,
Some places don't bear a return visit, (Like Port Douglas, Broome, Alice, Blanco Falls Noosa..............). By all means cruise in to view Matafanka (Maybe that typo was meant to be ?), and plan on camping at your discretion; just don't park/tresspass in the flash spots.
Our 2 visits were 30 years apart. But to each their own: many people love the mod cons at Mataranka.
MOO. Jeff.

Member - Linda M (VIC) replied:

Hi Rip64
Depends on what you like. I agree that Bitter Springs is well worth the visit with snorkel and is less busy than the Mataranka Springs. Also a visit to the Elsey Cemetary is interesting to see the memorial for Jeannie Gunn, author of 'We of the Never Never'. I read the book before I got there so the area was of much more interest and the cemetary was facinating as I saw the graves of many of the people in the book. Even without reading the book, its definitely worthwhile.
Also at Elsey National Park, there's a nice little campground at 12 Mile Yard. You can hire a canoe from the ranger there and go for the most idyllic paddle for a couple of hours up the Roper River to Mataranka Falls. The ranger assured us that there were no crocs! You could paddle up the river on day one (you'll be exhausted after that), stay overnight and do the Springs next morning, then go on to the cemetary for a bit of a history lesson. Enjoy! I was there in 2005.

Linda

Member - Kiwi Kia replied:

Didn't see any sharks but I don't like the look of them big long legged spiders (prob harmless)

mfewster replied:

The spider webs at Bitter Springs are very spectacky. They just sort of hang above the water. Harmless, but do wonders for keeping your swimming strokes neat. Bitter Springs has some of the clearest water I have ever seen. You just seem to hang in space.Tortoises and underwater plants. I've never seen anything that worried me there, but lots of things that took my breath away. You just sort of let yourself float along with the current in the creek and drift along for about half a k., then get out and do it all over again, and again. The water temp. is warm, the surrounding bush is pretty nice. I've never understood why Mataranka gets more attention.

Member - R Send replied:

We stayed at Mataranka Springs just under two years ago. The springs were very nice, in spite of the snake. Biggest issue was the hordes of bats in the palms - walking to the springs was a challenge at dusk - you had to watch where you were walking and keep an eye on what was going on up above - lots of ground and airborne bat poo!

And the aroma was different too.

On the positive we had an excellent meal at the restaurant there - the spicey fish cakes were a real treat.

Member - Barry M (NSW) replied:

Was there in May. Mataranka Springs were suffering huge flood damage, most of the palms flattened. Only one pool available for a dip & it was concrete. A far cry from the row of pools & scenic beauty I recall when there in 1990. I guess it will
recover in time. We were gone in an hour. Cant comment on other local
attractions as we did not seek them out except Bitter Springs, a nice walk there
but unsuitable for small kids, not the walk, the deep water....oldbaz.