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 Lorella Springs Stories

Below is a selection of stories from those who have lived on or visited Lorella:

Have you ever felt the vastness of the Universe? The solitude of timelessness. You're own aloneness as you gaze inwardly into a silent void of nothingness, knowing you are standing upon the rim of the world. You sense that you are a part of all that there is as you stare across the void into eternity, and you know that you are a part of it all. 

Here I am, standing on the very rim of the World. Well that's what it seems like. You climb to the top of the ridge, the wind is blowing through your hair and the sun is warming your senses. You find a rock and sit there enjoying the aloneness and the view. Before you know it the wind is carrying the distant bellowing of a lonely bull and the chattering of birds as they tell you, you have invaded their privacy. A rustle, and there unaware of your presence is a rock wallaby, delicately sniffing the air with its inquisitive nose, whilst clasping in its human like paws, a twig. It senses it's not alone, and then accusingly fixes soulful eyes upon you, as it tries to decide whether to leave or to stay. Perhaps it's you on the ridge. It could be you. Someone is laughing in the spring, you can hear their exuberance as it's carried upon the wind. Life is going on in the valley below you, yet you are untouched by it all as you sit enjoying your peaceful at-oneness with it all.

The wind is your messenger, it tells you what's going on below. You can see movement at the homestead and hear a distant humming sound. Something is coming. In the distance a cloud of dust is spreading out along the track following the vehicle as it bowls along towards the fold in the ranges that surround the homestead. These ranges can only be appreciated when you are high up or in a plane for then you can see what they are. No wonder you feel that you are standing upon the rim of the World. How can you not be overwhelmed by the fact that you are standing upon the rim of a once giant volcanic crater and the valley and homestead is inside of it. 

This is a magic place, you can feel how special and unique it is as its magnetic charisma weaves within your senses. This magical flow sort of creeps up on you and the spirit of the land lays claim to your heart. A land changing over eons of time and will keep on changing forever. How else can I tell you about Lorella Springs, our home, and our love. 

You've arrived, the small plane dips its wings as it circles the airstrip giving warning to the animals below. Your stomach lurches, you're here, well almost. The pilot warns to make ready for he is lining up to come in. You see horses' breaking into a gallop, the noise of the plane has alerted the inhabitants of the bush. Was that an Emu? 

A four-wheel drive is pulling up beside the airstrip and someone is waving, you catch a glimpse of all this as the plane comes in for its landing. Before you know it you and your companions are climbing out of the plane and stretching, someone is coming to meet you. This must be your guide! You have arrived at Lorella Springs station.

On the ground you are still trying to come to terms that you are now a part of the land and no longer seeing with a bird's eye view from the air. You have realized just how old this country is with its monolithic huge rock formations and the worn down volcanic craters that were once mountains. 

"Come on" say's the man who waved to you, if I know Mum the billy will be on." 
You all pile into the vehicle and head for the welcome cuppa. You can feel the spell, a certain heaviness settling upon you as you all head for the homestead. The creeks that are crystal clear disturbed by the wheels of the Toyota as they crunch through the riverbed. The tranquilness upset by our crossing. Was that a crock. A quick movement and then a splash, all so quick you're not sure if it happened or not until the guide says. "Did you see that little chap?"

This place is magic, you are beginning to feel that anything can happen and you are assured that it does. "Well it depends upon what you want," Rhett says. By this time we have found that he is one of the owners of Lorella Springs and loves the place.
"If you want a quiet time, there's the hot springs to laze in, and trips to the ruins." He points back in the direction we've just come from and tells us "that's the original old homestead. This place is full of history, Leichhardt the explorer actually passed through here over 100 years ago. There's an old tree somewhere near the coast with Leichhardt's name carved into it.

Your mind can't register all this because the rugged rocky outcrops and the twisting winding track is sort of mesmerizing as you wonder what you will see next. It's an experience of a different world bouncing along through the bush away from the hustle bustle of stress living. You can breath in the smell of the earth and your surroundings. Little gullies and bird life keep captivating your attention, this is a tropical paradise and a breeding ground for so much life. Noisy cockatoo' screech you're presence to the bush "I wouldn't be dead for a million quid." Wow, where did that come from. 

Rhett's voice continues to tell you about the coast and how it had been impossible to get there by vehicle until recently. You realize that you are one of the first people to be lucky enough to see this incredible domain that has been virtually untouched and left to it's natural state. Until recently an inaccessible coastline stretching for many kilometres, drag marks of the huge salt-water crocodiles that rule their territory unchallenged having bred up over the years. Croc spotting at night, and a vista of natural and beautiful swamps and billabongs where life exists in abundance untouched, and in some cases not easily accessible in this tropical wilderness. You know the fishing is unreal and here's your chance to catch the big one and have a look see. 

You think you have heard it all but then you are told about other trips. Wilderness survival where a plane flies in at the coast airstrip and people accompanied by a guide, trek through the far reaches of the land following the historical Rosie River as it carves its way to the coast. The destination the homestead. The lure of the dream excites your imagination. You learn that the Spaniards named the many rivers and that they planted the Tamarind trees. How can a place offer so much! It's obvious that the owners love this retreat and don't want it exploited.

The deep gorges and waterfalls, hidden tropical oasis's and the natural springs which actually flow through the subterranean waterways from New Guinea to the Gulf and take eight years to arrive at Lorella Springs, the place of hot water springs.

