Friday 17th July - continued

We have had no internet since Friday and it is now Tuesday.

Let me take you back to The Katherine Show. Well let me tell you it was very country. We walked around and looked at the stalls and sideshow alley and that took us about an hour and that just about covered the show. Watched a few horse jumping events in the main arena, ambled through the produce pavilion(tin shed) that had a few shelves with a couple of pieces of produce on them much like the shelves at a corner store that is closing down and the highlight was the poultry shed that was auctioning off all chooks, roosters, ducks and geese.  Had a couple of drinks at the MAIN BAR( a few bales of hay separating an area from the walkway). Great place to people watch.

Watched some of the rodeo, all in all it was an experience. A memorable end to the town of Katherine.

Saturday 18^th July

Today we headed to Nitmiluk National Park formally known as The Katherine Gorge. The gorge was renamed ‘Nitmiluk’ meaning ‘cicada place’ in 1989 when traditional owners, the Jawoyn Aboriginal people, gained title to the land. Have to get to the camping ground early as they don’t allocate you a specific spot for your campsite it is first in best spot. We jagged a large, flat spot near the pool. Took ourselves on a 2 hour walk up to the top of the gorge.

The walk to the top was narrow at times

Stunning views dotted the climb

Made it to the top and the lookout point

It was a bit hot and dry on the walk back.

Spent about and hour around the ice cold pool at the camp(no crocs) 

There may not be any crocs near the pool but we could meet other visitors.

and then ready ourselves for a sunset dinner cruise that we has booked earlier. We started about 5 and boarded a barge like boat that took us on a cruise up the main gorge and then we had a short walk over to the second gorge, there are 13 gorges in total all getting smaller as the number gets larger.

On the walk to get to the second gorge boat ride.

magnificent sheer walls of rocks

Tranquil waterways 

Along the boat trips of the gorge we had a commentary from our tour guide and it was so informative with lots of information about the Jawoyn people and their beliefs

Then back to board the dinner boat

where we were seated with 2 lovely couples one from the Central Coast and you guessed it they were retired teachers but the primary variety. The other couple retired for many more years than the rest of us from down south and they were a wealth of knowledge having travelled the roads for some years.

The Jawoyn people don’t like to say goodbye but rather Baw Baw – till we meet again.

                                        A stunning sunset to end the day

Sunday 19^th July

Left Katherine early and headed to Edith Falls about 30 minutes from Katherine. The trek to the top pool of the falls is about a 3 hour round trip and just over halfway are the very beautiful falls and plunge pools. You see all these beautiful pictures of falls and pools but to actually swim in one was just wonderful. 

        View from the lookout just before you arrive at the Edith Falls top pool

                     Just gorgeous

    This is the top pool where we swam. The water was crystal clear and very cold, I loved it.

         Mez under the actual water fall.

       Along the way to Pine Creek we came across some very common hazards, one being the fires that you see more now that the undergrowth is thicker and below packed road trains. We passed this one in an overtaking lane but it is very scary as they fly at great speeds most often heavily loaded.

      Not the best pic but it gives you some idea 

Next stop was Pine Creek and the Lazy Lizard Tavern for a quick lunch. Great outback pub well worth a visit.

As we passed through Adelaide River we clocked up 3 weeks and 5,000kms since leaving Sydney. We were going to stay there but decided to push on a bit further towards Litchfield National Park, our next stop. So we ended up Coomalie Creek in the middle of nowhere right next to the creek and crocs.

Monday 20^th July

Today we were off to Litchfield Park and Wangi Falls. Again you have to be there by about 9am otherwise you do not get a spot as there are only about 30 in the National Park at Wangi. So we set sail by 7.30 as the road in is slow going due to its narrowness and it is full of twists and turns. Arrived and snagged a spot but were lucky as the place was full by 10am.

Not much to set up as there is no power or water to connect so checked out the area. The falls are lovely and very different to the Edith Falls. 

  Wangi Falls are fed by the waterfalls as well as a creek flowing in from the bottom right of this pic. 

This was taken when we first arrived early in the morning before the bus loads arrive - still serene.

           Mez doing it tough in the heat of the afternoon.

Very busy with a lot of overseas tourists and bus tours as these falls are only a 30m short walk from the carpark, no trekking through the countryside over mountains that are a bit hard on the knees.

Had a swim about 2pm when the crowds were thinning out. Water clear and cool.

Being at the far end of Lichfield National Park you are surrounded by wilderness and all that it contains, for example at dusk thousands of bats circled around and around for about 15 to 20 minutes and as quickly as they came they left – very eerie.

      Our spot amongst the trees - back to nature for us.

       Someone has to do it tough!!!!!

This was a lovely national park visit.