WE'RE IN KATHERINE, NORTHERN TERRITORY

SATURDAY 7TH JUNE   -  We left Daly Waters for our next destination Katherine 276 kilometres further north.  It took us 4 hours to arrive at Riverview Tourist Village.  It was a big caravan park and $40 per night (we got a 10% discount as we’re Top Tourist members) with lots of shady tropical trees around.  There was a swimming pool and The Barra Restaurant/Café on site.  The staff were all very friendly and helpful.  Our spot was at the back of the park, with a gate in the fence leading down to Katherine Hot Springs – a 2 minute walk from our van.  We immediately liked the park and felt very comfortable there.  It was nice to have a bit of luxury after our 4 busy days travelling and free camping and we decided to stay here for 6 nights, as we couldn’t get into the caravan park in Darwin until the following Friday 13^th June.

As soon as we’d set up we went for a dip in the hot springs which were very refreshing and not overly hot.  There were 4 or 5 different crystal clear pools, at a constant 32 degrees.  They looked like glass as they were so clear to look into. There were grassy banks and big shady trees with a bbq/picnic are nearby.

Katherine is 317 kilometres from Darwin with a population of 11,000.  The first people of the area were the Jawoyn and Dagomen people.  The area is called “The Crossroads of the North”, with the Explorer’s Way and the Savannah Way leading north, south, east and west from here. The region stretches from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the west Australian border.

We took Sally to the local park twice a day for an off-leash run, which she really enjoyed.  It was a lovely green grassed area with a gushing stream coming over a low weir wall from Katherine River. It was very relaxing watching the water flowing by. 

TUESDAY 10TH JUNE   -   We went for a drive to Edith Falls in Nitmiluk National Park.  It took us an hour to get to the car park.  There were 3 popular swimming holes, the first one within easy reach from the car park.  Edith Falls is a popular tourist area with a café and picnic areas and also camping available.   Nitmiluk Gorge winds along 12 kilometres of sheer rock cliffs, most over 70 metres high.  There are 13 separate gorges.  Nitmiluk means “cicada place”.

The first pool was stunning with a cascading high waterfall.  The pool was surrounded by large pandanus trees.

We walked along the Leliyn Trail, a 2.6 kilometre round trip, which took us to the top of the escarpment and down to the upper and lower pools.  It was quite a rugged clamber up and down the rocks in places and we had to watch our footing, but the views over the falls and pools were stunning and well worth the effort getting up there. 

We had a lovely picnic on the grassed area by the café and car park.  We were eagerly looking forward to a relaxing lunch after our strenuous exercise.

THURSDAY 12TH JUNE   -   We went on a 30 minute helicopter ride with Heliwork WA Tours, a newly established company close to the Gorge.  It took us 40 minutes to get to the helipad.  We were greeted by our young pilot Jake and his 4 month old very well behaved black Labrador puppy Blakely.  The helicopter we were on was a small 4 seater and had no front doors.  Fortunately I was in the back and had a bar to hold on to plus a locked door.  I was still nervous as we headed off.  We got up to 1,000 feet very quickly and the wind was quite strong.  Soon we were flying at 1,500 feet above the tree tops.  Every time the chopper banked my stomach went with it and I was feeling sorry for Richard in the front with only a seat belt holding him in.  He was a bit scared to, particularly when it banked to the left, and he was holding on to his camera and trying to take shots with one hand, with his left hand holding onto the interior handrail. The views were stunning and it made us realise just how vast Australia is from up there.  We flew up and down the 13 separate gorges and over Katherine River. There hasn’t been much rainfall in the area so the waterfalls were quite dried up.  All too soon, we were back at the helipad and couldn’t believe the time had gone so quickly as we were just starting to get right into the flight.

After our ride had finished, we drove up to Katherine Gorge where you can do boat trips or hire canoes.

It was a busy area with school trips coming and going and tourists getting on and of the cruise trips.  We had a picnic lunch beside trees full of bats which we didn’t realise at first.  We’ve never ever seen so many of them in one spot, and didn’t realise they came out in the hot afternoon sun.   Fortunately none of them messed over our lunch!!! 

We went up to the Visitors Centre and had a look around.  It was a very interesting place. 

We’ve thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Katherine.

HONEY EATER - FREQUENT VISITORS TO OUR VAN SITE

NEXT WEEK:   We will be travelling up to Darwin – a 310 kilometre trip north from Katherine. We’ll be staying in Darwin for at least 3-4 weeks before deciding which direction next.  There are lots of choices to consider.  We’ll let you know as soon as we do.