Litchfield track info - Lost City to Daly Road ???

in may 03 I went to go from daly river up through lich field that way but there was a sighn say ing the road was close after surprise creek falls or was it sandy creek? so I went any way and the falls were fantastic swimming but sure enough there was a locked gate. Later I came from the north and drove as far as the Reynolds river crossing which is covered with warnings (snorkal req etc) but it looked only 5-700mm deep - this would depend on seasons of course. Bottom line contact ranger to see if the road is totally open and if so do it there is a lot to see and it is away fom the tourit hoards as much as can be expected

Haven't been that way for a while but did that track numerous times in my 20 odd years in the Top End. Before the place became a National Park we would do a Wet Season run in the Suzukis through there. This needed looooong lengths of snatch ropes(not straps). Sometimes the run could take two days. Once I took my FJ55 for a swim in the Reynolds. Lots of goodies inside the truck were floating around...lol. By now the tracks have probably been worn deeper and when the locals tell you it is a No Go area then you must trust them. The track up the escarpment jump-up and through to the Lost City has been pretty rugged in the past. Maybe there is a new track? In the past it is not been the kind of place to take a trailer. You can however access the main road again just south of Wangi Falls and there is no need to drive up the rough stuff.

Did it in a rav 4 hire car last time we were there, Aug 2002 inc the creek section to park at the lost city itself.

We've towed our cub camper through there twice over the years, both times the Reynolds crossing was over the bonnet of the troopy and the camper was nearly fully submerged but no water got in while moving. different story if you stopped as Willem said. Mind you both times there was avehicle on the northern bank with a hydraulicked engine!
Both times the locals said we would never get through to the lost city towing the camper but both times we did it easily with the airlocker in.
The first time was in the mid eighties before the bitumen roads into the park and the second was mid 90's and the 'hard' bit had been bulldozed a bit over the camels hump.
Remember though that most territorians aren't used to rockhopping and steep climbs, mostly mud and water up there ;-))
Ask locally and then suck it and see when you get there.

Depends on the time of year coz u get a fair bit of water in the wet the lady on the phone re the crocs probably would be right if you were sitting on the roof waiting for a pick up by a helli. do it in the dry the weathers better and less mozzies, you will love it, good luck.

I cant find the lost city asked heaps of people but no one knows were it is.

All the best
Eric

Hi Willie,

I was up there in Sept/Oct 04. Nth to Sth, all tracks were good, easy going. Lost city track has some small corrugations. I think?, Lost city track advised against trailers anytime. Some water crossings change direction midway with some deeper holes. In May being the end of the wet as u know, they will be DEEPER.
Local tour operators might give good advice for that time of travel.
Would love to see it in May/ June myself, it was a stinking hot during the day in Oct with a hot wind, until sunset, the wind went down with the sun.

Monsoon Cafe- Litchfield, 08- 8978 2077, from a broucher(spellllll?) I picked up
Seasons Greetings
Happy travels
Andy