Berry Springs, approximately 50kms south of Darwin, is a favourite picnic spot for both tourists and locals alike. Not surprising really, IT’S JUST GORGEOUS! We visited Berry Springs twice on our recent visit to the top end.

The water flows downstream towards the middle, main, swimming area. There’s steps that lead down to the water’s edge in all pools, with ladders into the water to make getting in and out safe.

The lower pool was the quietest of them all. At first we were reluctant to venture into the connecting waterways between the pools, fearing crocs could be lurking in those narrower, rocky areas. However, it didn’t take us long to lose our fears as we saw others venturing into the more secluded, connecting streams. The rangers do a pretty good job of monitoring for dangerous predators and have all sorts of traps, and warning devices for any Salties (Estuarine Crocodiles) that may venture into the swimming areas earmarked for safe public swimming. Please note, these areas are not considered safe during the wet season, and the swimming areas are generally kept closed. I would never venture into any of the water holes during the dry, or the wet season though until at least mid-morning after I know the rangers have had a chance to check things out, and there are at least a few other people in the water. There’s no way I want to be the only main course on offer for any big croc that’s lost his or her way in the water ways. At least if one has managed to evade all the warning devices, I can at least hope that I’m one of the less appetising courses on offer in a smorgasbord of swimmers.

Being strong swimmers, Paul and I started off in the lower pool and swam upstream, through the beautiful, and more secluded connecting waterways. We’d stop and float around for a bit of a rest in the busier middle pool before tackling the faster flowing current up the upper pool where the falls are. Then after getting our free shoulder massage courtesy of nature, we’d slowly drift effortlessly down to the middle pool, then through the last magical waterway and back into the lower pool.

On one occasion we braved a short swim a little further down from the lower pool, but didn’t go far. It was a bit to isolated for most people, us included, but we found a nice, big, half submerged branch to hang onto for 10 minutes or so. Bush turkeys were grazing on the nearby banks, and blue dragon flies were landing on the tips of the branches we were hanging onto. It was such a peaceful place, a little bit away from the crowds, a place where we could just immerse ourselves into the tranquil nature that’s Berry Springs. Our favourite spot in the Northern Territory, and what a pleasure it was to visit it twice within a few days of each other. Just gorgeous!