Have you had a cuppa on the back verandah of the Bullita Homestead yet?
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Judbarra/Gregory National Park is huge.
Its 13,000 square kilometres of spectacular ranges and deeply fissured gorges contain significant traces of Indigenous culture and European exploration and pastoral history.
Most of the park is in the transition zone between the tropical and semi-arid regions of the Northern Territory and as a result the landscape, plants and animals of Judbarra vary enormously as you travel from east to west.
Bullita Homestead is a reminder of the park's pastoral history and is an interesting place to while away a warm afternoon.
Built in 1960 by Mr Charlie Schultz this small and unprepossessing building sits on the Eastern banks of the East Bains River.
Its latticed verandah provides welcome shade from the harsh sunlight and the shadowy interior stays relatively cool most days.
Information and photographs inside tell the story of the homestead which, with its surrounding garden, meat house, windmill and tank stands is both a reminder of years gone by and of great importance to the traditional owners of the area.
The Bullita Stockyards are near the homestead and as afternoon shadows start to fall they are incredibly atmospheric.
The stockyards are made of local timbers and are still maintained with locally sourced Lancewood and Bloodwood logs. Sometimes you can almost hear the echoes of voices and the crack of a whip if you stand quietly listening to the wind.
Facilities in the Bullita campground are basic. Graced only with a long drop loo, a few picnic tables and fireplaces, Bullita still manages to provide a five thousand star camping experience.
A night spent among the boab trees listening to the call of the curlews will be a real highlight of any adventure holiday.
There is a small water tank in the campground but the water is untreated and requires boiling prior to use so it may be best to take all you need with you along with your tucker box and first aid kit.
If you are heading to Bullita, turn off the Victoria Highway onto the Bullita Access Road near Timber Creek. The road gets a bit rugged and floodways may contain water for most of the year so high-set 4WD is recommended. Always check with the Parks and Wildlife website for road closures before heading out particularly as the wet season approaches.
So have you planned that cuppa yet?
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