Aus Day 28 - Up the Katherine

Sunday 17th October     Aus Day 28


Up at 06.45 this morning shower, breakfast and get myself prepped for the Gorge boat trip. I am still undecided about what to do after the boat trip. Move on? If so to where? Or, stay at Katherine Gorge for another night?

Anyway, I arrived at the jetty for the boat trip at 08.40 but, as I suspected, there was no activity until 09.00 when about 30 of us were shepherded onto a smallish river boat and off we set, up the gorge: Click on the link to learn more about Katherine Gorge.

A Motley Crew



First Part of the Gorge



The Skipper and Guide at the Wheel

The Skipper and guide appeared to be very knowledgeable about the area and local flora (as you would expect) reeling off plant names in Australian, Latin and Jawoyn (the language of the local aboriginal people).

The gorge is quite impressive, as I think the photos show, (the originals are even better). Katherine Gorge is actually a series of 13 gorges and the tourist trips from here usually cover just 2 or 3 of them. Because of my delicate skin I didn’t want to be exposed to the sun for too long so opted for the 2 gorge trip of 2 hours. At the end of the first gorge you have to get off one boat and walk for about 600 metres and then get on a second boat to do the next gorge. I assume this process gets repeated for the third gorge as well. As well as the boat trips, canoes are for hire and swimming is allowed.

You Might Just be Able to See the Canoeists



Through the Gorge



Arrival at the Transit Point

Had to get into the picture during the transfer between gorges and also of interest here is the rock painting, reputed to be some 23,000 years old and some of the oldest art work found anywhere in the world. We were then into the second gorge with similar scenes.

JB in the Gorge

Rock Painting

Into The Second Gorge

I Think We Want to go Between Those Rocks

We returned to the start point just after 11.00 and by the time I had walked back to the Nitmiluk Centre I had decided to spend another night at Katherine Gorge. When I got back to the van I sorted out what bit of ‘housework’ there was to do and then set too sorting and labelling all of the photos taken during the morning plus the 25 minutes of video.

Having sorted out most of that and made a start on this Blog entry, I was overcome with a severe case of lethargy so had to go and recuperate by the side of the swimming pool and before I knew it, it was time to establish Internet connection in time for my cherished Skype session with Eileen.

As we were coming to a close, a wallaby took up residence just outside my van and Eileen bet me that it would be off like a shot, the minute I stepped outside to try and take a photograph. Well as you can see below, he actually stayed around to have his photo taken and to see if there was an food on offer. When he found there wasn’t he ambled off on his merry way.

Got Any Food Mate?

Following tea, when I reverted to good habits and made myself a salad, I went back to the poolside where another artist was performing. Mainly Country & Western style music but quite entertaining and all for free. Well, included in the camp site fees.

Tomorrow, I have decided to move on and get into the Kakadu area with a couple of nights at Jabiru where, I am led to believe, there is an even better swimming pool than the one here. So just before Zebedee springs up, I will wish you all a good night.

Aus Day 27 - You Were Going Where?

Saturday October 16th Aus Day 27



Rose at 07.15 after a comfortable night in the Air Conditioning, great stuff this modern technology. Shower and breakfast and then I thought that I had better get authorisation from Apollo, (As per contract) to travel the roads that I was intending to in order to visit the Bungle Bungles. Unfortunately, I was informed that the Duncan Road and the Bungle Bungles area had been closed due to heavy rain. This of course threw my entire planned itinerary into the garbage can. Talk about ‘rain stopped play.’ So, what to do instead? After a little bit of thinking I decided to nip back up the road and visit Leliyn (Edith Falls) about 40 kms north of Katherine and then visit Katherine Gorge, about 20 kms to the east of Katherine, sorted!


Plans revised, I got the van packed up and left the caravan park by 09.40, refuelled and headed north. (I am beginning to get to know this stretch of highway) I duly arrived at the Leliyn car park, part of the Nitmiluk National Park, by 10.35. The weather is cooler today and much less humid than of late.

Entrance to the National Park

My first look at the lower pool left me feeling not too impressed; see photo below, so I decided to undertake the 2 km loop walk, advised as a 2 hour trip, and so off I went. It was quite gentle to start, with stepping stones and a boardwalk across streams; see below, before starting to ascend but, nowhere near strenuous as the Kings Canyon Rim climb I had done previously. The most significant problem I had to contend with was; flies, damn flies and even more damn flies.

Lower Pool and Falls

Board Walk Over the Stream

However, I eventually  arrived at the first lookout spot where I had a good view of both pools each being fed by their own waterfalls. You might just be able to see the bridges which cross the outlet of the upper pool.

Upper & Lower Pools & Waterfalls From Lookout

The next stop on the loop walk was in fact at those bridges where I took a couple of shots of the upper falls; there were people swimming in the upper pool in the second of these shots

Upper Falls

Upper Falls and Pool - Can You Spot The Swimmers?

