LOST IN LIMMEN

REMOTE AND ISOLATED, LIMMEN NATIONAL PARK ON THE GULF OF CARPENTARIA COASTLINE MAY NOT BE ON EVERYONE'S RADAR, BUT IT'S A STUNNING TROPICAL PARADISE FULL OF NATURAL WONDERS

- KEV SMITH

THE Northern Territory's Limmen National Park sits on the edge of Gulf Country, between Roper Bar and Cape Crawford. Access is via a seasonal well-graded road, with side tracks to camping and fishing areas. However, roads can be closed due to flooding from November until May when summer storms hit and create chaos across the Top End.

Limmen occupies 10,000km² on the eastern side of the NT, reaching out into the waters of the gulf in the adjacent Limmen Marine Park. Limmen is still managed by Parks NT and has its own ranger station, but the best part are the number of cheap and sometimes free campgrounds in the area.

This is remote country and very isolated, so trip and car preparation needs to be spot on. Limmen is also known for its massive sandstone formations aptly known as the Lost Cities, as well as access to the one-million-acre cattle station dubbed Lorella Springs Wilderness Park.

Our journey started from the eastern fringe north of Cape Crawford, but before hitting this remote section of the Gulf of Carpentaria I ensured I was full of fuel and groceries from the nearby settlement of Borroloola. There are two turns that head to Limmen and my choice was Ryans Bend Road that departs the Carpentaria Highway 26km out of Borroloola and bisects Nathan River Road, which is the main thoroughfare traversing Limmen NP.

Right from the start, the road is pretty average and a sign states it's remote travel with no fuel for nearly 400km. The first 100 or so kilometres, you'll travel through and pass old cattle stations in this rough country. The roads are rugged with endless corrugations, but that's expected at the end of the dry season up here.

NAMING RIGHTS