Daly Waters

After taking advice from other travellers we decided to head straight for the Daly Waters Pub as the campground gets very heavily booked. We arrived around 2.00pm and were in the last row of vans. People were arriving well after us, right until almost dark, they were lined up on the road with nowhere else to go.

The Daly Waters Historic Pub
In 1862 John Mcdouall Stuart successfully crossed the continent from South to North. After breaking through the lance wood scrub that thwarted his previous attempts, he found fresh water. The area was given the name Daly Waters after the then Governor of South Australia, Sir Dominic Daly.



Some of the history in the Beer garden

Fresh water was vital for droving and Daly Waters was the last watering hole before the perilous Murranji Stock Route.

When drovers drove their entire herds from Queensland to the West Australian coast, Daly Waters was a landmark stop. The cattle were rested and the men quenched their thirst.

Today that tradition still stands although caravans and backpackers have replaced the drovers and cattle.

Prior to the Second World War, Daly Waters was the site of the first international airport in Australia and refuelled planes and passengers on route to London. Hard to imagine when you are here as it is in the middle of nowhere.

The pub offered wonderful meals in the very atmospheric beer garden. The place was full to capacity every table taken with a wonderful mix of travellers. Lots of nomads, backpackers and young
families. We were all very well fed and watered all while being entertained by 'Stevie' the rocker.

We had our first taste of barramundi here, and it was delicious.




The place was full of travellers having a great time

There was lots of dancing and people helped Stevie along with some backup singing.

Jude and Laurie dancing

The Daly Waters Pub, a fantastic find up The Stuart Highway on the way to Darwin.

Enjoying a cold one

Another fabulous night on our wonderful trip