The remainder of the walk was a relatively easy stroll downhill with one other lookout point giving a view of the lower pool.

Lower Pool from Lookout

Anyway, I was back at the start kiosk eating a Mrs Mac Meat Pie by 12.20, having completed the 2 hour walk in just about 1 hr 30 mins including stopping for photographs and video shots. No sooner had I finished eating than a bird appeared from nowhere and finished off the crumbs from my plate, right in front of me. The following picture is not a telephoto shot. The bird is really that close.

Cheeky Chappie

By 12.50 I was off again, heading back to Katherine where I ‘hung a left’ and made for Kathrine Gorge where I booked a boat trip for the morning and a powered camp site for tonight. With any luck I should get some really nice photos tomorrow but in the meantime what do you think of this for a pool in your back garden?

Pool at Katherine Gorge Caravan Park

Having parked and started up the Air Con, I was into the pool by 15.30 to find that it was extremely refreshing and of a length which needed more than 4 strokes to get from end to end.


Although I have no mobile network coverage here and no Internet access identified through the ‘normal’ laptop coverage, my little gizmo seems to be working its magic and I established Skype connection with Eileen spot on time.


The early part of the evening was spent listening to an acoustic guitar performer by the pool side and I have to confess that I succumbed to a meal of chicken skewers although I did have them with salad. Then it was back to the air conditioned van to draft out this Blog update and wait for Zebedee’s bedtime call, while trying to contain my excitement for the day ahead of me tomorrow. At the moment, I have no idea where I will be tomorrow night.

Aus Day 26 - A Change of Van and Air Conditioned Luxury

Friday 15th October   Aus Day 26


Rose this morning at 07.30 with the Van change over ahead. Managed to get mos of my kit stowed away in the suitcases but somehow I have managed to collect a load of stuff which won’t go in the cases so will simply have to transfer that at the depot. Although the temperature is probably only about 28/29 degrees, the humidity must be very high because even without doing very much I am dripping with sweat even though I wipe myself down every few minutes. In fact I have just checked the records on the Internet and the Relative Humidity in Darwin this morning was 90%, that explains a lot.

Booked out from the Tourist Park with the promise to see them again in a week’s time when Eileen arrives. Then drove to the nearest filling station en-route to the Apollo Depot. The Hitop van was booked in without any problem and I then took delivery of 4WD Camper which has an extending roof. Did the usual checks and then signed over huge amounts of money and was on my way by 11.30.

Nothing really to report on the drive down to Katherine other than to say that driving the new van is much more like driving a car except there is no rear view mirror and the wing mirrors are rubbish so, most of the time you have no idea what, if anything, is behind you. Trying to reverse is a bit of a nightmare, as well.

I managed to resist the urge to call in to Adelaide River and Pine Creek to have another look at the railway relics and so arrived in Katherine at about 2.30 pm and went straight to Woolworth's to restock my provisions, remembering to get a few beers at the same time, and then booked into the Caravan Park that I had vacated a few nights ago although I was allocated the site next to the one I had previously. You can see the new van all set up, complete with awning and roof extended in the photo below.

Katherine - Same Scene, Different Van

By now the time was about 16.30 so I prepared for my daily Internet, Skype, fix. However, this time I was able to get set up in air conditioned luxury. Did I not mention that this van also has air conditioning? Brilliant!!!

Checked in with sister Valerie, in Adelaide, as I noticed that she was on-line as I got logged on. Said hello to her and others who happened to be there before switching to my prime reason for the Skype access and that was to call Eileen. I think we are both getting quite excited that it is now less than a week until she joins me.

After our call, I was going to go for a dip in the park pool but remembered that Katherine has the hot springs just outside the caravan park so, decide to risk the crocodiles and check it out. I am glad I did, there is a stream running through the woods at the back of the caravan park with the water, crystal clear and just about body temperature. It was lovely to get into, very refreshing and not a crocodile in sight:

See! - No Crocodiles

Following that It was back to the mundane sorted out my laundry, had yet another salad evening meal and then spent the evening luxuriating in my air conditioned van, bringing my records up to date and planning the route for the next few days, as well as updating this Blog entry, of course. Finally, to end the day, guess who springs up to say, “and so to bed” yes it is that chap Zebedee.

Aus Day 25 - Hidden Valley to Darwin

Thursday 14th October Aus Day 25


Up at 06.30 this morning, as I need to get yesterday’s Blog finished and published. Shower, breakfast and then Blog and email, I seem to be spending a great deal of my life in front of this laptop but maybe it will all be worth it in the end. When I am in my dotage, (who said when???) I will be able to read back over the Blog entries and remember my big adventure, if adventure is the right word. I have had some very nice comments though so please keep them coming, it makes this peregrinator very happy.

The Van Parked up at the Hidden Valley Tourist Park

Once caught up with things this morning, I took myself off into Darwin to check out the shopping centre, a couple of the beaches and access to the Airport for when I need to collect Eileen, next week.