"Your wondering what this bull catching offer is about aren't you," our driver says. "Well it's the ride of your life, and an experience you'll never forget in a hurry." 

Then there's the Yiyintyi Ranges situated almost at the coast, a place of sheer incredibleness in its starkness to the surrounding bush. In the Wet these ranges show a different face. A face softened by the waterfalls and running tributaries and creeks, you can literally see the land breathing when the rains come. Lorella Springs is in the Gulf of Carpentaria 160 km north of Borolloola in the Northern Territory and in the Wet is a place of swollen rivers and flooding plains. The challenge is there to be had. Is this for you, are you ready to take up an opportunity of a lifetime and spend time as the adventurer, travelling through the land. 

Before you know it the Toyota is crossing the last stream before the homestead and you and your fellow travellers are ready for the promised cuppa.



CROC SPOTTING

The engine has been cut.
"We'll just drift for a while," your guide says. The moon is full and it's light shines across the water, reflecting the ripples shimmering over the estuary. The flying foxes are squawking in the mangroves that are growing along the riverbank.
"There it is. It's massive. Must be close to five meter's long."
The boat starts nosing in towards the riverbank while the spotlight still shines directly on the huge croc.
"This is by far the biggest you have seen on this trip."
The guide cuts the engine to let us drift in quietly.
"What on earth do you think you're doing," you think to yourself, as you quickly raise your camera to start clicking. "Nobody will believe I got this close to a wild croc."
"Do you reckon he knows we're here?" 
With a roar and a flick of its tail over the mud, the huge crocodile is on its feet and lunging into the water with a splash. The flying foxes go hysterical, screeching and the night comes alive. The moon is beaming down on you.

You are in one of the most remote and incredible places on earth. A river system so teaming with life, and untouched. The outboard starts.
"Let's head back to camp for the night."



THE FISHING TRIP

Sunblock and hat on and you are ready to go. The boat is packed. Sunrise was absolutely beautiful. A big golden orange ball perched over the horizon. As you go to climb into the boat your attention is grabbed as you notice the water boiling only meters away from you. It's fish in a feeding frenzy. As you think to yourself what would be feeding on them, you look down beside you to see a huge pair of eyes staring back at you. It is a giant stingray. You don't need to be told twice to get into the dinghy.

You clamber in and see a big mud crab being waved around near your face. 
"Look what I just caught," says Dave.
This is bound to be a full day. The engine kicks over and we take off down the river. The tide is high and the boat planes along up into the clear shallows of the still water, and into an inlet flowing into the bay. The engine is cut and within seconds our guide has cast out a net. One good cast and there's plenty of bait. Banana prawns, garfish, even a little barra for there is life everywhere. It doesn't take us long from there until we find a spot that may be worth throwing a line in.

The anchor is dropped and everybody is baited up and has their line in the water. Your arms are tired and your fingers hurt for it has been one fish after another. If you're not quick all you'll catch is a fish head because the sharks will beat you to it every time. At least you know what's for dinner.



TREK THE RIVER ROSIE

Your legs are aching. You look down at your feet plodding one in front of the other. You are exhausted, but an inner strength you have always known that you had, keeps you stepping forward. Besides you can't let your companions down who are struggling just as hard as you. The last two days you have covered such a variety of country trekking along the wild and rugged, beautiful river Rosie.

You hear a noise in front of you. Looking up and snapping from your engrossed thought, you startle and jump back behind the closest tree as a couple of cows run out of the dense undergrowth and cut across your path. Yelling and clapping your hands your heart rate rises as you chase them off. Everyone laughs at you. It was only this morning that Debra had almost stepped on a little fresh water crocodile. Something was bound to happen to you.

Your guide stops you.
"We will stop here and catch some lunch."
THANK YOU! You say as you drop your backpack to the ground and race down the bank to see a beautiful Pandanas lined billabong. Black cockatoos screech. There is a Jabiru feeding just in front of you. 
"What will we eat," you say as Steve spears a red claw crayfish. Your guide already has the billy on the boil. 
"How about catching us a barra," he says as he passes you a hand line.
"This is worth all the pain," you think to yourself, knowing that this afternoon we will be picked up by a vehicle and taken in to base camp where we will wind down and swim in the hot springs at night time with a big bon fire.

AFTER THE BULL

"Over there," someone yells. 
The engine accelerates and you are flung almost out of the bull catcher as the driver drags the wheel around and races in the direction of the cattle. Your eyes scan quickly looking for the wild scrub bull we are in pursuit of. 

There is a cloud of dust in the distance but you don't have time to take this in as you need to duck as a branch flies past, almost knocking out of the vehicle. Your fingers hurt and your knuckles have gone purple in color just from trying to hold on to the rail of the back tray of the Toyota.

We are travelling at ridiculous speeds, weaving and dodging through the dense tropical savanna like country. Your adrenaline is running high and so is everyone else's in the buggy. The catcher launches airborne as we hit a huge termite mound in the long spear grass. It appears there is a mob of about seven head and you spot another bull running just to the outside of the mob.

In front of you there's a large creek looming with a sheer drop. We know we can't cross it and race to try and cut the cattle off. Two of the cattle make it down the bank. However the herd splits and our bull has turned back. We are on his tail. Dust from his feet, the wind and spear grass is being thrown into your face.

Finally after an almighty chase we have the bull pinned down by the catcher. Kegan jumps out of the vehicle and straps the bellowing bull's back legs together so he is immobilized. The poor beast has been defeated. 

 

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