Darwin centre is fairly compact, laid out on a grid pattern so it’s quite easy to find your way around. I bought myself a couple of cheap Aussie tee shirts and an antenna to go with the Next G network adapter. This should improve reception when we are travelling down the West Coast. I would hate to be out of contact again.

They Don't Do Subtlety

From the CBD (Central Business District) just a short walk to the Esplanade, where I got my first view of the Timor Sea:

Walk through the Bicentennial Park - Off the Esplanade

First View of the Sea From the Bicentennial Park

I drove around the coast road into the Fannies Bay area and stopped to take a couple of shots on Vesteys Beach which looked beautiful. This is just up from Mindil Beach where on a Thursday and Sunday evening, they hold a Sunset Market. I don’t think that I will get chance to be there tonight but maybe next week.

Vesteys Beach in Fannies Bay - Looking South

Vesteys Beach in Fannies Bay - Looking North

The next job was to research the Airport car parking for when I meet Eileen next week. This turned out to be quite straight forward but, these things so often are when you have plenty of time in hand. They are only difficult when you are trying desperately to meet a deadline.

After that it was a slow meander back to the caravan park as I needed to get the van sorted out for exchange tomorrow morning, when I pick up a 4X4 Camper for the next 9 days. Got to go and do a bit of off-roading while I’m in Aus, or at least dirt tracking.

Made the regular Skype contact with the lovely Eileen and then just before 6pm adjourned to the pool for a refreshing dip. Following this with Al Fresco salad for my evening meal, I will be starting to look like a salad soon if I’m not careful. I have just checked the max temperature recorded in Darwin today and it seems that it was only 32 degrees. Well, I can tell you that if felt a lot warmer than that. Especially if you couldn’t find any shade.

Well, my ‘Mate’ Zebedee will be calling before too much longer so I will try to pre-empt him by getting this Blog update published tonight which will then leave me with a clear day tomorrow in order to swap the van and blast back down to Katherine en-route to the Bungle Bungles. Night for now!

Aus Day 24 - Delayed by Railway Museums

Wednesday 13th October Aus Day 24


Didn’t have to good a night and was roused at 03.17 by a sales message fro Orange on my mobile. Just what I wanted. It started raining at about 06.00 so I didn’t get up until 07.30 to an overcast, dull, humid day with rain still falling. I have shown you the lake that formed in the road between the camper sites. It is a good job that I got all my laundry done and dried yesterday afternoon. Had breakfast and updated my travel accounts before showering, just for a change. I seem to spend a lot of time updating things, maybe I’m obsessed (No comments please Samantha) but, I’m not comfortable unless I got a good handle on how things stand.

Van packed up and ready to go at 09.50 so, refuelled and it the road. First port of call was Pine Creek which has a railway museum but apparently it only opens one day a week. (Not today) However, I wandered up the ‘Lookout’ which overlooks the disused & flooded Enterprise Goldmine and now makes a very pleasant spot.

Flooded Remains of the Enterprise Gold Mine - Pine Creek

JB at the Pine Creek Lookout

Having scrambled back down to the road I found the old railway station and what is termed the ‘Miner’s Park’ with relics of the gold mining machinery, so had a good look around and, of course, took a couple of photos including one of a Boab (or Boabab) Tree:

Pine Creek Railway Station

Pine Creek Gold Mining Relics

JB at Pine Creek - No Trains Today?

Boab Tree Amongst the Relics

I thought I had better get a move on so headed off up the road but, after about another 110 kms I arrived at Adelaide River where they had another railway museum. This one was open so naturally I had to call in. When I did I found out that somewhere between my leaving Pine Creek and arriving at Adelaide River, the Ghan train had passed going south. Drat!!!

The Museum is a small affair consisting of the original station building, a preserved carriage which doubles as the Visitor Information Centre, an old Diesel engine, a couple of wagons and a workshop. Still I had a good look round and the chap who acts as tourist information person and curator escorted me round and gave me his prepared speech:

The Original Adelaide River Railway Station 1888

Apparently the first Diesel Engine Used on the Northern Line

A Cattle Truck and one of the first Bulk Fuel Carriers

Time was now pressing as I still had some 100 plus kms to go before getting to Darwin where I would then have to locate the caravan park. So, off I set and managed to get to Darwin and the caravan park by 16.30 without having to stop at any more railway memorabilia.

Caravan Park is a bit on the expensive side at $36 a night for a powered site, however, it is where Eileen and I will be spending the first nights of her arrival, so wanted to check it out. Managed to get parked up and logged on just in time for our scheduled Skype session at 5.00 pm local time, 08.30 UK time and after we had exchanged news etc I went for a dip in the pool which is well maintained but, the water was a bit on the warm side.

The Pool at the Hidden Valley Tourist Park

Evening meal was salad again, how good am I? And then the rest of the evening spent checking emails etc before retiring at approx 10.30 because Zebedee said I had to.